Biltmore in Miami (Donald Ross) - Has anyone played it?

[PCCraig]

I'm heading down to Miami this week for business and a customer has set up an outing at the Biltmore Golf Course in Miami. According to their website it's a 1925 Ross design that was restored in 2007 by Brian Silva. I ran a search here on GCA and couldn't find too much information on the course.

Has anyone played it? Any thoughts on the course?

[Adam Clayman]

Yes, It's cool on a couple of levels, but fails to rise to the level of a great course. It's a good course that climax's nicely. As I recall, there's water in play on quite a few holes, but it's used to great affect, strategically. The surrounding houses are both a good and bad thing, but none are so close as to affect play.

The history about the building is more compelling, but, I wouldn't pass it up if you have a keen interest in Ross, and few other options.

[BCrosby]

I played the Biltmore in some college tournaments in the early '70's. It was a tired, unhappy course back then. I assume that is why it was available for early spring college tournaments.

I have not seen the Silva restoration.

Bob  

[Brad Klein]

Pleasant, enjoyable course despite fairly heavy soils. Best part -- besides the iguana tree on the 9th tee -- is the massive Moorish revival hotel.

[Tom Fussell]

Pat,

I played it three weeks ago, the course was in great shape, and some nice updates done to several holes in the Silva renovation.  I hear the course had gotten pretty rough, but trust me it is nicely renovated and in great hands now with the current management. 

With Doral, and the Palm Beach/Jupiter courses, it seems to fly under the radar, but definitely one to see and enjoy.  Very courteous staff and food service not to be missed!

Upon arrival, the driving range mats and token operated range ball machine make it seem sort of rinky dink, but the course quickly grabs your interest and full attention.

I didn't have the time, but I hear the hotel is not to be missed!

[Derek_Duncan]

The Biltmore is a beautiful property, and the hotel has great common areas and very good restaurants. The suites are nice and the giant pool is outstanding.

I really like the golf course. Silva's work has really accentuated what few vertical features there could be on such a flat site, and the green complexes are pretty profound for such an otherwise tight and modest setting. The best part is the fairway bunkering. Not sure how much was based on the old Ross stuff, but now there are large and elevated bunkers that box into the sides of the fairways and quite often you've got the choice to try to fly over them or skirt them. There's a canal that splits the property and there are iguanas lounging around it, especially on the par four 7th.

[Adam Clayman]

I'm a bit sketchy on the history of the hotel, but, at one time it was an army hospital, during WWI and then owned by Al Capone. The order might be reversed.

The routing has been changed a few times, but, I believe it is back to the original. There's a great short par 4, I believe the 7th hole, that bends quite a bit to the right. It is visually confusing (purposefully I thought) with wonderful ground movement in the LZ. The (SW?) corner of the property features a demanding par 3 and the tee shot to the next hole, a par 5 bends significantly left, with OB and housing farther left. There's a par 4 after that, which is very stout, (16th?) with an all water carry to a green which angles away from the player to the right.

[SL_Solow]

I have recommended this course before.  Not that much to compete with it in the area but it is interesting and well worth the play. The prior posts have it covered pretty well.

[Aidan Bradley]

[PCCraig]

Thanks everyone for your comments and pictures. This round is being set up by a customer, so I don't have any choice of where I'm playing....but as far as I can tell they picked a nice spot. I can't complain at all though after the long winter we've had here in Chicago...

[John Kavanaugh]

Ouch, perhaps the Donald Ross Society had a point.

[Gary Slatter]

I enjoyed the course, and tour of the haunted tower!   When I played it was operated by the same Cuban big sugar family that own Casa de Campo in the DR.

[PCCraig]

Ouch, perhaps the Donald Ross Society had a point.

Can you explain?

[JNC Lyon]

Thanks for the pictures Aidan.  I like the bunker style that Silva used here.  It reminds of some of the old pictures I've seen of Oak Hill East Course, where Donald used this style of bunkering.  I'm guessing that Silva actually looked at old photos of the course rather than assuming Ross used only one bunker style for all of his courses.

[PCCraig]

I just want to report back that I played the Biltmore Golf Course last Friday on an awesome weather day in Miami

Everyone's comments were right on. It's wide open off the tee and somewhat short...but the course has 18 very fun and interesting greens with a lot of slope. It's much better than the average FL resort course.

Thanks again.

[Eric Smith]

Did you check out the pool? I think it used to be the largest in the US. A buddy of mine was an asst. pro there a dozen years ago. We had some fun there...

[J Cabarcos]

The Biltmore in Coral Gables is as classic as it gets down here in South Florida.  I think it is course not to me missed when coming down to SoFla.  I may be a little biased and have  a soft spot for the Biltmore because it was the links in which I had my first Ace (2nd hole) and Eagle (18th hole).

Having played the course pre and post Silva Restoration, I can indeed say that those of you that have not been to the restored version, should make you way down.  I believe it was mentioned that Silva did a great job restoring the fairway bunkers to original specs.  The fairways, although flat like all others down here are given an impressive 3-D perspective.  The finger effect of the bunkers make it deceptively larger, and the addition to the layering of mounding on the backside of the bunkers make it deceptive to calculate correct carry distances.  The new visuals of the fairway really enhance the golfing experience.  I honestly can say that the local marque courses like the TPC  Blue Monster are completely lacking in such regard.  The best holes remain the same as those in the past, the dissecting water holes 7 & 17.  Great risk/ reward holes, makes you really factor in the constant winds, the ultimate course defense.  Then you have those shorter holes like 4 & 9 which you can have played hundreds of times and still not have a static strategy off the tee.  They are holes that in other words makes you think about how you are going to best be able to play it, time and time again.  Sadly, such holes are far from being ubiquitous down here for golfer in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

[PCCraig]

Did you check out the pool? I think it used to be the largest in the US. A buddy of mine was an asst. pro there a dozen years ago. We had some fun there...

I did take a look...very impressive and at 85* it would of been a perfect pool day. But then again a day on a golf course after the winter we've had here in Chicago was a real treat.