Visiting Anna Maria Island in November - Best Course Itinerary?

[sullijos]

Hi Everyone,

 

I will be vacationing in Anna Maria Island in November with my wife's family, during which, my brother-in-law and I will be playing 18 holes one day and 36 another (best I could negotiate with my wife). Based on what I've read in previous discussions, we are considering three options:

 

1) Make the drive to play 36 at Streamsong and play 18 at University Park, Sarasota National, Lakewood National, or similar course

 

2) Make the drive to play 36 at Innisbrook Copperhead and Island courses and play 18 at University Park, Sarasota National, Lakewood National, or similar course

 

3) Play 36 at TPC Tampa Bay (it appears that there's a deal through teetimesUSA to get complimentary replay, based on availability) and play 18 at University Park, Sarasota National, Lakewood National, or similar course

 

3) Make a slightly shorter drive to play 36 and 18 at some combination of University Park, Sarasota National, Lakewood National, Esplenade, Riverstrand, Venetian, Waterlefe, etc.

 

I would love to play 36 at Streamsong but two things are holding me back. It's significantly more expensive than options 3 and 4 ($305 for 36 holes) and it's walking only I believe. Driving 75 minutes to walk 36 holes and pay a lot of money (relatively speaking) has me slightly backing off of this option.

 

Innisbrook is the most expensive and would probably kick my a** so that is the least likely option at this point.

 

In your opinion, which option is the best based on course quality, value, proximity to AMI, etc? Overall, I'm just looking for the best "package". If Streamsong included a cart I would likely have just booked 36 there already.

 

Thanks in advance. I've come to this forum many times and have always received quality feedback.

 

Sully

[GolfSRQ]

If you guys want let me know , you can come and play as my guests at tpc prestancia in sarasota. About 45 mins from Anna maria

[sullijos]

> @GolfSRQ said:

> If you guys want let me know , you can come and play as my guests at tpc prestancia in sarasota. About 45 mins from Anna maria

 

Thanks for the offer! I'll run it by my brother in law and get back to you via PM.

[outgolfing]

While streamsong is great, it is also very expensive and a heck of a drive from Anna Maria during that time of the year (we call it “season”). It can sometimes take an hour just to make it across the bridges to the island. For those two reasons I would cross it off your list. TPC Tampa Bay may be more affordable with the tee times USA deal but the drive will be equally as much a headache.

 

If I were you I would play 18 at Lakewood National and then an afternoon round at university park CC. Your second day with only 18 play Sarasota National. If you decide you want to play something closer to the island IMG golf course is a fun track and has been in good shape lately.

 

 

[MK7Golf21]

I was on Anna Maria island last March and ready reviews of people saying it took forever to get across onto the island. We drove across it every morning and evening for 5 days and it wasn’t that bad imo.

[outgolfing]

> @Redjeep83 said:

> I was on Anna Maria island last March and ready reviews of people saying it took forever to get across onto the island. We drove across it every morning and evening for 5 days and it wasn’t that bad imo.

 

You were lucky then.

 

[MK7Golf21]

> @outgolfing said:

> > @Redjeep83 said:

> > I was on Anna Maria island last March and ready reviews of people saying it took forever to get across onto the island. We drove across it every morning and evening for 5 days and it wasn’t that bad imo.

>

> You were lucky then.

>

 

Oh it was bumper to bumper on bridge many of the days but I mean it still moved through at ok pace and your only going a few miles on the bridge. I take you have never driven in Chicago around 4-6 pm? Now that is a pain

[sullijos]

> @outgolfing said:

> While streamsong is great, it is also very expensive and a heck of a drive from Anna Maria during that time of the year (we call it “season”). It can sometimes take an hour just to make it across the bridges to the island. For those two reasons I would cross it off your list. TPC Tampa Bay may be more affordable with the tee times USA deal but the drive will be equally as much a headache.

>

> If I were you I would play 18 at Lakewood National and then an afternoon round at university park CC. Your second day with only 18 play Sarasota National. If you decide you want to play something closer to the island IMG golf course is a fun track and has been in good shape lately.

>

>

 

Thanks for the feedback!

[Backsidefloater]

If you can get on Bradenton country club is super close and nice, but private.

Out east lakewood national and esplanade are fun tracks

[sullijos]

> @Backsidefloater said:

> If you can get on Bradenton country club is super close and nice, but private.

> Out east lakewood national and esplanade are fun tracks

 

Unfortunately, there's no practical way for us to get on BCC. We're definitely looking hard at Lakewood National and Esplenade, especially for the 36 hole day as that would make for an easy drive from course to course.

[jerebear21]

lakewood national 2nd 18 should be having a soft opening relatively soon; it's scheduled for a january opening from my understanding.

 

36 at lakewood national would be my suggestion. at least on the public end.