The Blue Monster at Trump National Doral Miami is draw enough for most golf fans to watch some of the world’s best players. But LIV Golf Miami Executive Director Tom Clark points out another major reason for fans to attend the annual event, April 4-6. That is, the “shotgun’’ start, which has become a staple of the LIV Golf League.
‘Fans get to the hole where they can follow their favorite player, so it’s exciting right from the start,’’ Clark said. “It’s a great way for families to enjoy golf.
“And I think it makes play so much more fair for players. Everyone is playing the course at the same time – instead of morning and afternoon. The conditions are all the same. That makes plays so much more fair. Everyone is playing the course at the same time under the same weather conditions. And with the team challenge aspect, it makes every shot count that much more. So, it’s not just one on one.’’
Along with Pine Tree Golf Club – just a few miles up Florida’s Turnpike in Boynton Beach – the Blue Monster, which opened in 1962, is considered architect Dick Wilson’s masterpiece. He received ample help from his then-protege Robert von Hagge, who once told me about finding the undercarriage of an airplane in the muck during the course’s construction. No records of a plane crash were ever discovered.
The muck and swamps of eastern Miami-Dade County have been replaced by the city of Doral, with Trump National Doral being its centerpiece and the Blue Monster being its biggest drawing card.
Doral Resort Founder Alfred Kaskel named the course after the original colors of the tee markers and not the water hazards. Over the years, the Blue Monster underwent several renovations – some good and some not-so good – until 2013 when Gil Hanse was brought in by-then private citizen Donald Trump to restore it as close to Wilson’s original plans.
Hanse and partner Jim Wagner removed bunkers along the sides of many fairways and created diagonal bunkers to force players to shape shapes. Wilson, understand, was a big believer in making players shape high shots onto landing areas and greens.
“It’s an amazing place,’’ Clark said. “Very challenging – no doubt about it. You can’t make many mistakes and end up at the top of the leaderboard.’’
Tickets are available at LIVGolf.com, including single-day grounds passes, three-day grounds passes, and golf’s first 360-degree Grounds Plus Pass, which provides exclusive, elevated viewing platforms on the Blue Monster’s biggest holes.
For fans looking to take their experience to the next level, tickets to LIV Golf’s one-of-a-kind hospitality offerings are also available at the event’s signature experience of Club 54; the Birdie Shack; and The Fanstand, with each delivering an array of amenities.Fans can also secure one of the select LIV Premium passes, an all-access ticket to all hospitality areas throughout the course.
Click here for tickets and more information.