The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne

Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne was a massive disappointment for the price. At $185 per person, this course is absolutely not worth it. The fairways were full of weeds and dirt patches, and the rough looked more like overgrown backyard grass than a properly maintained golf course. The greens were decent, but nowhere near the level you would expect for such an expensive round.

The driving range was another letdown. You have to pay extra for range balls, and they are overpriced on top of already expensive tee times. Even worse, the range uses mats sitting directly on cement, which feels terrible to hit from.

Pace of play was completely unacceptable at over 5 hours and 15 minutes, and there appeared to be little to no ranger presence to keep groups moving. For a course charging premium resort prices, basic pace management should not be this bad.

Overall, this felt like a standard municipal course charging luxury golf prices. The scenery around the property is nice, but pretty views alone do not justify $185 a round. For this price, go play The Biltmore Golf Course instead.

Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne was one of the most disappointing golf experiences I’ve had in South Florida, especially considering the pricy tee time. The course markets itself as a premium luxury golf destination, but almost every aspect fell short. The rough was practically overgrown backyard grass, and while the greens weren’t terrible, they were extremely underwhelming for the price point.

The driving range was honestly shocking, sandy turf mats sitting on concrete, and they charged $18 for a small bucket of 60 balls. For a course charging luxury-level rates, you’d expect at least decent practice facilities. The carts were no different than what you’d find at a basic muni, and there were no towels, tees, or bottled waters included, things that are standard at many courses in this price range.

The round took five hours on a Saturday, which I can tolerate, but there was zero ranger presence to help pace of play. It just felt completely unmanaged. Overall, it felt like I was paying for the reputation and social media hype rather than the actual golf experience. At $70–$80, I’d say it’s solid. At $185+, it’s absolutely not worth it, and I wouldn’t play here again.

Extremely over priced at $200 +. The greens were pure but rest of course was in a condition that consists with more $60-$90 rates, patchy fairways with weeds mediocre sand

Avoid the overpriced 18 holes that are absolutely trash. Course is not in any condition worthy of $100 plus price tag. Driving range closed. Chipping area is worthless. Putting green is tiny and slanted and doesn’t role anywhere near the greens on the course. Slowest pace ever. Staff we passive aggressive. I used to play this course and was a patron member too. Highly avoid and play anywhere else or Topgolf.

$100 for 9 holes. Started at 4pm and returned cart at 7. Not worth.

A great VanHagge / Devlin design from the '70s. Was home to the Carnival Cruise Senior Tour for many years.

It's very difficult to keep good grass going that long without killing it all and replanting. This shows in the greenskeeping, but that has to do with their budget. Greenskeepers do great job and the traps are in very good shape.

From the tips it's over 7,100 yd and a hoot. There are plenty of other tea boxes for different skill levels. Play it and play it often I say.

Course is a great layout. I was disappointed in the conditions. Fairway had lots of dead spots and the greens were very slow.

I will give it another try

My first round at Crandon, back in 2019, has stuck with me for years, so I was glad to have the chance to return to check it out as part of our latest GolfPass Academy Tour event. The golf course holds up well in my estimation, thanks in part to some recent investment in it by Golf Miami-Dade.

Design-wise, Crandon is quintessentially midcentury-modern: long runway tees, smoothly bending fairways, sleekly shaped greens and amoeba bunkers, with plenty of mounding adding verticality on an otherwise dead-flat site. The five par 3s are excellent as a set. Unusually dry weather has stressed the turf in places, but it's nothing that seriously detracts from the playing experience.

The overall environment is gorgeous, with occasional glorious peeks through the mangroves back towards Miami's growing skyline. The people are very nice, though it would be good to see a bit faster pace of play enforced. The facilities are solid, too; as I was leaving, dozens of junior golfers had arrived after school and had overrun the putting and chipping greens, which is a great thing to see. Golf needs more Crandons.

The design is splendid but the grass is not the best

The greens are fine

On every hole you have to wait

We had a great day at Crandom. The condition of the course is very good, though not excellent. The amenities could be better. We received excellent service from the staff.

Very nice course!! Hope it would be in better conditions!! The pace was very show, but had a very nice time playing!

So thank you!

This course has a great setting and is prime for an elite level course. I can easily see why it USED to hold a senior PGA tournament. I say used to because the current conditions are bare minimum muni course acceptance level. The layout and setting however are great. Set on Biscayne island, just driving in you know you’re in a special place. Numerous water hazards and forced carries throughout the track keep things scenic and challenging. Add in a view views of the Miami skyline and you have a winning combination.

However the course conditions are just average at best. Greens are large and mainly roll true at a medium pace. Fairways are generously wide but were dodgy throughout with bare a patchy areas. Sand traps were all in decent condition. Tee boxes are level with most having adequate coverage

The price is premium and for that I’d expect better conditions. I cycle past this course all the time so I’m sure at some point I’ll get around to playing it again, but for now, I’m going to explore other tracks.

Love the layout but the pace of play was horrendous. Also the condition of the course was not worth the cost. Was a bit disappointed. However as said before the course layout is nice and the greens were very good.

The course was in pretty good condition, greens were all great. Bunkers were in real nice condition. Played 18 in just under four hours.