Whether it’s February or August, residents in Miami-Dade County can enjoy a full range of recreational sports on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, at one of our community’s numerous championship private and public golf courses, or one of our countless public recreational facilities. For those who not only want to participate but also enjoy watching world-class athletes at the height of competition, Miami-Dade is home to four major professional sports franchises and various international sporting events.
Miami-Dade’s public and private golf courses offer inviting environments to enjoy a round of golf with manicured fairways, immaculate greens and challenging terrain. Public courses, such as the Country Club of Miami Golf Course and the Crandon Park Key Biscayne Golf Course, offer residents the opportunity to go from work to the course in no time at all. In addition, private courses like the legendary Blue course at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa attract golfing enthusiasts from around the world. Tennis lovers can also find both public and private clubs to hone their skills at, such as the world-class Crandon Park Tennis Center in Key Biscayne. Miami-Dade’s 250 parks and recreational areas offer ample facilities for enjoying many other popular sports, including soccer, cricket, handball, football, basketball, baseball, bicycle riding, running, and even hockey.
Water sports enthusiasts can choose between boating and sailing along miles of sandy beaches or traveling far into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Miami-Dade County. Those looking for a more exciting experience can visit to Biscayne National Park and discover the underwater reefs while snorkeling or diving, while anglers can enjoy freshwater and salt-water fishing at various locations through our community. Everglades National Park also provides avid boaters, anglers and campers a unique subtropical environment to enjoy nature’s beauty.
Spectators in Greater Miami are treated to a championship tradition that dates back to the Miami Dolphins’ 1972 perfect season. That tradition has carried over to success by our area’s other professional sports franchises. The Miami Dolphins repeated as world champions in 1973 and have made it to the Super Bowl on three other occasions. In their brief history, the Miami Marlins have been crowned World Series Champions in both 1997 and 2003 and, beginning in 2012, they began playing at the newly-built Marlins Park. In addition, the Miami Heat won their first NBA Championship behind stars Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade in 2006, and their second in 2012 with top ranked player Lebron James. In addition, the University of Miami and Florida International University field numerous championship-caliber teams in a variety of major NCAA sports.
While our local franchises provide a source of great pride for Miami-Dade residents, they also enjoy major sporting events featuring some of the world’s top athletes. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and many other professional golfers annually compete in the CA Championship at Doral, while Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, and the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, also travel to our area every year for the Sony Ericsson Open at the Crandon Park Tennis Center. If motor sports are your passion, Miami-Dade hosts major races at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, including NASCAR, Indy, Grand Prix and USAC competitions and CCS motorcycle races.