If you’ve lived in Miami for more than a few years, the name Melreese hits a certain way. For some, it’s the place where they hit their first birdie or spent Saturday mornings hiding from the humidity under a canopy of oaks. For others, it’s just that massive stretch of green you see right before your plane touches down at MIA.
But honestly, the era of International Links Miami Melreese Country Club as we knew it is officially over.
Walking onto the grounds today feels weird. The silence of the fairways has been replaced by the rhythmic thumping of heavy machinery and the organized chaos of a billion-dollar construction site. It’s not just a facelift. We are witnessing the total transformation of 131 acres of public land into what the world will soon know as Miami Freedom Park.
The Drama Behind the Closure
It wasn’t a quiet exit. You might remember the headlines from 2019 that sent a shockwave through the local golf community. City officials essentially locked the gates overnight after an environmental report found that the soil was, well, pretty nasty.
We’re talking about arsenic levels at four times the legal limit and lead contamination in the surface soil.
Why? Because back in the day, Miami used this exact spot as a dumping ground for incinerator ash. It’s a classic Florida story: take a literal trash heap, throw some grass on it, call it a golf course, and hope nobody checks the dirt for fifty years.
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While the course did eventually reopen for a final "victory lap" of sorts, the writing was on the wall. The deal between the City of Miami and the Mas brothers (along with David Beckham) had already set the wheels in motion. By February 2023, the last golfer putted out, and the "International Links" signs were taken down for good.
What’s Replacing the Fairways?
So, what do you get when you trade in a 18-hole municipal golf course? Basically, a city within a city.
The centerpiece is the 25,000-seat stadium for Inter Miami CF. If you’ve been driving past the site on the 836 lately, you’ve seen the steel rising. It’s slated to open in April 2026. This isn't just a soccer pitch; it’s a massive entertainment hub.
The project, officially known as Miami Freedom Park, is packing a lot into this footprint:
- A 58-acre public park named after Jorge Mas Canosa.
- A massive "Tech District" with about 400,000 square feet of office space.
- Over 750 hotel rooms for people who want to be five minutes from their flight and two minutes from a Messi goal.
- A "PopStroke" venue (that Tiger Woods-backed mini-golf concept) which feels like a tiny olive branch to the golfers who lost their course.
The Reality of the "Public" Deal
Look, people are still split on whether this was a good move. Critics like filmmaker Billy Corben and various local activists have been vocal about the "no-bid" 99-year lease. They argue the city basically gave away its biggest green lung for pennies on the dollar.
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On the flip side, supporters point to the $2.6 billion in rent payments projected over the life of the lease and the 15,000 jobs. Plus, the developer is footing the bill for the massive environmental cleanup—something the city probably wouldn't have done on its own for decades.
It’s a trade-off. You lose a historic, accessible golf course, but you gain a world-class stadium and a park that (theoretically) more people will actually use. Whether that’s a fair trade depends entirely on if you own a set of clubs or a soccer jersey.
What Happened to the First Tee?
One of the biggest concerns during the transition was the fate of the First Tee Miami program. This wasn't just some country club clinic; it served thousands of kids, including many with special needs.
The good news? It didn't die with Melreese.
The program moved its operations to the Miami Lakes Golf Club. They’ve set up shop about 12 miles north, and the "soccer people" (as the staff calls the Inter Miami group) reportedly kicked in some capital to help with the move. It’s a different vibe than the airport-adjacent greens, but the mission stayed intact.
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The 2026 Timeline: What to Expect
If you’re planning to visit the site formerly known as International Links Miami Melreese Country Club, here is the current roadmap for 2026:
- April 2026: The stadium is scheduled to host its first Inter Miami home game. This is the big one.
- Spring 2026: The first phase of the Jorge Mas Canosa Park should be open. This includes the initial 15,000 square feet of green space and a dog park.
- September 2026: Phase two of the park delivery, which adds the wellness loops, playgrounds, and the bulk of the actual "park" feel.
- Late 2026/2027: The retail and entertainment district (shops, restaurants, and the "Fever" immersive experience) will start rolling out in stages.
Practical Steps for Locals
If you used to play at Melreese and are still looking for a place to swing the sticks, your options are getting narrower but they exist. Miami Springs Golf & Country Club is right around the corner and offers that similar "old Miami" muni feel. If you want something more upscale, Crandon Park out on Key Biscayne is the gold standard, though it’ll cost you more than Melreese ever did.
For those just looking for the new park, keep an eye on the city's construction updates. The area around NW 37th Avenue is a nightmare of orange cones right now, so unless you have tickets for a match or a specific reason to be there, it’s best to avoid the 14th Street parking entrance until the grand opening in April.
The transition from a quiet golf oasis to a high-octane sports district is nearly complete. It’s a bit bittersweet, but that’s Miami—always paving over its history to build something shinier.