Jack Nicklaus’ Firm Designs Course in $80M Overhaul of Former Miami Open Home

• Private backers are proposing an $80 million overhaul of Crandon Park’s golf course and tennis facilities on Key Biscayne, with Jack Nicklaus’ company preparing a preliminary golf course design.
• Plans call for raising the course several feet to address storm surge, reducing runoff into Biscayne Bay and adding a three-story clubhouse with a restaurant, bar and observation deck.
• The tennis complex would be rebuilt with 27 tennis courts, eight pickleball courts and eight padel courts.
• The facilities would remain public and county-managed, but the proposal still requires review and approval by Miami-Dade County.

What the $80 Million Crandon Park Plan Includes

A group of private backers is pitching an $80 million investment to rebuild the golf and tennis facilities at Crandon Park, one of Miami-Dade County’s prominent public recreation destinations. Organizers Andres Gaviria and Eugene Stearns have been meeting with officials and potential donors, and Nicklaus’ company has already prepared a preliminary course layout. The proposed golf course would be elevated several feet to help address storm surge and redesigned to reduce fertilizer and chemical runoff into Biscayne Bay. A new three-story clubhouse would include a restaurant, bar, locker rooms, verandas and an observation deck overlooking the surrounding waterfront.

Gaviria described the effort as a public-focused contribution, saying, “What we want to do is build a magnificent course for the public. This is going to be a gift.”

What the Tennis and Racquet-Sports Upgrade Would Deliver

The plan would replace the existing 37-court tennis complex, including its 14,000-seat stadium, with 27 tennis courts, eight pickleball courts and eight padel courts. A smaller clubhouse would serve the consolidated racquet-sports facilities. The proposed mix reflects demand for a broader range of recreational activities while retaining tennis as a major draw. The existing tennis stadium formerly hosted the Miami Open before the tournament moved to Hard Rock Stadium in 2019. For Miami-Dade, the plan could mean a substantial private investment in public recreation infrastructure. However, the financial terms, future maintenance arrangements and long-term operating model will be important parts of the county’s review.

 

 

What Public Access and Environmental Protection Mean

Commissioner Raquel Regalado has emphasized that the facilities would remain open to the public and county-managed. “Anybody can play. We’re not going to raise the prices,” she said. 

Organizers have also discussed a possible higher-priced patron card that could offer earlier tee-time booking, making the final reservation and pricing structure an important detail for residents and golfers to monitor. Donors’ identities have not been publicly confirmed, and organizers have declined to name specific backers. The environmental proposal is another cen

tral element. Stearns has criticized the existing drainage system, saying its ponds and lakes send water and golf course chemicals toward the bay. The proposed redesign aims to improve drainage and reduce runoff, though the environmental benefits would need to be assessed as plans develop. Crandon’s course already underwent a $5 million renovation completed in January 2025, according to Miami-Dade County. The new proposal would be a much larger redevelopment rather than a continuation of that recent maintenance project.

What Happens Next for Crandon Park

The proposal remains in its planning stage, with no final county approval or construction timeline announced. Any changes must navigate county review and the park’s master-planning requirements. For investors and local businesses, the project could improve a major public recreation destination and support related activity in Key Biscayne. But its ultimate impact will depend on funding commitments, public-access safeguards, environmental review and the operating agreement approved by the county. If it moves forward, the overhaul would be a significant example of private philanthropy being used to upgrade publicly managed recreational assets.