I recently had the opportunity to stay at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort in Aventura, Florida and play on their two golf courses, The Miller Course and Soffer Course. Turnberry is a beautiful resort contingent to Miami and set in the middle of Aventura, bordered by the many luxury high rise condos set around the various waterways that meander throughout the entire development.
Both Turnberry Isle resort courses were designed by Raymond Floyd and are very representative of his style, meaning challenging approaches to the pin from 100 yards in and subtle breaks into challenging pin placements. Floyd is a short game fanatic and his designs usually force different thinking and strategies into pins from off just off the green from different angles. A major point that should be made here is that both courses were in absolutely pristine condition: manicured greens and cuffs, beautifully maintained fairways, picturesque plantings and water hazards throughout and consistent, well groomed traps. Both courses required the employ of fore caddies that is a nice touch and makes the round feel more country club than resort. The staff is helpful, knowledgeable, and very well mannered in servicing their customers. This joint is not cheap by any means, but the Turnberry crew does everything right to make your experience feel worth it.
The Miller course is a par 70, 6417 yard track from the tips carrying a 72/143 slope rating. The track is fairly open and did not feel like a 143 slope by any means. Even so, it was a nice challenge and very good resort course. There are some nice par 5’s including the 515 yard #7 and 577 yard #14 that delivers plenty of grief in the huge winds that sweep over the property from a variety of directions. All in all, a very worthwhile golf experience.
The Soffer course at 7047 from the tips and more manageable 6537 from the Blue tees with a 72.7/141 rating is the more difficult and interesting of the two tracks. Soffer is more narrow than Miller, offers up more doglegs or at least curved fairway views, has very challenging approaches into the greens on the par 4’s and like the Miller course provides some terrific pin placements on the sloped greens. The par 3’s are all good tests, especially #’s 13 and 15. The signature hole is definitely the par 5 18th, a 542 yard beauty (from the Blues), where the second shot to a landing area is critical to approach a two-teared green over water. A large waterfall stands next to the cart path to the green that is framed with colorful flowers in the background.
Turnberry Isle, with its golf and Spa, is a definite first rate, thumbs up resort and while expensive, a good 2-3 day destination.

Unless you are a single digit handicapper, don't step foot on the Soffet course. Even from the white tees playing 6000 yards it was a miserable experience. Very tight fairways, and if you miss them your ball will be lost in the lush landscaping with no chance of finding your ball. No let up on the par 3's, with forced carries over water on every one.

I thought I hit a pretty good tee shot on number 10, just pulled it a tad. unfortunately it hit the cart path and bounced into the plants and flowers. No hazard lines so it counts as a lost ball, as the odds of finding it in this stuff is 1 in 10 at best. This will be a typical experience if you don't hit it dead straight off the tee. A 20 handicapper will lose a dozen balls in the landscaping and water easily. Not sure what Ray Floyd was thinking with this design in a resort setting. The North course is a bit more forgiving, but high handciappers will still have their hands full with all the carries over water.

Both course were in good condition when we played....and low handicap golfers will probably enjoy themselves. But everyone else will suffer. It's just not fun looking for balls all day when you miss fairways.

Customer Service

good...but everything very expensive at hotel/resort.