Private backers are proposing upgrades to the public golf course and tennis facilities, raising questions about future prices, operations and the park’s existing protections.
KEY BISCAYNE A group of private backers is proposing an $80 million transformation of Crandon Park’s golf and tennis facilities, with a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course as the centerpiece.
According to the Miami Herald report, the group wants to finance improvements to the Miami-Dade County park that would include a modernized tennis complex and a golf course designed by the Nicklaus company. The facilities would remain open to the public under the proposal.
Andres Gaviria, a Key Biscayne resident and golfer helping lead the effort, told the Herald that the backers envision the project as a gift to the community.
“What we want to do is build a magnificent course for the public,” Gaviria said.
The proposal could bring a prominent golf designer’s name to an established public destination. However, the material available for this article does not establish a final county-approved agreement, construction schedule or future fee structure.
A new proposal follows recent golf improvements
Crandon’s golf course has already undergone a substantial renovation.
In January 2025, Miami-Dade announced its reopening following a $5 million project that began in May 2024. That work included upgraded irrigation, expanded tees, renovated bunkers and the introduction of Paspalum grass intended to improve environmental resilience. miamidade.gov
Those improvements provide an important benchmark for evaluating the new proposal. A detailed plan would help residents understand which recent investments would be preserved and what additional benefits a larger redesign would deliver.
The existing 18-hole course was originally designed by Devlin and Von Hagge in 1972 and redesigned by Von Hagge in 1993, according to its official website. Its waterfront setting includes saltwater lakes and mangrove areas, making the landscape a central part of the playing experience. Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne
Public access includes the cost of playing
The donors’ promise to retain public access is central to the proposal. For everyday players, the practical questions also include prices, booking availability and opportunities for younger golfers.
Crandon’s published rate schedule currently lists a standard Tuesday-through-Thursday round with a cart at $159 for the public, compared with $115 for Patron and Patron Plus players. The listed Friday-through-Sunday and holiday rate is $179 for the public, with lower prices available through patron categories and later-day options. Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne
These are existing prices, not proposed charges for a redesigned course.
A privately funded construction project could deliver substantial improvements. Its long-term public value would also depend on who pays for maintenance, how fees are set and whether residents continue to have dependable access to desirable tee times.
Tennis facilities are already undergoing operational changes
The proposed tennis upgrade would arrive during a separate change in how Crandon’s courts are managed.
Miami-Dade’s park website says USTA Florida began operating the Crandon Park Tennis Center on January 16, 2026, under a one-year interim business permit. The county describes the arrangement as an effort to restore operating hours and court availability while expanding playing opportunities. The center has 27 courts. miamidade.gov
That arrangement is distinct from the donors’ proposal. Any future redevelopment plan would need to explain how construction and subsequent operations would affect existing players and programs.
Crandon’s public purpose shapes the discussion
Crandon also has a history that makes changes to its facilities particularly consequential.
County records explain that the Matheson family conveyed the land for public park use in 1940. A later dispute over the tennis stadium resulted in a settlement and the creation of the Crandon Park Master Plan. Amendments to that plan require county commission approval and approval by the Crandon Park Amendment Committee. Whether the donors’ specific design would require amendments depends on its final scope.
For residents, the next meaningful step would be a detailed proposal showing the funding commitments, operating responsibilities, environmental considerations and protections for public access.
The $80 million concept offers the prospect of a major investment in Crandon’s recreational facilities. Its lasting benefit would be measured by the experience available to the public: well-maintained grounds, accessible programs and a clear opportunity to use the park after the construction is finished.
