The Florida Golf Course Seeker: Biltmore Golf Course

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Biltmore Golf Course
Resort-Resident (Municipal)(Resident) - 18 Holes
1210 Anastasia Avenue
Coral Gables, Florida
Miami-Dade County
33134
Website
Resort Website

The Biltmore Golf Course is a municipal golf course and offers discounted fees for residents of Coral Gables and Miami-Dade County. The Biltmore Hotel offers discounted green fees for hotel guests.

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Notes

In 1922, George Merrick the visionary of Coral Gables, started the Coconut Grove Golf and Country Club and hired golf architect William Langford to draw up plans for three 18-hole golf courses and two 9-hole golf courses. Construction began on the first 18-hole golf course (now known as Biltmore GC).

One of the 9-hole golf courses that was built is now known as Granada Golf Course. The other 9-hole golf course never got off the drawing board. Two of the 18-hole golf courses that were built are now know as Biltmore Golf Course and Riviera Country Club. The third 18-hole golf course never got past the planning stage.

In 1924, the Miami-Biltmore Country Club is formed with George Merrick and Biltmore hotel maverick John McEntee Bowman, which took over the work done by the Coconut Grove Golf and Country Club on the two 18-hole golf courses. The Miami-Biltmore Country Club hired Donald Ross and he laid out the two 18-hole golf courses for the Miami-Biltmore hotel property.

In 1925, Donald Ross' layouts are revealed, and the golf courses are named Course No. 1 and Course No. 2 for the Miami-Biltmore Country Club, where Course No. 1 is also known as the North Course and Course No. 2 is also known as the South Course. By March 1925, 9 holes of the North Course are open.

On January 2, 1926, a 36-hole exhibition match is held to officially open both courses of the Miami-Biltmore Country Club. The north course has a layout of 18/6138.

In 1931, Henry Doherty leases the Miami-Biltmore Hotel and Country Club and on January 1, 1932, it becomes a member of the Florida Year-Round Club.

In 1941, the Miami-Biltmore Country Club - North Course is revamped and has a new layout of 18/6640.

In 1942, at the onset of World War Two, the government takes over the grounds of the Biltmore Hotel and the Miami-Biltmore Country Club - North Course for $889,000. The Biltmore Hotel is transformed into a hospital to take care of the war wounded. The golf course remains open but only to members of the Miami-Biltmore Country Club and patients of the hospital.

In 1945, the golf course is leased by the City of Coral Gables, and golf course is known as the Pratt General Hospital Golf Course.

On July 1, 1947, the Veterans Administration who runs the hospital shuts down the golf course. In October 1947, the Veterans Administration allows the City of Coral Gables to run the golf course and it is re-opened by the City of Coral Gables in November 1947, and the golf course is now known as the Biltmore Golf Course. The City of Coral Gables is leasing the golf course from the governement at $1/year, but has no clubhouse or parking facilities.

In 1958, Mark Mahana (now known as Mark Mahannah) designs a partial renovation on the Biltmore Golf Course and had a layout of 18/71/6565.

In 1973, the City of Coral Gables was granted ownership control of the Biltmore Golf Course.

In 1977, the Biltmore Golf Course is renovated.

In 1987, the Biltmore Hotel is re-opened after $55M in renovations, but closes 3 years later.

In 1992, The Biltmore Hotel re-opens for good.

Around 2000, Karl Litten did a $3M renovation on the Biltmore Golf Course, which held true to the original Donald Ross design and had a layout of 18/71/6772.

In 2007, Brian Silva redesigned the Biltmore Golf Course and the Biltmore Golf Course currently has a layout of 18/71/6742.

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