The City of Miami Springs held the ground breaking ceremony for the Miami Springs Golf Course redevelopment back on April 5, 2023. Some thought the project would be completed in October. The City of Miami Springs had planned a grand re-opening and 100 year anniversary ribbon cutting ceremony for this weekend. However, those plans were canceled as the delays will keep the golf course closed.
2023 GOLF COURSE RENOVATION TIMELINE:
- May 9, 2022: Over $250,000 awarded to Bermelo, Ajamil, & Partners for “FOR DESIGN, BID, AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE MIAMI SPRINGS GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB GOLF COURSE RENOVATION PROJECT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $250,933.00”
- March 2023: Melreese Golf Course Shuts down permanently
- March 13, 2023: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MIAMI SPRINGS, FLORIDA, APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF GREENS MIX SOIL, SAND, AND STONE FOR THE MIAMI SPRINGS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB GOLF COURSE REVITALIZATION PROJECT FROM FLORIDA SUPERIOR SAND, INC. IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $462,112 UTILIZING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY RTQ-01039 PURSUANT TO SECTION 31-11(E)(5) OF THE CITY CODE; PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
- March 13, 2023: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MIAMI SPRINGS, FLORIDA, APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF TORO GOLF COURSE IRRIGATION SUPPLIES FOR THE MIAMI SPRINGS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB GOLF COURSE REVITALIZATION PROJECT FROM WESCO TURF, INC. (FORMERLY HECTOR TURF) IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $118,544 UTILIZING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF CITY OF MESA, AZ, CONTRACT NO.
- March 27, 2023: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MIAMI SPRINGS, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE PREPARATION OF DOCUMENTS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A TAXABLE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT REVENUE NOTE WITH SOUTHSTATE BANK IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $3,800,000.00 AT A FIXED RATE OF 6.0% FOR UP TO 15 YEARS FOR THE MIAMI SPRINGS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB GOLF COURSE REVITALIZATION PROJECT; PROVIDING FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL RESOLUTION SETTING FORTH THE DETAILS OF SAID NOTE; PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE
- October, 2023: Opening delayed
- November, 2023: Opening delayed
- December 16, 2023: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and 100th year celebration of the Miami Springs Golf Course postponed due to project delays.
Now, let’s be honest. The City of Miami Springs dropped the ball on the timing of this project. Here’s why:
In July of 2018, we reported on the proposal for the Miami Freedom Park. That project would redevelop the nearby Melreese Golf Course into the Miami Freedom Park and soccer stadium for the InterMiami Football Club (aka soccer team).
We reported back then how this project would be a HUGE opportunity for the City of Miami Springs to attract new golfers seeking to play golf near the airport.
Well guess what? The Melreese Golf Course is now closed. And where are all those golfers playing today? Every other golf course except for Miami Springs. I mean seriously, that’s just plain stupid.
How the heck do we close the golf course at the same time that Melreese Golf Course shuts down? Let’s just let these golfers establish new patterns and explore our competitors? The City of Miami Springs should have raced to make all the renovations BEFORE the shutdown of Melreese. Not during the closure.
In other words, the City of Miami Springs has given the former Melreese Golf Course users no choice but to try other local golf courses. So instead of exploring the Miami Springs Golf Course, the former Melreese Golf Course users will be exploring other courses like Doral, Coral Gables, or Miami Lakes.
This was a once in a lifetime opportunity to create new habits with golfers that were using the Melreese Golf Course to try out Miami Springs. Instead, we’re giving every other golf course in Miami-Dade County the opportunity to poach the Melreese clients.
So now, whenever the City of Miami Springs finally reopens the Miami Springs Golf Course after the nearly $4 Million Renovation is completed, we have to work harder to gain customers that have already moved to other golf courses.
When Will the Golf Course Re-Open?
The new City Manager, JC Jimenez (who inherited this project), stated at Monday’s Miami Springs City Council Meeting that the golf course may stay closed for another couple of months.
Councilman Victor Vazquez quoted Ricky Ricardo saying, “You’ve got some ‘splaining to do.” in reference to the delays in this project.
Miami Springs Mayor, Maria Mitchell stated, “It shouldn’t have happened…caught us off-guard…”
Miami Springs City Manager, JC Jimenez directed his staff to give him a date, “but don’t give it to me now…When I do get it, that’s the date. It’s gonna happen. I’m not going to move it again.”
it’s unclear as to the source of the project delays. Poor planning? Contractor delays? Poor oversight by the Golf Director? Overly ambitious timelines? All of the above? Who knows?
All we know is that nobody in Miami Springs is happy with the golf course still being closed.
