By Lauren Reed | Oct. 20, 2017
Miami has become synonymous with sun-kissed beaches, fun parties, and delicious cuisine. But its nice weather and active lifestyle means it’s also a hotspot for sports-related attractions. One of the most popular pursuits in this regard is golf. The Magic City is actually home to some of the best golf courses that Florida has to offer.
1. The Blue Monster at The Doral Golf Resort and Spa
The movers and shakers of the golfing world are known to convene at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa, which is home to a total of four par 72, 18-hole courses which challenge and amaze those who attend the CA/World Golf Championships. The crown jewel of this resort is the Blue Monster, whose infamously long fairways and speedy greens are all part of the original Dick Wilson design. The Blue Monster calls for a keen eye for strategy and good judgment of distance, with its signature 18th hole marked by a magnificent fountain.
According to Discover Homes, the Doral district itself has a reputation for being an amazing golfing community. There are a total of five championship golf courses in this busy city, alongside a slew of other entertainment options and attractions.
2. Miami Beach Golf Club
The elegant and highly regarded Miami Beach Golf Club wasn’t always this way. The city of Miami Beach oversaw a $10-million renovation in 2002, which had extraordinary results. Designed by world-renowned architect Arthur Hills, this Alton Road landmark is characterized by its championship layout, which rivals even private golf courses around the world. The narrow fairways and challenging bunkers test both novice and experienced golfers, while the course’s several beautiful lakes make it a sight to behold.
The Miami Beach Golf Club course sits nicely in the middle of Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, and is a short distance away from Miami’s other world-famous tourist spots and attractions, such as South Beach and Art Basel Miami, which we’ve previously featured.
3. Melreese Golf Course at International Links
The Melreese Golf Course at International Links, which opened in 1960, was designed by Charles Mahannah Jr. and Dick Wilson. This 18-hole, par 71 golf course is located just across the Miami International Airport, which adds low-flying planes to the already challenging sand bunkers and water hazards. The course’s 14th hole is regarded as one of the toughest holes among all golfing venues in the area, with regulars calling it the Heartbreak Ridge.
Tree-lined fairways and tifdwarf grass, which guarantees the best putting surface for both novice and experienced golfers, add to this course’s charm.
4. Crandon Golf Course
This 18-hole picturesque public course is located in the exclusive neighborhood of Key Biscayne. It’s near enough to enable convenient travel to and from hotels, but also far enough from the busy areas of downtown Miami and South Beach to feel like a tropical getaway. Secluded and inviting, the breathtaking Crandon Golf Course features lush greeneries and seven saltwater lakes, with some holes framed by the bay. The course is known for its challenging mangrove thickets and sand traps, making for a unique Miami golfing experience.
5. The Biltmore Golf Course
Housed by one of America’s classic resorts, The Biltmore Golf Course was designed by the legendary Donald Ross and takes golf enthusiasts on a nostalgic trip back in golfing history. The 18-hole, par 71, 6,800-yard course is lushly landscaped with soft fairways and deep bunkers that entice and challenge golfers of all skill levels in equal measure.