Par-3, executive course or pitch-and-putt--whatever name you give it, playing one of these courses can often be beneficial to your golf game. With shorter holes, there is more of a premium placed on accuracy over distance and that can be a great teaching tool for beginning golfers. And a par-3 course enables you to get in a little golf when you're short of time. Either way, there are plenty of places in and around Miami where you can get your short game on.
Miami
Head down toward South Miami and you can find the Briar Bay Golf Course. Opened in January of 1975, it has been owned and operated by the Miami-Dade County Parks Department since 1979. The nine-hole track spreads out over 30 acres and is conveniently located just blocks from U.S. Highway 1. With more than 40,000 rounds of golf played annually at Briar Bay, it has become a very popular spot with local golfers of all skill levels.
Miami Beach
Lying just to the east of downtown Miami is the Miami Beach Golf Club. It opened in 1923 as the Bayshore Golf Course and was intended to be part of a planned community that would lure wealthy visitors away from northern cities like New York and Detroit. Over the years, the course has gone through several face-lifts, including a recent transformation by the city of Miami Beach. With a new look and a new name, the Miami Beach Golf Club hopes to attract visitors from the surrounding communities and beyond.
Miami Lakes
There is no doubt that Don Shula is one of South Florida's biggest celebrities. As the longtime head coach of the NFL's Miami Dolphins and the record holder for most coaching wins in league history, his legacy is cemented in the region. One of Shula's many post-football business ventures is the Don Shula Hotel and Golf Club, which offers visitors golf options--including a par-3 executive course--in a resort setting just miles from the Atlantic Ocean.
Sunrise
Owned and operated by the city of Sunrise, less than 30 miles from Miami, is the Seven Bridges at Springtree Golf Club. It is probably best described as an executive course. With a par of 61, it's slightly longer than a par-3 but far shorter than a championship course. The course closed temporarily in 2009 for renovations but has reopened to the public with a new irrigation system designed to enhance play.
Golfing in Florida
Heat and humidity are the norm in South Florida, especially during the summer. With that in mind, be sure to take certain precautions if you plan on hitting the links. One way to prevent heatstroke or dehydration is to limit activity to the cooler parts of the day, preferably early mornings or the evenings. If you do decide to play during the day, take along plenty of water and try to stay in the shade as much as possible. Also consider wearing light-colored, breathable fabrics that can wick sweat and moisture away from your skin.
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