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Golf's Richest Tournament -- Coral Gables Open Invitational
Rare separately published promotional map of the Miami Biltmore Hotel and Country Club in Coral Gables Florida, promoting the 1933 Miami Biltmore $10,000 Open.
The map illustrates the newly constructed Golf Course, designed by famed golf course architect Donald Ross.
The Miami Biltmore Open began as the Coral Gables Open in 1931. In November 1932, the tournament was renamed th Miami Biltmore Open, lasting until 1937. The tournament was not held again until 1959, when it was renamed the Coral Gables Open Invitational, lasting until 1962.
The 1933 Open was won by American Paul Runyan.
Miami Biltmore
The Miami Biltmore Hotel was designed by the architectural firm Schultze and Weaver. Construction began in 1925 under the joint initiative of John McEntee Bowman, a key figure in the Biltmore hotel chain, and George E. Merrick, the developer of Coral Gables. The hotel's design is notably influenced by the Giralda tower of Seville's cathedral.
The Biltmore was completed and opened in 1926, at the height of the Florida land boom. It quickly became a prominent landmark, standing as Florida's tallest building at 315 feet at the time of completion. The hotel's pool, once the largest in the world, was a significant feature, and Johnny Weissmuller, prior to his fame as Tarzan, served as a swimming instructor there.
The Biltmore Golf Course was designed by Donald Ross in 1925. The course was inaugurated with a match featuring notable golfers such as Bobby Jones, Tommy Armour, Gene Sarazen, and Leo Diegel. For a number of years, it was host to the World's Richest Golf Tournament.
Rarity
The map is unrecorded.
With the exception of this example, purchased at auction in July 2023, we were unable to locate any other surviving examples.
