Chasing Par

Red Tiger Course is one of four golf courses inside Trump National at Doral. You might have heard that surname, and you surely know what it implies: a five-star resort with lavish amenities and a unique (but probably overpriced) golf experience. 

Red Tiger is Blue Monster’s little sibling, Trump National at Doral’s signature golf course, where the Doral Open was played from 1962 to 2006, and then where the WGC Cadillac Championship was hosted till 2016. 

Clubhouse & Amenities

When the Trump Organization acquired Doral Resort & Spa in 2012, they invested $250 million in the facilities. The clubhouse was completely renovated into a state-of-the-art golf club while maintaining a classical style.

We had lunch at the Champions Bar & Grill, where you can get a stunning view of Blue Monster’s finishing holes. 

It has both a driving range and an enormous putting surface where you can test the speed of the greens.

About the clubhouse & amenities
Restaurant		Bar		Pro Shop		Parking		Shower Rooms
Yes		Yes		Yes		Yes		Yes

Red Tiger Golf Course Details

Only 6300 yards long, Red Tiger is not trying to intimidate you with its length. The golf course really favors the strategic golfer who values and understands the importance of shot placement. The course has narrow fairways and right beside them, great masses of water that come into play on 14 of the 18 holes. I have never played on a course that had 6 par 5s, 6 par 4s and 6 par 3s but I must admit that it is a fun distribution.

About the course
Year built		Holes		Greens		Fairways		Golf season
1964		18		Bermuda		Bermuda		Year round
Driving Range		Putting Green		Golf Carts		Caddies		Club Rental
Yes		Yes		Yes		Yes		Yes
Reservations
Online

TEE	PAR	LENGTH (YARDS)	RATING	SLOPE
Black	72	6395	71.8	136
Golden	72	6395	69.6	132
White	72	5660	68.6	127
Red	72	4525	63.4	115

Course Conditions

Course conditions are superb, but the Florida sun alone does not make great-looking golf courses. I particularly like fast and small greens, so I appreciated these. The tight fairways are in excellent condition, as are the bunkers and rough.

Golf Round

My goodness! I have never seen so much water in my life, nor have I ever hit so many balls in the water hazards! I think I must have underestimated Red Tiger. I didn’t do any research on this course, and I paid the price in both golf balls and penalty strokes! I did make some birdies but counted six balls in the water. My final score was an 83 (+11), the consequences of lacking a playing strategy and trying to hit my driver on every hole rather than focusing on placing the ball in the right position and avoiding taking unnecessary risks.

Favorite Hole

My favorite hole was the 5th hole, not exactly a long par 5 but indeed a difficult one. It’s almost 500 yards long and features a dogleg to the left, a Scottish-style bunker in the landing zone, and an island green with a lot of slope. In my opinion, the most beautiful hole at Red Tiger.

Figure 3. The challenging 5th hole

Best shot of the day

Undoubtedly, my best shot was my fourth at 5. My first shot was a horrible hook that ended up in the water. I did not want to take a drop from the rough near the water, so I decided to repeat my tee shot. This time I hit it perfectly right to the middle of the fairway, 190 yards from the pin. From there, I grabbed my 7 iron and hit it purely against the wind to just two feet from the cup for a tap-in par.

Rating

Aspect	Rating
Condition	Excellent
Value	Average
Friendliness	Very Good
Pace	Excellent
Amenities	Excellent
Overall rating	Very Good

Expenses

In the following table, I detail the expenses you can incur at Red Tiger.

Concept	Price (USD)
Green fee	120-225
Club rental	80
Fore Caddie	100-200 *
Golf Cart	Included
9-hole bar	15
Lunch or Dinner	40
Parking	20-40

*$25USD tip per player is recommended but it is really based on the service provided.

Tips for Playing Red Tiger at Doral

• Learn from my mistake and study the course in advance here.
• Prioritize shot placing over hitting driver on every hole.
• Prioritize shot placing over hitting driver on every hole. (I say it twice to emphasize the importance of it and so you remember)
• If you need to rent clubs, consider renting them in a golf shop in Miami for lower fees.

About Guido Sargiotto
Reviews	Handicap	Skill	Plays	Dexterity
1	+1	Advanced	Twice a week	Right
Favorite Club	Favorite shot	Favorite Player
Driver	¾ of a 54°	Tiger Woods

WHAT’S IN THE BAG?

Driver	TaylorMade SIM (9º) Shaft: HZRDUS BLACK X 75g
3-wood	Titleist 915 F3 (13.5° at 13º) Shaft: HZRDUS BLACK X 85g
Hybrid	TaylorMade R15 (17°) Shaft: HZRDUS BLACK X 105g
Irons	Rsi TP UDI (4), TaylorMade P770 (5-9) Shafts: HZRDUS BLACK X 105g (4), Project X 6.5 (5-9)
Wedges	Titleist SM8 (50-F, 54-G, 60-L) Shafts: Project X 7.0
Putter	Scotty Cameron Select Newport 2.5
Ball	Titleist Pro V1