Trump National Doral Miami - Blue Monster Course

Its always an unusual experience when you play a course with the owner and a former champion of a tour event played on the course but such was the case for me and Charlie Rymer when we played the new Blue designed by Gil Hanse. being hosted by Donald Trump and Rocco Mediate meant it was going to be an interesting day but the review of the course was a central focus of the day. I had not played the blue in decades and from the outset it was clear that the course was all new despite maintaining the general routing of the previous incarnation. Immediately you saw a far more pleasing looking course with the vistas created and the removal of dense vegetation that never factored into the design of the course. The land is very flat and there is simply not much you can do about changing that however Hanse and Jim Wagner, his chief shaper, created mounding away from tees and greens that will greatly enhance the pleasure of the fans at the World Golf Championship without contriving design features that influence the playing of any holes. The massive soil movement was to create brand new holes and we they created is sturdy, strategic, and as dramatic to the eye without being artificial they could be achieved on the property. From the opening hole to the final green the most prevailing feature are the pearl white sand bunkers that are visible across the landscape. Hanse has restored several of the great works of AW Tillinghast and their key features are the facings of their bunkers that give the player a very clear idea where the trouble lies while visually creating a dramatic scene for every golfer to enjoy across the entire course. The facings of all the fairway bunkers on the new blue are pushed up and they are not homogenized. They are singularly unique to each other and are practical to the strategy of each tee location. The course has a clever ebb and flow with short, medium and long amongst all the par 3-4 and 5's. Pay particular attention to the contouring of the greens on the short par 4's. More severity and potential run offs because Hanse understands a short club should require more precision. The dramatic pushing of the 9th green 75 yards closer to the 18th green produces a massive viewer area and also a beautiful scene to end your round. The finest stretches in my estimation are 3-4-5, 8-9-10 and 15-16-17-18. Players will thoroughly enjoy the 150 yard, from the back, 15th and the drivable, for the elite player, 16th that has the best example of Hanse's superior bunker work. The Blue Monster is an expensive proposition, one of the highest green fees in the country, but it has clearly reclaimed its status as one of the best in Florida and Gil Hanse has proven that he can take a tired old dame and restore her to a challenging yet glamorous beauty.

Love Trump National, have played all 4 courses on this property now! But very disappointed in value for what you get on the Blue Monster! I think the other courses at Trump National are a great value, but I probably not play this course again for the price, $800 before 2pm, and $500 after 2pm, course was nice but not worth the money, I only paid this price because I wanted to have played all 4. Golden Palm, Red Tiger, Silver Fox all worth the price, but unfortunately not for Blue Monster, you get just as good of an experience if you choose to play the one of the other courses

Very windy day on a great golf course. We played 36 that day. Guys we were with wanted to buy Blue Monster gear but they close the Blue Monster pro shop at 4????? Seems silly to have it separate from one of the best pro shops ever. Huge selection and square footage. Should have built the Blue Monster shop connecting to main pro shop. Course was great. We played in 4 hours. Perfect

You’re paying for the name. $700 total after fore caddie fees and the tip (which are mandatory at $30 even for underperformance as my very unenthusiastic, and lethargic fore caddie pointed out). It’s gorgeous but it’s not worth the price nor the prestige it thinks it deserves. Three other courses here are still over priced but in just as good, if not better, shape for half of what you pay (or more) for the Blue Fraudster. Disappointed to say the least.

We had a great fore caddie that really helped us navigate the course.

It was wonderful. time for beautiful and good course and conditions of fairway and green

Top 10 I have courses I have played in condition and grandeur. If you go in the rough you have to hit a wedge out from wherever you are is the only drawback. Fairways were like carpet and the greens were like velvet but like ice to putt on.

The golf course, pro shops, restaurants, facilities and staff were all first class!