The rest of the country is cleaning its clubs and putting them in the garage. Miami is just getting started. If you're looking for golf near Miami Florida, November is when the whole thing opens up: the summer storms are gone, the highs sit around 80, and almost every course on this list is within half an hour of downtown. A Donald Ross classic in Coral Gables. An island round on Key Biscayne. The Blue Monster in Doral. One hotel, short drives, and the only weather question is which sunscreen.
Golf with the Miami skyline across the bay.
Why Miami
Miami is the winter golf capital for a simple reason: the season never stops. November highs land around 80 degrees, the humidity backs off, hurricane season wraps up at the end of the month, and the best golf weather of the year shows up right as everybody up north starts digging for a winter coat.
It's also compact. You can stay in one place and play seven very different rounds without a long drive. And the price range is wide open, from an $89 county muni to a $595 bucket list round. Bring whatever budget you've got. Miami has a tee time for it.
One tip before you book: Miami rates climb in mid December when peak season starts. November is the sweet spot for weather and price.
Best public golf courses near Miami, Florida
Every course here is open to the public. Here's the golf near Miami Florida worth building a trip around.
Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne (Key Biscayne) is the anchor and the most Miami round you can play. It's a county course on an island across the causeway, with Biscayne Bay, mangroves, the skyline, plenty of water, and wind that shows up whenever it wants. It's the best public round in Miami Dade County: a scenic, tough test without resort pricing. Rates currently run $120 on Mondays, $159 Tuesday through Thursday, and $179 Friday through Sunday with a cart, a little less if you walk. The play is twilight: after 3 PM it drops to $90 on weekdays and $95 on weekends. It's about 25 minutes from downtown. If it's your first Miami golf trip, start here.
Biltmore Golf Course (Coral Gables) is the history pick. It's a 1925 Donald Ross design, restored, and sitting right beneath the landmark Biltmore Hotel, a tower that looks like it belongs in Spain. The course is city owned, open to visitors, and home of the Jim McLean golf school. It works for every skill level. Expect around $192 to $240 depending on the day, with twilight around $155. It's about 25 minutes from downtown. Mondays open at 10 AM for maintenance, so plan around that.
Trump National Doral, Blue Monster (Doral) is the bucket list round, and it's priced like one. It's the marquee tournament course in Miami: long, wet, demanding, with water everywhere, and it's back on the PGA Tour schedule. Fall rates run $595, or $495 for twilight after 1 PM, and a forecaddie is mandatory at $37 plus a recommended $40 tip. That's a lot of money to find the water on 18. Worth it once if you're a strong player chasing the big one. It's about 30 minutes from downtown. Two heads ups: the driving range is down to temporary nets right now, and the resort hosts the G20 Leaders' Summit December 14 and 15, so expect security closures that week.
Miami Beach Golf Club (Miami Beach) is the most convenient round to South Beach, right on Alton Road. It's an Arthur Hills design playing 6,813 yards from the back tees with big, well bunkered greens. It runs $181 through December 16, then jumps to $281 for peak season, so this is a November play. You can book tee times five days out. It's the one you pick for location, not value.
Normandy Shores Golf Club (Miami Beach) is Miami Beach's everyday round. It's the city's other course, at well under half the price of its sister club, and the rate includes your cart and range balls. Shoulder season pricing is $126 through December 16 (twilight $104), then $165 for peak. It's about 25 minutes from downtown and easy to reach from South Beach hotels. Collared shirt required, so leave the cutoffs at the pool.
Miami Springs Golf & Country Club (Miami Springs) is Miami's oldest course, opened in 1923, and it sits right next to Miami International Airport. It plays 6,755 yards and has a lighted range. Last winter's rates were $85 Monday through Thursday and $105 Friday through Sunday, with twilight at $65 after 2 PM. It's about 20 minutes from downtown, which makes it the perfect arrival day or departure day round. Yes, there's jet noise. Consider it applause.
Palmetto Golf Course (Miami) is the value pick, and it comes with a great story. It's a 1959 Dick Wilson design, the same architect who laid out the Blue Monster, with canals running through the fairways at county prices. Weekend rates are $89 with a cart, weekdays run $52 to $75, and weekend twilight is $61. Same architect as the Blue Monster for about a seventh of the price. It's about 40 minutes south, and weekends can play slow, so grab an early tee time.
Palm lined golf in South Florida.
The play
Thursday night: fly into Miami International and stay somewhere central. If your flight lands early, sneak in a twilight nine at Miami Springs, right next to the airport.
Friday: open with the Biltmore in the morning, then spend the afternoon wandering Coral Gables.
Saturday: play Crandon early, before the heat and the wind build, then head over to South Beach for the afternoon.
Sunday: close with the Blue Monster at Doral before an afternoon flight home. Leave on a big one. If $595 isn't in this year's budget, play Palmetto instead and tell everyone you played a Dick Wilson course. Technically true.
Build the whole weekend in the Fore & Away app and let it sort the tee times, the hotel, and the budget around the golf.
Quick answers
What's the best golf course near Miami?
Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne (Key Biscayne), for the signature Miami round. It's island golf on Biscayne Bay with skyline and mangrove views, about 25 minutes from downtown, at $120 to $179, or $95 or less after 3 PM. For the biggest test, the Blue Monster at Trump National Doral is the pick, at $595 plus a mandatory forecaddie.
What's the cheapest good golf in Miami?
Palmetto Golf Course (Miami), a Dick Wilson design with weekend rates of $89 and weekday rates as low as $52. Miami Springs Golf & Country Club is the other value play, at $85 to $105 in winter with twilight at $65.
When is the best time for a Miami golf trip?
November through April, and November is the sweet spot. The summer heat and storms are gone, highs sit around 80, hurricane season ends November 30, and courses like Miami Beach and Normandy Shores are still on shoulder season pricing until mid December.
Artwork generated for this post.