By Coral Gables Gazette staff
Influenced by what she described as an influx of complaints and calls for relief, Coral Gables Commissioner Melissa Castro is set to introduce an alternative plan to the recently approved restructuring of fees and membership at the Granada Golf Course.
Castro’s proposal would include grandfathering in 86 long-time annual members, some of whom, she said, have played the course for more than 40 years, rather than immediately transitioning them into the city’s new, more restrictive membership model.
“We shouldn’t just leave out existing members,” Castro said, adding that the details of the her alternative plan were still being finalized. “We should transition them to play at the rhythm they are accustomed to.”
What the city approved — and what it cost long-time members
Under the plan approved last month by the Coral Gables City Commission, the city eliminated its long-standing unlimited play membership and replaced it with a new tier capped at 100 members. The new structure limits members to 30 rounds per year for $2,100, with additional rounds available at a discounted rate.
City administrators have defended the changes as necessary to address both financial losses and overuse of the course. According to staff, the 86 annual members alone accounted for more than 15,000 rounds per year, effectively paying about $5.50 per round – well below the cost of maintaining the facility, which approaches $950,000 annually.
In conversations with City Manager Peter Iglesias, Castro said he told her that “existing members were playing way too much for way too cheap.”
Castro acknowledged that she initially supported the city’s proposal without fully understanding the extent of opposition from regular users of the course. “As a non-golfer, I relied on the information presented at the time,” she said. “Once I heard directly from our residents, it became clear that we needed a more thoughtful and balanced approach.”
Long-time resident challenges the city’s math
One of those individuals was 44-year Gables resident Jack Thompson. Thompson voiced strong concerns about the city’s recent changes to the Granada Golf Course membership structure, arguing that long-time members are being unfairly treated.
Thompson described participating in a Zoom meeting with Iglesias and staff prior to the changes, where discussions focused primarily on hiring BrightView for course maintenance. While he supported that move, Thompson said the conversation around fee increases and limiting rounds was vague and, in his view, not grounded in a proper understanding of how the course operates.
Thompson challenged the city’s justification that excessive play is damaging the course, arguing instead that past issues stemmed from poor maintenance rather than overuse. He pointed to a period roughly two and a half years ago, under a previous superintendent, when the course was in good shape.
He also raised fairness issues, questioning who the city’s recreational facilities are ultimately meant to serve. Thompson criticized what he described as preferential access for certain groups, especially city employees, former employees, and board members, who receive free or heavily subsidized golf at both Granada and the Biltmore Golf Course. Meanwhile, he said, residents are facing steep price increases and reduced access.
“If the concern is too many rounds being played, why is the city giving away so much free golf?” he argued, suggesting that limiting public memberships while maintaining these privileges is inconsistent.
At its core, Castro argued, the issue goes beyond golf. “This isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet… this is about people who have supported this course for decades,” she said. “You don’t fix a city problem by creating a community problem.”
The course’s history and the scope of the overhaul
The broader restructuring approved on March 10 represents one of the most significant operational overhauls in the course’s history. Opened in 1923, Granada is the oldest operating nine-hole public golf course in Florida and has recently been strained by heavy usage.
City officials reported that the course handled more than 67,000 rounds annually, far exceeding sustainable capacity for a nine-hole layout and contributing to deteriorating turf conditions.
To address those concerns, the city approved greens fee increases of up to 40 percent and capped total annual rounds at 50,000. It also authorized a nearly $970,000, one-year maintenance contract with BrightView, the national landscaping firm that maintains the Biltmore, in an effort to restore course conditions.
Officials say the changes are designed to reduce play volume while improving quality. Higher prices, they argue, will help moderate demand and bring revenues more in line with maintenance costs.
Castro, however, is pushing for a more incremental approach. Her proposal would allow existing members to retain some level of access closer to their historical usage, at least during a transition period, while the city evaluates the impact of the broader changes.
“We can protect the course and still be fair to our residents. Those two things are not mutually exclusive,” she said. “Good policy isn’t about overcorrecting, it’s about getting it right.”
Castro has also called for a data-driven approach, suggesting the city test adjustments and measure results before locking in long-term policy. “If we’re going to make a long-term decision, it should be based on real data, not assumptions,” she said.
Her proposal is expected to be introduced at an upcoming commission meeting, setting up a renewed debate over how to balance financial sustainability with access for long-time community members at one of Coral Gables’ most historic public assets.
This Post Has 17 Comments
If you want more information as to how badly the Lago crowd is ruining Granada call me at 305-588-3005
Jack Thompson
All you need to do is make that 30 free round to 144 with membership
All you need to do is make that 30 free round to 144 with membership
They should make it $10,000 initiation fee and then 1000 a year with unlimited play
When is the course most heavily used? Burden is likely limited to specific days or hours. What is the break down between residents vs. non-residents. After the price increase to non-residents did usage go up, stay the same, or go down. Should that rate be higher? How has construction and rain been part of the course conditions. Be data driven and creative to honor and prefer long-time annual members and residents. This should be a core mission of the City always. Incentivize play during normally slow hours to spread out the burden.
Only thing members are asking is for fair price for fair number of FreePlay , the prices should increase for the last 8 to 9 years. Granada Golf Course has been the cheapest course around. Yes make people pay to play
Commissioner Castor, you make this happen and next election they’ll make you mayor of Coral Gables , thank you for your support. I’ll have everyone I know vote for you.
Let’s be (financially) reasonable, as well as sympathetic to these long-time members. Cap their play to 100 rounds/year (two rounds/week). If they desire more play, they pay the regular Resident rate.
… and the rain shelters? It;s been over a year since the plans were approved and apparently they haven’t even been put out for bid yet. No wonder the course is in such bad condition if they cannot organize such a simple task. Membership should be limited to CG residents.
What I do not see mentioned by anybody is that the residents of Coral Gables pay very high property taxes for living in “the city beautiful”. One of the main things that makes the city stand out is a gem of a golf course. I would argue that the high taxes should go a considerable way to the maintenance of the Granada “Park” where golf is played, and also where hundreds of walkers, joggers and bikers are out in the mornings and evenings enjoying the green space. It was never intended that the golfing fraternity generate enough revenue to keep up maintenance of the whole facility. The city uses the taxes to provide city services, maintenance of roads and trees and traffic lights; it is only fair that a certain percentage of the golf course maintenance cost should come from the property taxes.
Well said Hoshi. Granada is so much more than just a golf course, it is a cross between an English village green and New York’s Central Park…. as I have said (endlessly) elsewhere, the jewel in Merrick’s crown. Not only do all Gables residents pay property taxes into the city’s coffers, but the residents of all those gracious mansions overlooking the golf course (including no small number of former mayors and commissioners) probably pay higher property taxes than most of us, simply because of the enhanced value of their homes overlooking that beautiful green. If the city wishes to lower the number of rounds played in order to not overburden the course, and to increase revenue in order to maintain its upkeep to the standard that it enjoyed a couple of years ago, then it should increase the fees paid by non-residents. If we could only restore the condition of the course to its previous standard, then non-residents would have no problem to pay higher fees to play in such a central, historic and beautiful setting. Even with higher fees, it still competes favorably with other courses in terms of value for money. Now – don’t get me going on the lack of rain shelters!
As a decades long tax-paying resident and contributing member to our city and Granada’s existence who in part for decades have been subsiding in its operation, the new fees especially to its many long time members, senior members, constituents, and tax paying citizens without consideration is an example of cruel, oppressive, and abuse of power by elected officials.
This is not only about Granada Golf Course—it’s about how the city treats its constituents.
Most of our golf members have no interest in the swimming pool, tennis courts, or gym. Instead, we play golf and afterward patronize Birdie Bistro.
P.S… Granada is in poor condition, not because of excessive play, instead it’s because unqualified personnel have been maintaining it. Two years ago, the course was in great condition…….
Here’s an idea. Schedule one day a week, shut the course for a few hours, and let real experienced personnel maintain the course. Other courses do it. Wow, what a concept!!!t
Date time and location of the next commission meeting
Bunch of freeloaders. Waaaahhhh. Gimme my golf at the price I want to pay. I should get it and the City and residents should subsidize me. Waaaahhhhh. Babies.
If you want to bring down play from 67000 to 50000 you don’t take away membership (/ take away membership and people will still sign up for tee times in there place )you take away tee times , instead of every 10 minutes you make it every 15 minutes between tee times and no walk on no tee time you don’t play
No wonder my kids nor I can get a tee time with all these ‘special’ groups. https://aesopsgables.substack.com/p/unhappy-gilmore?r=ypcdq&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true
No wonder my kids nor I can get a tee time with all these ‘special’ groups. https://aesopsgables.substack.com/p/unhappy-gilmore?r=ypcdq&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true