Like a lot of cities around the world, your experience in Miami can make or break with the itinerary. Rounds of golf on Miami’s best golf courses for out-of-towners will cost $150-plus. In fact, from a golf value standpoint, Miami is one of the worst places in America to visit. However, Miami has so much more to offer that the extra coin for golf will go unnoticed.

Pinehurst, Kiawah Island and Reynolds Lake Oconee are incredible destinations for golf, but Miami wins in other areas; especially for those that enjoy cocktails and nightlife. If we call the dining a wash at every other destination in America, Miami pulls away with its beaches, weather, nightclubs and gentlemen’s clubs. We’ll get to that later, but first, let’s make some tee times.

Turnberry Isle Miami is a grand 4.5-star resort with 36 holes of golf, a tennis center, three restaurants and guest rooms and suites that overlook the golf course. Their two golf courses are plush from tee to green and are accented with stunning waterfall features, babbling brooks and quaint bridges -- it has a Disney World feel. The resort is also close to beaches and Miami’s largest shopping mall. However, for those that want to enjoy the fruits of South Beach, downtown and the Brickell area; Turnberry is kinda far from all that. However, for the slower pace of the Tommy Bahama crowd, this might be ideal.

Miami Biltmore Hotel, the longtime Miami legend located in Coral Gables. At first sight of the towering Biltmore it’s easy to see why this resort is legendary. Walk through the doors and its brilliance is reveled; it looks and feel like a museum. Its painted ceilings, large arches and regal crown molding feel as if a queen and king live there. Its Donald Ross-designed 18-hole golf course is good, but not amazing. As far as stay and play golf resorts in Miami, its golf course is at the bottom of our list. 

International Links Miami-Melreese Country Club, the golf course with two names. No accommodations here -- this is a municipal golf course owned by the City of Miami. Like all golf courses in South Florida, this one is flat, but in good condition and has a nice layout. It sits next to the airport and at time it seems a plane is going to land on a fairway.

Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne is the former venue for a PGA Tour Champions event and one of the best public golf courses in America. A round of golf at “Crandon” is a great way to see and experience Key Biscayne. Like the Florida Keys, Key Biscayne is a stretch of small islands near downtown. Locals frequent its beach, it’s a popular place for cycling, a lot of iguanas live there and it’s home to a beautiful, yet challenging golf course. However, also owned by the City of Miami, visitors pay $200 to tee it up here in the winter.

Miami Beach Golf Club is a driver and a three wood from Ocean Drive and everything South Beach offers. Pay a premium in the winter and for the best rates, come in the dead heat of the summer. We give this golf course a B on condition, but an A on layout and location.

Nightclubs and drinks should be on the agenda, if not then go somewhere else. Miami is one of the great cities in the world for nightlife. The concierge will most likely tell you to go to South Beach mega clubs, Liv or Story. Do some homework and find out what DJ is where and then pull the trigger. Here are venues to consider:

Wynwood: Electric Pickle, Bardot, Coyo Taco, Gramps, and Wood Tavern
South Beach: Liv, Story, Trade, Do Not Sit on the Furniture, and Basement
Downtown After Hours: Space, Heart, and E11even

Gentlemen’s Clubs are often part of golf trips; it’s no secret. Three of the best clubs are in North Miami and are located close to Turnberry Isle Miami: Dean’s Gold, Tootsie’s Cabaret and Scarlett’s are legendary, pass on the South Beach gentlemen’s clubs.

The Perfect Weekend Miami Golf Trip would go like this, check into the Dream Hotel South Beach on Friday afternoon. There are hundreds of cool hotels on South Beach, but we like that one. If you have a large crew then go for the two-room Duplex Penthouse Suite aka the GuestHouse. It’s a 2,000-square-foot space with a bedroom, large living room and private covered roof deck. The GuestHouse can host events of up to 50 people; more than enough room for the after party. After checking in, hang at the pool or on the beach, then off to happy hour at Finnegan's Way on Ocean Drive, dinner at Joe's Stone Crab or Prime 112 on South Beach. After dinner, head to Wynwood, stroll through Wynwood Walls, drinks at Wynwood Kitchen & Bar, Wood Tavern, Gramps or just walk around and see what’s good. Want more? Check Electric Pickle or Bardot for the best music and if nothing looks good, E11even is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Seriously, it never closes.

Go north to Turnberry Isle on Saturday. Play 36 holes of golf (they have two golf courses) and have dinner at Bourbon Steak -- all this without ever leaving Turnberry Isle. After dinner, stop by Dean’s Gold en route to the hotel. Make an appearance at Liv or Story on Saturday night and if their 5 a.m. closing time is too early then go downtown for after hours at Club Space or Heart Nightclub.

After a power nap on Sunday, make the short drive over to Key Biscayne for a round of golf at Crandon Golf -- the views of downtown Miami are incredible. Dine at Rusty Pelican after the round, the views are even better than the golf course.

After dinner, you’ll probably find yourself going back to Dean’s Gold or E11even because you fell in love. Good luck with that.