The twin courses designed by Reese Jones beside Biscayne Bay have been the signature of the Turnberry Isle Resort since it opened in 1970 under PGA great Julius Boros. But the combination of a $100-million overhaul of the resort by Fairmont Properties and some inadvertent pruning by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 has produced a unique golf destination in Miami’s Aventura area.
And who better to do the refurbishing of the two 18-hole courses than Florida icon and Golf Hall of Famer Raymond Floyd? Winner of four majors on the PGA Tour, Floyd has a native’s feel for the marshlands and tropical grasses that are such a feature of golf in the southeast United States.
While the rest of the estate was undergoing a stunning facelift to turn it into a Mediterranean villa, Floyd set to work texturing the flat 36 holes of Turnberry Isle, emphasizing changes in elevation and contour on the otherwise flat, sand-based Florida soil. To do so he brought in 700,000 cubic metres of subsoil. The cost was $30 million-- and the care and expense shows.
The result of Floyd’s extensive makeover, finished in 2007, is a shotmaker’s course that combines carries over water with tight, textured greens. (So much so that the LPGA will stage the Standford International on April 21-27.) Being a resort course, however, the layout is still very playable for the holiday or corporate golfer looking for some fun at 5500 yards or so.
Playing 7047 yards from the tips ( 74.9/149 course and slope rating), the Soffer course can be a very different experience each day depending on the winds off the Atlantic or the heat. With a stiff wind, shots can change by as much as two or three clubs. Given too much wind and baking sun, the greens can become hard to hold. The signature hole of the Soffer course is the island green on the 18th hole which can cap or ruin a round with its challenging approach. Don’t let the 64-foot waterfall distract you!
The highlight of the 6417-yard Miller course are the holes that circumscribe Lake Julius (named for Boros) on the back nine. The par-three No. 15 is a daring 200-yard carry over the lake from the back tees. While there are safe bailouts on the left side, Floyd rewards the aggressive shot with a receptive green nestled in front of a tropical garden. A birdie opportunity for the bold.
The finishing par-five is an eagle opportunity with an accurate second shot to the green placed at the foot of a dramatic waterfall. Be careful of the swale running across the 18th green-- being left on the wrong side can result in a three putt.
Another treat on the course is the Audubon-sanctioned bird refuge on Lake Julius which has the flamingos and tropical birds mandatory for snowblind travellers. When the round is over, players can sample the Bourbon Steak House (featuring the rare Kobe beef) or the Cascata Grille with a great view of the closing holes. The Michael Minna menu (try the tapioca-rolled yellow snapper) at the Bourbon is a world-class dining experience.
Prices for golf and stay packages at the 392-guest hotel start at $479 U.S. for low season to $899 for high season. The Fairmont Turnberry Island Resort is available from either the Miami or Fort Lauderdale International airports. For more information go to www.fairmont.com/turnberryisle/HotelPackages/Golf/ForetheLoveofGolf.htm.