When it comes to choosing where to tee it up for your next round of golf in the Miami area, golfers have a lot to choose from. There are over 40 public and private courses in Miami-Dade County alone, making it one of the most golf-rich counties in the state.
The County itself operates 6 golf courses at five properties. I recently had the opportunity to play what many consider the County’s top two courses, Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne and Palmetto Golf Course.
Palmetto has been a Miami favorite since 1959. You’ll find golfers of all levels and abilities enjoying the course and taking advantage of the player-friendly conditions. The fairways are lush and green, the sand traps are raked and well-manicured, and the greens are in tremendous shape and roll true!
There’s a canal system that runs through the course, sometimes crossing the fairway, other times running alongside the tree-lined fairways, which only adds to the challenge. On several holes, the canal dictates what you can hit off the tee, often taking driver out of your hands in favor of a long iron or hybrid. You’ll get a chance to meet the canal on your first tee shot. It’s a medium-length par 5 with the canal about 250 from the (White) tees. It takes about 275 yards of carry to clear it, so everyone I know lays up. A good drive will leave a long shot to the green, so you may need to lay up again. Leaving yourself a short pitch shot into the green will leave a great chance for par or better. Sand guards the front-left and back-right. It’s a fun starting hole.
That same canal is going to force a lot of players to lay up on the 3rd hole, too, a long 427-yard par 4 with the canal right in front of the green. It’s a slight dogleg right, and a good drive will still leave a long hybrid or iron into the green, which is surrounded by four bunkers. If you choose to lay up before the canal, you’ll leave yourself about a 75-yard chip shot.
Number 14 is a short 330-yard par 4 that will tempt longball hitters off the tee. Just beware of the canal. You may be best to play your tee shot about 200 yards and leave yourself a short chip shot into the green. Believe it or not, this hole yields more bogies than you think!
In addition to the golf course, there’s a lighted driving range that is about to receive a major upgrade and become a Trackman Range. Patrons will be able to have in-depth practice sessions and gather important information on things like ball speed, clubhead speed, and launch angle, or play a round on one of the pre-programmed famous golf courses. On the weekends, the last few hitting stations on the range are dedicated to the little ones; you’ll see kids as young as two learning to hit the little white ball. I saw several kids who looked to be about eight with beautiful golf swings. It’s a great time for the entire family!
There’s also a lighted putting green and a fully-stocked golf shop. Sports Grill, the clubhouse restaurant, serves some of the best wings I’ve ever had.
Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne is located inside Crandon Park, which was once part of the largest coconut plantation in the United States. It opened for play in 1972 and was designed by Bruce Devlin and Robert Von Hagge. Crandon Golf is the crème de la crème of the Miami-Dade County courses and is located just 10 minutes from downtown Miami.
The golf course is considered one of the most beautiful and difficult par-72 courses in the state and is the epitome of island golf. Water, mangroves, and lush, tropical foliage surround the entire course. Unlike many Florida golf courses, there are no alligators here, just saltwater crocodiles! Crandon is the only public golf course on Biscayne Bay and was designed by Dick Wilson.
The first thing I’ll remember about the course is the par 5s, beginning with the first hole, a 472-yard (White Tees) dogleg left, with a drive over water and mangroves. A good drive short of the bunkers on the far side of the fairway may leave an opportunity to go for the green in two and a chance to start your round with a low score. The course ends with a straight 481-yarder that brings the water, mangroves, and numerous sand traps into play.
The 7th hole is a beautiful and challenging par 4 that has been hailed as “One of the Greatest Holes in Golf.” From the back tees, it’s a 445-yard par 4 dogleg right that requires a solid, accurate drive past the mangroves on the right, but short of the fairway bunkers on the left. From there, you’ll be faced with an approach shot of about 150 yards over water and between the mangroves, onto a large green protected in front and back by large bunkers.
The second thing I’ll remember is the families of raccoons that live in the woods near the 10th green and 11th tee box. Don’t let their cuteness fool you. These masked little bandits roam the woods and can appear at a moment’s notice; they will rob you blind and aren’t afraid to invade your golf cart and take anything edible or shiny while you’re away! There are several cell phones and tablets in the woods!
The County’s other courses include The Country Club of Miami, Greynolds Golf Course, and Briar Bay Golf Course. The Country Club of Miami offers two 18-hole golf courses; many golfers will recognize it as the home of Jackie Gleason, who would often play with his celebrity buddies, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. Robert Trent Jones designed both courses, Arnold Palmer served as the first club professional, and Jack Nicklaus played his first professional tournament at the club. The golf courses will be undergoing a major renovation later this year.
Greynolds and Briar Bay are both 9-hole layouts. Greynolds plays 3,080 yards with a par of 36 and was designed by Mark Mahannah. Two par 4s play over 400 yards, and there’s a 521-yard par 5 that will challenge golfers at any level. It’s one of the county’s most popular nine-hole courses.
Briar Bay was also designed by Devlin and Von Hagge and is a par-31 executive course; it receives over 40,000 rounds of golf each year. None of the 5 par 3 holes play over 150 yards, so it allows you to work on your mid-iron approach shots. It has become a popular venue for top players and beginners alike; there’s something for everyone.
Miami-Dade County is serious about golf and seeing that all patrons enjoy themselves. To learn more about a course or to book your next tee time at any of the six courses, visit their website, www.golfmiamidade.com.