Nestled on a private island at the crossroads of Bal Harbour and Miami Beach, Indian Creek Country Club isn’t just a golf course, it's an iconic, timeless destination with a rich history and unique charm. This year, for the first time, Indian Creek will play host to an FSGA event. The women competing in the 96th Women's Amateur Championship are in for a truly special
experience.
A man-made island, Indian Creek’s origins trace back to the early 1920s when the "Haulover Cut", a passage to the ocean, was dug. As the project progressed, dirt from the excavation was used to develop the land, which was purchased and transformed into the exclusive island we know today. The golf course was built first, followed by the surrounding developments, making it one of the most unique and irreplaceable settings in Florida. As Joe Compitello, Indian Creek’s Head Golf Professional, describes, “You couldn’t really build it again if you wanted to.”
Originally designed by the legendary William S. Flynn, Indian Creek is one of the last remaining examples of Golden Age golf courses in the area. The course stands out not only for its history but also for its dramatic landscape, with the front and back nine both playing out to the water and back to the clubhouse. Its clubhouse sits atop the highest point in Miami-Dade County, offering sweeping views of the entire property.
The 2022 renovation, overseen by golf course architect Andrew Green, brought much-needed updates to the course. "The renovation was mainly driven by drainage issues," says Compitello. Due to rising sea-levels and the course being on an island, the old system was outdated. The entire drainage system was overhauled, including the creation of two stormwater ponds, which helped raise low-lying areas of the course by up to five feet to ensure better drainage.
But the renovation wasn’t just about drainage. Every blade of grass was replaced, the bunkers were redesigned, and the greens were rebuilt, all while preserving the integrity of Flynn’s original design. The routing of the course remains unchanged, but several new tees were added to adjust the course’s length, and smaller clusters of bunkers were introduced to highlight the classic architectural features of the course while maintaining the challenges it has developed over the years.
”A lot of the bunkering is visually more impactful off the tee and as you approach certain holes.” Compitello noted, “And with the drainage project, we dug ponds, there were some tree areas where the ponds were so you can kind of see through the course, the views across the property to the clubhouse and the water are improved.”
One of the biggest changes to the course came on the fourth hole, a short par 4 along the seawall. The fairway bunkers were moved to be more in play, " The fairway and the grade sort of slopes a little more towards the seawall,” Compitello explains. “ The
bunkering sort of forces you to play the hole slightly different.”
Despite its island location, the water is rarely in play. The real challenge at Indian Creek comes from the course being littered with bunkers. "We have a lot of bunkers in play, both off the tee and around the greens. Every green is elevated and well-guarded," Compitello explains. Due to the location which almost ensures winds, along with well-kept firm conditions, it’s no doubt these greens can be difficult to hold, and if you miss, you’re often left with challenging chips back uphill.
For players teeing off in the 96th Women’s Amateur Championship, Compitello offers one key piece of advice: " It's a very fair course off the tee, in particular for Florida, we don't really have penalty areas that are in play. But, the green sides are very, very challenging to chip in because you can't always see the surface because you're down below, and some of the bunkers are deep.” Our takeaway? It'll take a good short game to play well at Indian Creek.
As the 96th Women’s Amateur Championship draws near, we look forward to experiencing this unique test of golf, enriched by its storied history and exclusive atmosphere, ensuring that this Championship will be one to remember.
