Tampa Area Top 5 Golf Courses
 Tampa
will never be mistaken for Florida's most aesthetically pleasing
city. Naples and Boca Raton vie for that title. But the other "city
by the bay" has more to offer than a giant quagmire and a legion
of fast food joints. A revitalized downtown and waterfront area
that includes a new multi-sport arena, a sea aquarium, museums,
hotels and eateries holds the city's urban and civic fabric together.
But Tampa's best assets are a jaw-dropping location along the tranquil
blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, some of the world's best weather,
and a bountiful supply of resort and daily fee golf.
TravelGolf.com editors and writers put their heads together to
rank the top five courses in the Tampa Bay area. They were selected
based on the following criteria: conditions, layout, service and
scenery.
Often referred to as the Pine Valley of the South, Pine Barrens
is worthy of its own distinction. The majestic design is made of
18 individual holes that rarely share a common thread. Its fourth
and 15th holes are two of the better strategic holes built in the
last 60 years. While the mental play of risk-reward isn't ever-present,
Pine Barrens' aesthetic potency makes up for it. It represents some
of Tom Fazio's best work, and both GOLF Magazine and Golf Digest
have ranked it on their list of 100 best courses in America.
For more information click
here.
2. El
Diablo (Citrus Springs)
The secluded setting in thick black woods make for an inconspicuous
first impression of El Diablo. It is master of its domain - it's
an hour south of Tampa and it has little chance of being over run
by condos. The visual stimulation ranges from smart golf course
design to the numerous varieties of plant life. The challenge is
supreme from the tips: 7,045 yards, 75.3 course rating and 147 slope
rating. The large greens are sloped and most pin placements are
only accessible from the right spot in the fairway. Plan your attack
from the pin placement back through the fairway.
For more information click
here.
Home to the PGA Tour's Chrystler Championship, the Copperhead Course
is the crowned jewel of the 72-holes on the Innisbrook resort property.
The difficulty doesn't stop with elevation changes and pine tree-lined
fairways. The course is muscular and open, playing 7,200 yards from
the back tees. The 458-yard, par-4 16th is one of the state's most
talked-about holes. With the Westin resort on the premises along
with five other golf courses, this is a must stay-and-play destination.
For more information click
here.
Designed at the target-golf audience, Rolling Oaks is the brotherly
opposite of Pine Barrens. Architect Tom Fazio designed each hole
with his familiar framing techniques to build a country club-like
setting. The pine forests line the gently-bending fairways, a look
that has earned this course comparisons with Augusta National and
the praise of Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and Golf Week. It differs
from Augusta in that it's not as forgiving and doesn't offer as
many temptations or tough decisions.
For more information click
here.
A vintage TPC course with dramatic finishing holes and loads of
stadium mounding. Designer Bobby Weed routed the 6898-yard par 71
course through the wetlands and cypress trees north of the city.
The TPC of Tampa Bay is one of only two Audubon certified cooperative
sanctuary courses in Tampa.
For more information click
here.
Up-and-coming
- Lake Jovita (Dade City)
- The Dune at Seville (Brooksville)
- Hernando Oaks Golf and Country Club (Brooksville)
- Highland East, Highland West and the Island Course at Innisbrook
(Tarpon Springs)
- Palmer and Sandlebrook Courses at Saddlebrook Resort (Tampa,
800-729-8383).
For golf packages and tee times, call 866-813-7494
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