Palmetto Golf Course (Miami, FL)

Dick Wilson is known mostly for his private courses, so it’s surprising to see his name attached to this municipal course in Miami. He designed Palmetto in 1959, and the city bought it eight years later in 1967.  It shows off Wilson’s strategy and architectural features in convincing fashion and has a strong course and slope rating. 

Dick Wilson focused extensively on the aerial game, so most of his holes are guarded in front by sand. There might be spots to run the ball on but to score well the ball must come in high to attack the pins. Wilson liked to offset the greens, and they’re oval shaped, not circular, so the ability to turn the ball both ways brings more of the putting surface in play.  It also means one has to be precise with his yardage and the line he’s taking to the green.

(The 319/298 yard par four fourth plays diagonal across the water hazard…
…the approach shot is strongly guarded by sand and has several tucked positions. Note how the long hitter who takes a rip might find himself in an awkward position with an unusual angle to the pin.) 

This piece of property has a winding canal that flows through it. For the most part, Wilson stayed away from it, and it only comes into play if one hits a poor shot. It does front a few greens, but it’s well short and never against the putting surface. Even on the drives, it’s typically positioned where it shouldn’t have an impact. This makes me wonder how much control they had on the water flow when it was designed. Often times the old architects kept the water features limited to boundaries or filler between tees and greens. I felt Wilson did that here, and defended par with his elevated green pads and fronting bunkers. 

(The 402/392 yard par four tenth is a good example of Wilson’s aerial defense. The weaker player often times is laying back and hitting his third over the canal.) 

The biggest flaw I saw with Palmetto are all the nets. I counted at least four, and the one on ten was the worst positioned net I’ve seen anywhere. It literally was in the driving zone on the right. The driving range was wedged in between eighteen and ten so two more nets contained golfers hitting balls. The course abuts two main streets which meant holes adjacent had nets protecting traffic. 

(The ending hole is a stout 430/417 yard par four. The drive is over the canal to a fairway lined by trees on both sides…
…a slight opening does allow a low runner to find the putting surface but any pin in the center or on the left requires the ball be carried to get close. Note the net on the left where the driving range is.)

Palmetto is a strong course where length is needed to score well. From the whites, eight of the twelve par fours are 380 yards or longer. It’s a pretty mean 6247 yards! It’s not your typical muni where you roll in and have an easy round of golf. I kinda feel bad for the regulars who call this their home. There’s a lot of long irons or hybrids hit into the greens. I reckon their game travels well. I give Palmetto a 4 (above average)(worth driving 30-45 minutes to play). We payed $47 for eighteen holes which is a great price for South Florida.