Golf Course Review by: Billy Satterfield

Rankings: 

 

The Takeaway:  The longtime PGA Tour stop enjoys convenient proximity to Miami International Airport and the logistics necessary to host a professional tournament. An extensive amount of bunkering paired with a handful of water hazards bring character to the flat landscape, but take away its history and it's hard to see it as a Top 100 Public course.  Grade B-

Quick Facts

Designer:  Dick Wilson 1962; Gil Hanse renovation 2014

Cost:  Dynamic pricing adjust on demand Click for current rates

Phone Number:  305-592-2000

Course Website:  Official Website - Visit Trump National Doral Miami (Blue Monster)'s official website by clicking on the link provided.

Directions:  Get here! - 4400 N.W. 87th Avenue, Miami, Florida  33178 – UNITED STATES

Photos:  See additional photos of Trump National Doral Miami (Blue Monster)

Similar Course:

• PGA National Resort (Champion)

What to Expect:  Miami's most famous layout as a PGA Tour stop for over 50 years and more recently as a LIV Tour location, the Blue Monster course at Doral is able to operate on its long founded reputation to draw players to its fairways. The Dick Wilson layout from 1962 was revitalized by Gil Hanse in 2014 after Donald Trump assumed ownership of the South Florida resort that boasts a total of four courses and extensive high end facilities. The Blue Monster is laid out over flat terrain with a plethora of bunkers dotting the landscape and a handful of water features coming into play; most famously along the left side of the long par four 18th. When all is said and done, the layout at Doral's flagship design is solid and straight forward with everything being obvious in front of you; including the tame green contours. It is exactly the type of course that tour professionals enjoy playing but offers little to get excited about for the general public unless you are locked into the high level of service and conditioning that is offered. It reminded me quite a bit of PGA National's Champion course in terms of terrain and appeal, though Doral is slightly more appealing with less development surrounding the routing and a modified feel to the bunkering. If service and conditioning is what you value most, then Trump Doral has you covered in spades. If compelling terrain and golf architecture is what you desire, then the Blue Monster won’t make your list of favorites.

By the Numbers

Tees	Par	Yardage	Rating	Slope
Black	72	7590	77.4	146
Gold	72	7034	75.0	140
Blue	72	6698	73.5	139
White	72	6334	71.7	139
Red (Ladies)	72	5463	72.9	138

Individual Hole Analysis

Signature Hole:  18th Hole – 473 Yard Par 4 – Rivaling the 16th at TPC Sawgrass as the most famous hole in Florida due to its history on the PGA Tour and the drama it can create late in a tournament, the 18th is a demanding par four that will require you to perform at your best all the way into the clubhouse. Like the 18th at TPC Sawgrass, the closing hole on the Blue Monster is a long par four with water flanking the entire left side of the hole and the palatial clubhouse consuming the background. At the widest point of the fairway there is a bunker on the right and water on the left with Dick Wilson requiring you to maintain accuracy with your driver before hitting an approach shot to a green that moves from front right to back left along the lake. It isn't uncommon to have people stop and act as spectators for approach shots coming in and eventually hearing a groan from the crowd when a player sends their ball for a swim.

Best Par 3:  9th Hole – 216 Yards – Running parallel to the approach shot on the 18th hole, the 9th is on the opposite side of the lake and boasts water the entire right side of the hole. The steep ledge right of the green will ensure shots off line will kick into the water while players bailing out to the left will find a bunker lying in wait. The exposure to the wind here is greater than the holes with trees lining the fairway, so taking that into account will be critical for success.

Best Par 4:  17th Hole – 430 Yards – The Blue Monster's penultimate hole is a strong par four that bends to the right after the midpoint of the hole. Four bunkers are found lining the driving zone of the fairway while an additional three bunkers are lying greenside. A tee shot that starts up the left side and fades to the right will generally yield the best results before an approach shot that needs to avoid the water on the right side.

Best Par 5:  10th Hole – 608 Yards – The back nine starts with a strong par five that calls for a long carry over water off the tee. The fairway doglegs hard to the left along the lake and features a series of bunkers up the right side and water on the left the whole way home. Getting home in two would take a monster drive over the lake and laser-like precision on the second shot as only a small opening is presented in front of the green to run a ball through; the rest of the green being protected by sand.

Birdie Time:  16th Hole – 370 Yard Par 4 – One of the largest bunkers on the course sits short of the green on the left side; the same side that a pond covers from tee to green. A tee shot up the right side will put a wedge in your hand, yielding an opportunity to stick an approach tight for a great look at birdie. The putting surface is more heavily undulated here than at most any other green, so taking dead aim at the flag is the wise decision when trying to take a stroke back from Old Man Par.

Bogey Beware:  7th Hole – 472 Yard Par 4 – With all of the water and sand on Doral, Dick Wilson and Gil Hanse make sure there are plenty of opportunities for players to card a bogey, but the 7th is as challenging as any to be aware of. The right side of the hole features water from tee to green while the left side of the driving zone has a pair of bunkers looming in an effort to discourage players from bailing out. The approach shot employs the same strategy but with less forgiveness as sand covers the entire left side and water occupies the front of the green and carries over part way on the right side. At the green, the putting surface slopes towards the water, so trying to stay safe up the left side comes with its perils.