Tampa area courses in late November

So my wife decided we should flee the crappy Chicago weather and spend Thanksgiving week in St. Pete Beach. I was easy to convince and was checking out courses online before the conversation ended.

Looking for recommendations for a few rounds that week. I’m definitely playing Monday (maybe 36?) and Tuesday morning, and may play on Fri/Sat after turkey day.

Here’s my wish list: fun/interesting layout, 6400-6600 yards with slope in the 130s, some elevation changes/fairway undulations, very good-to-great conditioning, price under/around $100, located within an hour or so drive (I will have a car).

FL courses that have fit the bill before are Orange County National, World Woods, Streamsong, Reunion.

We’re staying in a condo this trip, so any resorts that require a stay to play are out.

Any recommendations?

$100 top course in florida during tgiving ...

good luck ...

Check out Fox Hollow. It’s about 45min north and one of the better courses nearby. If you don’t mind driving over the bridge, south in Bradenton are some courses you might like. Waterlefe, Lakewood National, Esplanade and University Park all might fit your preference. None of these will break the bank but are kept in good condition.

> @Handfull said:

> Check out Fox Hollow. It’s about 45min north and one of the better courses nearby. If you don’t mind driving over the bridge, south in Bradenton are some courses you might like. Waterlefe, Lakewood National, Esplanade and University Park all might fit your preference. None of these will break the bank but are kept in good condition.

>

Thanks for providing a constructive response. I’ll check those out.

Definitely University Park. You may want to check out Eaglebrooke in Lakeland. It's about a 1-hour drive from St. Pete, but well worth it and should be an excellent value.

RH

> @RichieHunt said:

> Definitely University Park. You may want to check out Eaglebrooke in Lakeland. It's about a 1-hour drive from St. Pete, but well worth it and should be an excellent value.

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> RH

Thanks, Richie! You seem to have good input on courses across the nation. Maybe I’ll just start PMing you first. :smiley:

DeeBee30, I can't really help you with where to play given your parameters, but can tell you where not to play. Innisbrook Copperhead. I was just there and played Copperhead along with all 3 the Streamsong courses about an hour inland. Innisbrook Copperhead is one of worst values in the US I've come across. It's a pretty meh course and they charge a lot for it. No comparison at all to the Streamsong courses for similar cost. It's a PGA tour stop so I guess that's why the value is poor.

forget Streamsong in your price range. it'll cost you at least $300 to play there.

I'll second Eaglebrook. a nice layout and well kept. I just played there yesterday.

can't go wrong with OCN but it's over an hour east from Tampa. I've played there a few times.

Thanks for the additional input guys. For clarity, I wasn’t looking to play the courses I named on this trip...those are some of the standout courses that I’ve played and found that they were pretty great tracks. Trying to find a close “cousin” that’s a good value for this trip. Seems like a couple of the ones mentioned here so far are good candidates.

> @DeeBee30 said:

> So my wife decided we should flee the crappy Chicago weather and spend Thanksgiving week in St. Pete Beach. I was easy to convince and was checking out courses online before the conversation ended.

>

> Looking for recommendations for a few rounds that week. I’m definitely playing Monday (maybe 36?) and Tuesday morning, and may play on Fri/Sat after turkey day.

>

> Here’s my wish list: fun/interesting layout, 6400-6600 yards with slope in the 130s, some elevation changes/fairway undulations, very good-to-great conditioning, price under/around $100, located within an hour or so drive (I will have a car).

>

> FL courses that have fit the bill before are Orange County National, World Woods, Streamsong, Reunion.

>

> We’re staying in a condo this trip, so any resorts that require a stay to play are out.

>

> Any recommendations?

> @DeeBee30 said:

> So my wife decided we should flee the crappy Chicago weather and spend Thanksgiving week in St. Pete Beach. I was easy to convince and was checking out courses online before the conversation ended.

>

> Looking for recommendations for a few rounds that week. I’m definitely playing Monday (maybe 36?) and Tuesday morning, and may play on Fri/Sat after turkey day.

>

> Here’s my wish list: fun/interesting layout, 6400-6600 yards with slope in the 130s, some elevation changes/fairway undulations, very good-to-great conditioning, price under/around $100, located within an hour or so drive (I will have a car).

>

> FL courses that have fit the bill before are Orange County National, World Woods, Streamsong, Reunion.

>

> We’re staying in a condo this trip, so any resorts that require a stay to play are out.

>

> Any recommendations?

Southern Dunes. Thank me later :)

> @DeeBee30 said:

> Thanks for the additional input guys. For clarity, I wasn’t looking to play the courses I named on this trip...those are some of the standout courses that I’ve played and found that they were pretty great tracks. Trying to find a close “cousin” that’s a good value for this trip. Seems like a couple of the ones mentioned here so far are good candidates.

http://florida.twoguyswhogolf.com/reviews/southerndunes.html

The rec’s on Lakewood, University Park, Eaglebrooke and Fox Hollow are all solid. Innisbrook comments are also spot on, I’d play the Island’s if I was headed there, much better course then Copperhead (it was the preferred course for the Valspar but you can’t fit spectators on it) and usually about 1/2 the price.

Didn’t really consider Innisbrook because I’m not necessarily hunting “trophy” courses that have the big names. I like the recommendations for the courses that don’t have the big national name but represent a great place to play and a good value.

I will, however, check out The Island course to see if it fits what I’m looking for, whether they allow golf-only bookings and at what rates.

I liked Riverwood GC in Port Charlotte last year. I played it because it was close to where I was staying.

Sorry, you said Tampa, never mind.

Maybe Sarasota National? (looks to still be too far)

good luck!

> @geochitown said:

> I liked Riverwood GC in Port Charlotte last year. I played it because it was close to where I was staying.

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> Sorry, you said Tampa, never mind.

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> Maybe Sarasota National? (looks to still be too far)

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> good luck!

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I appreciate the additional suggestions and will check out the layouts, photos, reviews and rates. Heck, I'll drive an hour and change if it's a great course/value combination. I'm already considering Southern Dunes, Streamsong and Eaglebrooke...all are a decent hike from where we're staying near St. Pete Beach.

I'm down there alone for 3-1/2 days until my wife and kids arrive, so I could hit some more distant courses on those days. My only consideration is being able to play 36 each day, either on two different 18s at one location or at two different nearby courses. Riverwood and SN could be that kind of combo if they check the right boxes.

As an aside, I feel a little bad talking about FL golf in our Chicago thread, but I haven't seen grass here for a few days so I guess it fills the time. Plus, I respect the opinions of many of our Chicago guys since we often measure the quality of out of state courses against what we consider to be "good" tracks here.

you are a considerate guy!

I'm jonesing for golf as well, and think I'll be able to squeeze in a round down there over thanksgiving.

TPC Prestancia is accessible with mastercard (don't know how good the two 18 hole courses are there).

https://www.priceless.com/golf/play/tpc-prestancia/world-and-world-elite-benefits/

When I lived in Tampa, I would travel over to Dunedin to play their golf course. The course checks all of your boxes exactly. Its a really fun old school Donald Ross course. Its a bit rough around some edges but the greens are always in great shape, and its a really fun routing.

http://dunedingolfclub.com/index.htm

Brooksville Golf and CC (not too far from world woods) is a unique track and an amazing value

Posting part of my CA & FL trip summary in this thread for closure since you guys were great about providing recommendations.

I ended up playing the courses below due to (1) a desire to mix up the types of courses and geo locations and (2) my ability/willingness to drive a bit.

Saturday - World Woods (Pine Barrens and Rolling Oaks) in Brooksville, FL: both fun layouts with many interesting holes and good conditioning. PB seems to have more of a strong reputation, but RO was a more visually appealing and fun course to play. Would love to have another crack at both with more course knowledge to lean on.Sunday am - Lakewood National (Commander) in Lakewood Ranch, FL: rolling fairways with a lot of uneven lies, good-sized greens with both major contours and subtle breaks around the holes, and the greens were quick (posted as at 11). Nice but not overly challenging.Sunday pm - Esplanade in Lakewood Ranch, FL: similar in style to Lakewood National, but with wider fairways, a bit less water in play and larger, quicker greens than the 11 posted at Lakewood National. Pretty stuffy atmosphere, though.Monday - Streamsong (Red) in Bowling Green, FL: the finishing round for this coast to coast jaunt; lived up to the anticipation; very generous fairways with a lot of runout, huge greens with some serious undulations and super fast (even faster than Esplanade); beautiful course that reminded me a lot of Sand Valley in WI.Overall, I was pleased with World Woods and Streamsong (duh!) and would definitely go back to play each again, but Lakewood National and Esplanade were just ok.