Located as it is on Florida's southeastern Atlantic shore, Miami enjoys a climate that for the most part is clement the year round, making it a mecca for America's golfers. You'll find dozens of golf courses to whet your appetite within 20 miles of the city center when you take a golfing holiday in this part of Florida. Many of these courses are open to the public and are well worth a visit.
Golfing Resorts
Less than 15 miles to the south of Miami is the Biltmore Resort, with a golf course designed and laid out by Donald Ross in 1925. The course is an 18-hole, 6,800 yard, par 71 course that has challenged golfers such as Walter Hagen and Tiger Woods. You'll find a practice green and a driving range at your disposal. Another resort is the Doral Golf Resort and Spa, which is part of the Marriott Hotel Group. This resort has no less than five golf courses, all par 72 with lengths ranging from 6,146 yards to 7,171 yards on the Greg Norman Great White course, making the resort well worth considering.
Island Courses
A number of Miami's golf courses are on the barrier islands. Crandon Golf Course on Key Biscayne is a championship 18-hole golf course just 10 minutes from downtown Miami. This course has frequently been on the Senior PGA Tour and has attracted many big golf names such as Gary Player, Chi Chi Rodriguez and Lee Trevino. The seventh hole here has been called "One of the Greatest Holes in Golf" and the course has been rated in the top ten courses by Golfweek Magazine. Another island course is the Miami Beach Golf Club, a 6,813 yard, par 72 course designed by Arthur Hills, one of America's leading golf course designers.
Other Public Golf Courses
Costa Greens Golf Club is one of Florida's most challenging and beautiful public golf courses. It is located 15 miles southwest of Miami International Airport and is a 6,273 yard, par 72 course. You'll find a full-sized practice range, and at the 19th hole you can relax for a churrasco at the Karnitas Grill. Costa Greens has a sister course, the Killian Greens Golf Club, which is a par 72, 18-hole course near to the center of the city. Walk-ins are welcome at all times at these two public courses.
Short Courses
If you're looking for a shorter 9-hole course try one of these three: The par 31, 3,966 yard Briar Bay golf course is located in the Miami suburb of Pinecrest to the south of the city center. You can also try the Granada Golf Club, a 3,001 yard, par 36 course located two miles south of Miami International, or the Fisher Island Club at Miami Beach--when you tee off at this 3,100 yard, par 35 course you get panoramic views of Miami's skyline and of Miami Beach.
Climate
Miami has a tropical monsoon climate with hot and humid summers and short, warm winters that are markedly drier than the summer. The average high temperature in summer is a little short of 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The mean daily average temperature in winter is 67 degrees. The city gets an average of 60 inches of rainfall a year, most of it falling between May and October. The six-week period from mid-August until the end of September is the most likely time for the city to experience a hurricane.
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