Perfect Time to Play Miami's Palmetto Golf Course

By Bill Incontro
Regional Course Reviewer

June 25, 1999

MIAMI - This is the perfect time of year to play the Palmetto Golf Course. Miami, Florida has just completed the dreaded rainy season. The fairways and greens are full and lush and many of the flowering shrubs and trees are in bloom. The Palmetto is a top 100-ranked public course designed by Louis S. "Dick" Wilson in 1960.

The Palmetto Golf Course is a Miami-Dade County property and over 60,000 rounds of golf are played here annually. The PGA Professional is Mr. Philip Argianas and the Superintendent is Mr. Jim Walker. I'd like to thank them and their staff for the assistance they gave me in developing this review.

THE COURSE:

The fairways are Ormond and the greens are Tif Dwarf Bermuda. In a major renovation project, all of the greens were replaced last summer. With almost a full year to develop, the greens putt very well. The par 70 Palmetto plays 6648 yards from the blue tees but seems much longer.

While most of the primary landscaping survived Hurricane Andrew, $250,000 in new trees has been added to the course in recent years. A canal runs through the course dissecting nine holes and three lakes come into play on five other holes. To be successful at golf, you must keep the ball out of the water. At the Palmetto that in its self is a major accomplishment.

Course Rating Slope
Blue: 6648 yards 72.2 128
White: 6214 yards 70.2 123
Red: 5710 yards 73.4 125

HOLE NOTES:

The challenge begins at the number 1, 548-yard par 5. After a tee shot into a spacious tree lined fairway, your 2nd shot is a fairway wood that crosses the canal 220 yards from the green. Thoughts of reaching in two are best forgotten here. The first green is large and inviting but 3 sand traps are ready for any miss-hits. The canal makes its second appearance on the tee shot of the par 4, 430-yard second hole. A long drive to another wide, tree-lined fairway is required to set up your approach.

The green is canted to the front, with two bunkers in the front and one in back. The 435-yard par 4 number 3 hole looks to be a good scoring opportunity, but it is the number one handicap hole on the course. The tree line on the right and water long left are your concerns off the tee. The approach shot, again over the canal, is to a well-bunkered green.

The 319-yard par 4, number 4 is a very pretty hole. With a lake along the inside of the dogleg for the last 200 yards, this hole sets up nicely for a fade off the tee. Two bunkers left and two bunkers right are receptive to chunked and topped approach shots.

Number 5, the 187-yard par 3, is obvious, though it is heavily bunkered. Number 6 is a 364-yard par 4 with a soft dogleg right. 3-fairway bunkers favor a controlled drive while long drives to the right of the fairway can reach a lake. Overshooting this green on your approach is probably a lost ball.

The par 3 164-yard seventh hole is a beauty. It looks to be the most exposed hole on the course and is subject to consistent right to left breezes. Oh yes, the tee shot of the seventh hole is over 2-lakes and the green has extensive bunkering. The front right is open and a draw will roll up nicely onto the green.

The par 4, 405-yard 8th hole is typical of the Palmetto. Off the tee a tree line left, a lake right and then your approach shot over the canal. Closing out the front is the 529-yard par 5. A big power fade off the tee leaves a very long 3-wood to reach in two.

The backside par-34, plays 3,267 yards but has no par 5's. Number 10 is a 419 yard dogleg right. The approach shot across the canal is to an elevated green with bunkers left and front right. The par 3 number 11 is 209 long yards with OB all along the right side.

Don't slice here, there's no room for it. 3-large traps protect a long uphill green. Number 12 is the first par 4 you play with no water. The seven fairway bunkers require an accurate drive and three more bunkers await you at the green. It's not the number 2-handicap hole without reason.

The 393-yard number 13 par 4 is my favorite driving hole. There's not much trouble to get in to and a long drive leaves a wedge to well bunkered green. Number 14, the 374-yard par 4 is a dogleg left. Draw a three wood around the corner for a middle iron over the canal to a large receptive green. Miss the fairway off the tee and get out the calculator.

Number 15 sets up nicely for a power fade off the tee. This 399-yard, par 4 dogleg right crosses the canal off the tee and four fairway bunkers come into play regularly. With a good tee shot, a middle iron to the large green offers a quality scoring opportunity.

The 412 yard, 16th hole is also a dogleg right. No water to deal with, but OB all along the right side. Four bunkers surround a spacious green. The par 3, 176-yard number 17, has 5-greenside bunkers and an elevated green. Balls love to run off this green into the traps.

The finishing hole is a 434-yard par 4 with trees right and trees and OB left. A good tee shot, over the canal, must be long and straight in order to set up your approach shot to a large, well-bunkered green.

WEATHER OR NOT

As with any course, wind is a factor. On this course it can be a major factor. At the Palmetto Golf Course the breeze blew almost continually. Learning about playing in the south Florida wind is an integral part of the game. The breeze is a welcome relief to the hot Miami sun and water is readily available on the course.

Sunscreen is a must this time of year and you should bring an umbrella for those afternoon downpours. Because of the winds most storm bursts last less than a half-hour. Fairways and greens drain very well and play resumes immediately after the rain stops.

RATES:

As of 06/23/99
Walking Cart
Monday through Friday until 4:00 $13.50 $27.50
Monday through Friday after 4:00 8.50 11.00
Weekends and Holidays until 4:00 17.50 31.50
Weekends and Holidays after 4:00 8.50 13.40

COMMENT:

I like to play the Palmetto and I do like to walk it. It is challenging but good shot making and quality course management skills will be rewarded with a good score. I'd suggest the Palmetto Golf Course for anybody visiting Miami and looking for a quality round of golf at a reasonable fee.

Palmetto Golf Course
9300 SW 152 Street
Miami, FL 33157
Phone: 305-238-2922
Fax: 305-233-7840
County: Dade
Region: Southeast Florida