Originally opened as Bayshore Golf Course in 1923 as part of pioneering developer Carl Fisher's ambitious Alton Beach subdivision that was designed to lure wealthy winter residents from New York, Indianapolis and Detroit.
By 1923, Fisher and his colleagues had opened three big golf courses. Tourists loved the new courses.
In World War II, the U.S. Army rented the course for $1 a year as a training ground, and helmeted, rifle-toting soldiers ran through the course's palm trees amid the smoke from smoke grenades.
In 1944, Chicago investors moved to buy the course, planning to build 650 upscale homes there; disapproving neighbors persuaded the city to condemn and buy the land and keep the golf course.
In 1954, the ornate, Mediterranean clubhouse that Fisher had built on the course was replaced by a new one.
Forty-Eight years later the remodeling task has gone a few steps further than new furniture and a fresh coat of paint. At age 79, Miami Beach's signature Bayshore Golf Course received a $10 million face-lift.
The face-lift was major: every blade of grass and most trees removed; lakes drained, redesigned and refilled; irrigation system replaced, even hills and bunkers bulldozed and resculpted; the old clubhouse demolished and a new clubhouse was constructed.
The City of Miami Beach hired Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates for the latest and most extensive transformation. The once tired and under-utilized Bayshore has now become the elegant and highly regarded Miami Beach Golf Club. The result is a beautifully restored landmark that will be enjoyed by South Florida residents and visitors from around the world for years to come.
In 2011 the Inaugural South Beach International Amateur was played the week before Christmas at Normandy Shores and Miami Beach Golf Clubs, becoming the highest ranked inaugural amateur tournament since rankings were introduced. Unites States Amateur Champion and Current PGA TOUR player Kelly Kraft wins the 72 hole event with a 4 under total. Move forward to 2023 and the South Beach International Amateur has for 9 straight years been considered a major amateur event always ranking between the 5th and 6th ranked field in the world. This places the SBIA right behind the United States Amateur, British Amateur, Western Amateur and NCAA Division 1 Championship. Yearly the SBIA has one of the best and largest international fields in the world with 28 or more countries represented.
South Beach International Amateur Champions
2011 Kelly Kraft - United States
2012 Juan Pablo Hernandez - Mexico
2013 Greg Eason - England
2014 Gabriel Lench - United States
2015 Jorge Garcia - Venezuela
2016 Danny Walker - United States
2017 Jacob Bergeron - United States
2018 Pierceson Coody - United States
2019 Benjamin Shipp - Untied States
2020 Cole Hammer - United States
2021 Finigan Tilly - United States
2022 Luke Clanton - United States
2023 Ben James - United States