Courses Near Downtown Miami

[nevets88]

How is Miami Shores Country Club? It looks like it's public and has a decent range. Not looking for anything hugely upscale, just a decent public golf course, like Bethpage Blue.

Same for Country Club of Miami. Looks like it gets a lot of traffic? 

[billchao]

Maybe @DennisMiller can help?

[Double Mocha Man]

A thousand years ago when I lived in Miami I played the Country Club.  Nothing special... even though the comedian Jackie Gleason used to be a member there.  I mostly played at the public Miami Springs Golf Course.  Has quite the history.  The pros used to play the Miami Open there.  Google it.  Oh, and I was arrested there once... the only time I ever got to visit the inside of a jail.

[gbogey]

Been at least 5 years since I was there but Country Club of Miami was slightly above average, Miami Springs was average and busy.  Miami Beach Golf Club is delightful but expensive.  I was a Northerner visiting Florida in February - any golf was great!

[nevets88]

I’m home and already want to go back. New York sucks for golf. 

[Double Mocha Man]

28 minutes ago, nevets88 said:

I’m home and already want to go back. New York sucks for golf. 

Which courses did you play?  Make it to Trump Doral or Mar a Lago?

[nevets88]

Miami Shores was more than adequate. Didn’t want to drive a whole lot and had to tend to family stuff. 

[GolfLug]

I played Normandy Shores few years ago on a trip with wife and another couple. Nothing of great note but I thought was nice. Bit overpriced at $135 + $50 for club rentals, but I think  that's a typical tourist rate for golf in the area for decent courses. I was told very comparable to Miami Beach club. 

[DennisMiller]

On 11/25/2019 at 5:14 PM, nevets88 said:

How is Miami Shores Country Club? It looks like it's public and has a decent range. Not looking for anything hugely upscale, just a decent public golf course, like Bethpage Blue.

Same for Country Club of Miami. Looks like it gets a lot of traffic? 

I haven't played Miami Shores in years. It's simply very far from my house and none of my usual playing partners are interested in the long drive. It's generally in good shape, but not known to be any kind of big challenge.

Same with the 2 courses at CC of Miami. They were nice way back when, but it's way too far to drive on a weekday when i get to play.

Some of the  public courses around Miami are Palmetto, in the SW area near me. It can stretch to play quite a bit longer than many other courses around here.

Crandon, on Key Biscayne, is pricey, but well worth it. The natural beauty is a challenge to your concentration. The senior tour used to play an event there.

Bayshore and Normandy are on Miami Beach and both are always in good shape.

The Biltmore in Coral Gables is nice, but it's been redesigned since it's glory days when icons of the game played tournaments there.

One of my favorite courses is Miami Springs, owned by the City of Miami. It's a very old course that's pretty much the same since the 30s through 50s when it hosted the Miami Open. In the clubhouse are a bunch of the trophies with the names of the winners over the years. Personally, I can't walk those fairways, (when I'm infrequently in a fairway), and wonder if Snead or Hogan stepped right where I am at that moment.

Edited December 9, 2019 by DennisMiller

[Double Mocha Man]

36 minutes ago, DennisMiller said:

The Biltmore in Coral Gables is nice, but it's been redesigned since it's glory days when icons of the game played tournaments there.

One of my favorite courses is Miami Springs, owned by the City of Miami. It's a very old course that's pretty much the same since the 30s through 50s when it hosted the Miami Open. In the clubhouse are a bunch of the trophies with the names of the winners over the years. Personally, I can't walk those fairways, (when I'm infrequently in a fairway), and wonder if Snead or Hogan stepped right where I am at that moment.

I have played the Coral Gables course, steeped in history.  Fantastic hotel, also steeped in history.  I think it was the pond on #16 where I had my first encounter with an alligator.

Miami Springs:  Check the bottom of your shoes for Snead and Hogan DNA.