Shell Bay By Auberge Resorts – The Most Exclusive Golf Club In The Miami Area, With Memberships Over $1 Million

It has been over 25 years since the last private golf course in the Miami area has been opened, and Shell Bay is indeed worth the wait… and the initiation fee. The new Shell Bay Club in Hallandale Beach (just north of Miami) has opened, along with its new Greg Norman-designed 7,254 yard 18-hole course with plenty of water in play.

The golf club itself was a redesign of the Diplomat Golf Resort and Spa, that now has a layout rated as one of the most difficult in Florida with a 148 slope rating and a 76.1 course rating, for the enthusiasts. It also features a 12-acre high tech practice facility as well as a 9-hole par-3 course.

“The course at Shell bay is one of the most unique, pure golf experiences I have ever designed. Completely isolated from its surroundings, the walkable layout will capture the true essence of the game with immaculately conditioned fairways, sweeping Sandbelt-style buniers and contoured greens that test every club in your bag. It will be a place where you can totally immerse yourself in the game,” said golf legend Greg Norman about his creation.

Shell Bay Auberge Resorts Golf Course by Greg Norman

Shell Bay Auberge Resorts Greg Norman Golf Club 9th Hole

Shell Bay Residences and Club

The $220 million project was undertaken by Witkoff Group and PPG Development, who also incorporated a full menu of ultra-private amenities for the members and the owners of the 108-unit Auberge-managed condominium that is being constructed on site.

“Shell Bay has the best amenity package of any luxury project in South Florida – there’s nothing like it,” developer Ari Pearl, president of PPG Development said in a release. “We feel strongly that the vision for Shell Bay will resonate with today’s luxury buyer.”

Rendering of the Residences at Shell Bay Auberge Resorts Golf

While the $1 million initiation fee may seem shocking to non-enthusiasts, the price is actually just a reflection of supply versus demand.

Alex Witkoff, the co-CEO of Witkoff Group explains,

“Golf is the most undersupplied asset in the Miami market, and consequently, Shell Bay is a generational opportunity to create the first new private course in the area in 25 years. A project like this can’t be replicated.”

In many ways he is right, and the market has reflected this.

We do have a shortage of private golf options in South Florida because the availability of large swaths of prime land are simply not there. Consequently, what is available comes at a premium. There has clearly been an unmet demand for a club of this magnitude as Shell Bay currently has a waiting list despite the jaw-dropping costs.

Also contributing to the waiting list is the vast menagerie of luxurious private amenities offered at the full-service club. The developers did not stop at building a golf club, Shell Bay offers a complete lifestyle that is impressive and special, even to the highest-managed resident.

Living At Shell Bay

Despite the waiting list, a guaranteed way to garner the opportunity to join is to purchase a residences within the development and take advantage of all that Shell Bay has to offer.

The fully-serviced condo tower that is being constructed is anticipated to be completed in 2026 with 108 fully-serviced bespoke residences. World-renowned hospitality brand Auberge Resorts Collection has been tapped to manage the entire development, including its own hotel with five-star amenities and services that include but do not stop at a Racquet Club, Wellness Center, Marina and Yacht Club, culinary program as well as family amenities.

Rendering of the Residences at Shell Bay Auberge Resorts Entry Drive

The Shell Bay Racquet Club offers all four Grand Slam surfaces, pickleball as well as Padel with an adjacent sports complex for basketball courts, batting cages, bowling and a children’s discovery playground.

Nautical enthusiasts will enjoy a rare Yacht Club that offers everything from a dedicated dockmaster and concierge to specialty curated experiences that go far beyond sailing. You can book excursions for deep-sea fishing and catamaran tours, with the Shell Bay concierge arranging the Shell Bay private chef to prepare your catch into a beautiful seafood dinner customizable to your group’s culinary preference.

The unmatched suite of amenities continues with a world-class food and beverage program heralded by the Michelin-starred Chef Julien Jouhannaud as well as a wellness center that includes a full-service medical day spa.

Residences at Shell Bay are priced from $2 million for one-bedroom layouts and penthouses start at $11 million. The layouts range in size between one- to four-bedroom sizes with views of the golf course, yacht club and Intracoastal Waterway.

Douglas Elliman is the exclusive broker for Shell Bay. If you are interested in an invitation to consider this project, please contact Michael Light, Broker and Executive Director of Luxury Sales at Douglas Elliman. You may reach Michael directly at (786) 566-1700 or via email at michael@miamiluxuryhomes.com. 

Images Courtesy of Shell Bay