If you are looking for a course that is over the top in extravagance…such as a marble fountain adjacent to the practice putting green…Trump National at Doral is the destination for you. I ventured to Doral in April, excited to take on the Blue Monster and see if the beast was really all that it was chalked up to be…it was!
This trip was by far the easiest trip in regard to transportation. Doral is a resort golf course that has its own accommodations with ‘stay and play’ packages. Personally, the fees were a little high for me to stay directly on the course so I stayed down the cart path at ‘The Provident Doral at the Blue Miami’. From the Provident I was able to walk to and from the golf course, driving range, short game area, putting green and was directly across the street from a lively downtown with great options for dining. Accessibility was a major plus at this location.
One of the best features of this course was having the ability to walk down the cart path past the Rick Smith Golf Center to the immaculately maintained driving range and short game area. Since I had not played much golf since my trip in February, my game certainly appreciated the fully stocked range and practice facility as I spent a fair amount of time working out some kinks before taking on The Monster.
Walking up to the course you can almost be overwhelmed by the white marble, gold ornamentation, beautiful flowers, and staff everywhere zipping about looking to be of assistance. I booked my tee time online with no hassle and had multiple times to choose from. I reserved a time for 10 am and almost hit the floor when I saw the price…just under $500 for the round. Well, I accepted the challenge and Doral accepted my Visa. Upon arrival, the staff is there to help you in any way possible and are incredibly accommodating. Finding the pro shop was a journey within itself. The facility is gigantic and has entrances and buildings almost everywhere you turn. After checking in, I warmed up and got ready to tackle the course alongside another golfer who hailed from Alaska.
The Blue Monster is certainly blue, with water on 11 of its 18 holes. I played the white tees which measured around 6300 yards…the black tees come in at 7500 yards truly a monster of a course. My day started with a par on the opening hole, a nice par 5 to get warmed up and gain some confidence before facing numerous forced carries, tricky pin placements, and bunkers that guard the green like Fort Knox. The course was in superb condition, minus the fact that the greens had recently been sanded. The fairways were tight, the rough lush, and the bunkers filled with some of the whitest sand I have seen. The front 9 was an absolute blast to play! The fairways seem to go on forever at Doral and getting some distance off the tee was paramount to meeting with success.
After wrapping up the front 9, I made the turn and continued to be in amazement at the natural beauty surrounding me on the course. The only thing that could seem a bit out of place is the planes overhead that can be seen and heard due to the proximity to the airport. Also, on hole #15 you will stumble upon a helicopter landing pad next to the tee box. The final closing holes are Doral are truly magnificent. The crowning jewel on the course is hole #18, a par 4 with a fountain, water hazard, tricky green, and a beautiful view of the clubhouse straight ahead. The 18th hole has been named by GOLF Magazine as one of the top 100 holes in the world and it certainly did not disappoint.
I only have great things to say about ‘The Blue Monster’ and sincerely hope that you have the chance to experience this course at some point. This trip was fantastic from start to finish, and tee to green it ranked up pretty high as well!
See you in the fairway!
Courtney
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