Featured Golf Course

The Miami Beach Golf Club is located in the City of Miami Beach in Miami-Dade County.

Originally called the Bay Shore Golf Course, work began on the golf course in 1921. It was part of pioneering developer Carl Fisher’s ambitious Alton Beach subdivision, designed to lure wealthy winter residents from New York, Indianapolis and Detroit. Fisher brought in English course designer Willie Park to lay out the course who reportedly used reproductions of famous holes found in Scotland and America. Lee Nelson was in charge of the construction. 

Upon the completion of the course, Nelson invited one of the world’s leading golfers, Gene Sarazen to play the first round. On November 15, 1922, Sarazen along with course architect Willie Park played the full 18 holes. After the round Sarazen was well pleased. The 6,581-yard golf course was officially opened to the public on January 10, 1923.

The golf course was owned by the Miami Beach Bayshore Company. During World War II, the U.S. Army rented the course from the company for $22,000 a year for use as a training ground. Helmeted, rifle-toting soldiers found themselves running through the course’s palm trees amid the smoke from practice grenades. The fairways were also used as parade grounds and for graduation exercises.

The course was almost lost entirely in the mid-1940s, when a group of investors purchased it and proposed building 650 homes on the grounds. Pressure from the local residents and business leaders convinced the city to buy the land and maintain golf course. The course reopened in December 1945 after $40,000 worth of repairs.

In 2002, the City of Miami Beach hired the golf course architectural firm of Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates to redesign the golf course. Nearly every blade of grass was replaced, every lake was drained, and a new clubhouse was built. The transformation was complete when the old Bayshore golf course became the new Miami Beach Golf Club.

Bay Shore Golf Course Designed by Willie Park

Gene Sarazen Plays First Round at Bay Shore Golf Club

Bay Shore Opening Day Golf Tournament Won by Miss Miriam Burns

Bay Shore Golf Course Yardage from Opening Day

Bay Shore Clubhouse c1930

Army Cadet Marching on Bay Shore Golf Course c1943

Soldiers in Mock Battle on Bay Shore Golf Course