First trip to Tampa. Recommendations?

[NVS_Pegasus]

Taking my first golf trip to Florida in Sept. Any members local near Tampa that could give some good recommendations? I'm just an average joe player looking for a nice clean course or two, or five to play while I'm there.

 

Thanks!

[Argonne69]

How far are you willing to drive? I think the two courses at World Woods north of Tampa are must plays. Streamsong is roughly an hour away.

[AC168]

Layouts at World Woods and Black Diamond Ranch are solid.

[bauer22]

I second Streamsong!

[Andrew Bond of Glencoe]

In September you could play Streamsong Black the brand new course by Gil Hanse and then clean it up with Streamsong Red ranked #10 in golf courses you can play.

 

World Woods has two courses - Pine Barrens modeled after Pine Valley and Rolling Oaks modeled after Augusta. Both are great courses a notch down from Streamsong, but still ranked in the Top 100. It is certainly a bargain vs Streamsong.

 

 

[krzeczowskimatt]

Streamsong is worth the drive! If you are in Tampa Streamsong is a MUST PLAY!!!!!!

[jerebear21]

condition wise world woods isn't even in the same breathe or a notch below streamsong;

 

i love world woods but it's not what it once was.

[Argonne69]

condition wise world woods isn't even in the same breathe or a notch below streamsong;

 

i love world woods but it's not what it once was.

 

I don't doubt that, but it's probably less that 1/3rd the price.

[jerebear21]

condition wise world woods isn't even in the same breathe or a notch below streamsong;

 

i love world woods but it's not what it once was.

 

I don't doubt that, but it's probably less that 1/3rd the price.

 

 

negative; world woods currently is 40 plus tax; streamsong currently is 85 plus tax for florida resident

 

a 45 dollar difference isn't a notch below. It is multiple notch below. My point is the conditions are not even close to the "notch below".

[Argonne69]

condition wise world woods isn't even in the same breathe or a notch below streamsong;

 

i love world woods but it's not what it once was.

 

I don't doubt that, but it's probably less that 1/3rd the price.

 

 

negative; world woods currently is 40 plus tax; streamsong currently is 85 plus tax for florida resident

 

a 45 dollar difference isn't a notch below. It is multiple notch below. My point is the conditions are not even close to the "notch below".

 

 

The OP is from Virginia, so he isn't going to get a resident rate. He'd be paying $125, which is 3x the rate at World Woods.

 

I play cheap munis for more than $40, so the conditions at WW would have to be rather pathetic for me to complain.

[jerebear21]

condition wise world woods isn't even in the same breathe or a notch below streamsong;

 

i love world woods but it's not what it once was.

 

I don't doubt that, but it's probably less that 1/3rd the price.

 

 

negative; world woods currently is 40 plus tax; streamsong currently is 85 plus tax for florida resident

 

a 45 dollar difference isn't a notch below. It is multiple notch below. My point is the conditions are not even close to the "notch below".

 

 

The OP is from Virginia, so he isn't going to get a resident rate. He'd be paying $125, which is 3x the rate at World Woods.

 

I play cheap munis for more than $40, so the conditions at WW would have to be rather pathetic for me to complain.

 

if you talk to the front person they WILL GIVE YOU florida resident rate; how often do you play streamsong? This is LOCAL knowledge here. I'm from this parts of the woods.

 

and replay rounds cost about 60 bucks; Red and blue can be had during summer time for less than 150 bucks.

[Argonne69]

 

if you talk to the front person they WILL GIVE YOU florida resident rate; how often do you play streamsong? This is LOCAL knowledge here. I'm from this parts of the woods.

 

and replay rounds cost about 60 bucks; Red and blue can be had during summer time for less than 150 bucks.

 

I've played both courses at WW and SS twice in the winter months. I'd be surprised if they gave us northerners resident rates on the weekends during the peak season. I'll certainly give it a try the next time I'm down there though.

[jerebear21]

and obviously there is no complaining about world woods. I was just at world woods yesterday playing rolling oaks; I was at streamsong a couple weeks back. I love that place but streamsong is currently a WAY better value.

 

 

 

[jerebear21]

 

if you talk to the front person they WILL GIVE YOU florida resident rate; how often do you play streamsong? This is LOCAL knowledge here. I'm from this parts of the woods.

 

and replay rounds cost about 60 bucks; Red and blue can be had during summer time for less than 150 bucks.

 

I've played both courses at WW and SS twice in the winter months. I'd be surprised if they gave us northerners resident rates on the weekends during the peak season. I'll certainly give it a try the next time I'm down there though.

 

there is no resident rates for streamsong during winter time for ANYONE. Winter rates at world woods is 125. You make it seem like it's 40 bucks year round.

[LeftField11]

OP, not sure if you've left yet or not. But in case you haven't, here's my experience in the Tampa area. We've gone to Tampa from PA the past two years in January to play three rounds over a long weekend. Budget was always a consideration. Here's where we've played and whether I'd recommend the course:

 

2016 trip

- The Claw - very reasonable rates, was the first course we played to knock the rust off, didn't get great reviews but we enjoyed the round. Would consider playing it again, but recent reviews have said it's gone downhill lately, we probably won't play it in Jan 2018

- Northdale - reasonable rates, decent conditions, nice greens. Layout wasn't anything special, would consider playing it again for the value.

- World Woods, Pine Barrens - Exceptional course, great conditions, great layout. Only negative is the pro shop staff weren't overly friendly and seemed a bit put off by the rate we snagged off of GolfNow. That doesn't bother me in the slightest though. On course staff were very friendly. Sign up for World Woods emails, and you'll get monthly specials. We played this course again in 2017 and will play it again in 2018.

 

2017 trip

- The Eagles Club, Forest - decent rates, nice course, nice conditions, nice staff; will consider playing it again in 2018

- Dunedin - good value, interesting Donald Ross layout, exceptional staff, marginal conditions. I'd like to play this course again, but unless the conditions have improved we probably won't .

- World Woods, Pine Barrens - see above. I'm really trying to find a way to play Rolling Oaks too, but I don't want to drive to Brooksville two days, and playing 36 makes for a long day when you're not in "golf shape".

[ArtMBgolf]

If you call the day of play, some resort courses might give you the local or 48 hour rate.

If you prebook, as you would have to do with a foursome or more, it would cost the visitor/package rate.

[CaseyC]

Dunedin has some nice memorabilia in the clubhouse as it was once the home of the PGA of America.

 

Innisbrook has good variety with the 4 courses there

[seus777]

If you want a cheap muni in town, Mangrove Bay in St. Pete is a great value. And they re-did all their greens this summer. They're in fantastic shape.

[jerebear21]

avoid mangrove like the plague. it's 5 hours round, rude staff, and costly winter rates.