Doral Resort (Great White course)

Doral Resort (Great White course): GOLF COURSE WAS PERMANENTLY CLOSED IN 2015. The land has now been sold for mixed-use redevelopment. Across the road from the former Great White course, the four Trump National Doral courses (Blue Monster, Red Tiger, Golden Palm and Silver Fox) are all open for play.

[Original Where2Golf description]: Dramatically different in character from its more classical parkland Doral stablemates, the bold and exciting Great White is unlike anything you'll experience in Florida. This Greg Norman design is laid out on flat terrain with small lakes and large ponds threatening on 14 of the 18 holes.

When water is not present, the avenue-like fairways are flanked by rows upon rows of tall palm trees. The trees are rooted into a base of distinctive white coquina (crushed shells). The overall effect is to create "island holes" where either water hazards or the distinctive coquina awaits shots that miss the good-width fairways and small band of first-cut rough.

Shallow, circular bunkers also menacingly loiter around the greens and along some fairways, adding to the Great White's razor-sharp defences. Firm, crisp turf on the fairways and hard, fast greens create something akin to links-like playing characteristics, on a course that is more desert-style than parkland.

Amongst many hugely enjoyable and challenging holes, an upturned, pudding bowl green greets you at the par-5 1st, while another pudding bowl provides a "must hit" target on the par-3 6th. The other par-3s require testing carries over water, not least at the island-green 8th and fabulous par-3 16th, with 176 yards of carry over water from back tees to rock-fronted green. The excellent par-5 18th provides another corridor of palm trees to drive down, before tackling the testing approach to a seriously water and bunker defended green.