Is there a worse area for golf than Tampa/St. Pete?

[ilikegolf26]

I mean I know this area isn't some great golf destination but it hit me today just how awful the golf is here, especially during the summer. Greens completely closed for construction, courses just completely going downhill. So I ask, is there a worse area in the country for golf than this one?

[FLGOLFJUNKIE]

I'd say for an area that has opportunities for courses to be open year round for business, there are probably not that many other than Tampa/St. Pete.

[jptruck]

Speaking as a Florida native, Golf is an October to May sport in that state. Embrace it.

Regarding courses, I'm sure the local courses are manageable, but World Woods and Streamsong are only an hour away if you are desperate for some "quality."

[RichieHunt]

The Sarasota and Bradenton areas are still very good.

The problem Tampa has is that the rain is atrocious in the summer. Makes it very difficult for courses to survive.






RH

[mwmgolfx]

Interesting that one can't find a course that decent within a reasonable distance to Tampa. I've played Fox Hollow, Crescent Oaks, TPC tampa Bay, World woods, lake jovita, Tampa Palms,, saddlebrook, Brooksville Country Club, Southern Hills, Hernando Oaks, Lake Bernadette all this summer. Some were in better condition than others, And some layouts I like way better than others (some layouts or treatment of me were awful and I'd never go back .) But most were pretty good condition overall with only a few in what I'd call poor shape. I don't belong to any private clubs so I am strictly a public/resort player so my playing is strictly on the courses open to everyone.

Remember that most of the courses do major maintenance in the summer, including green aerification, green replacement, etc. From a business point of view, they have way more traffic in the winter than in the summer (some courses have only a bare minimum play during the summer at best) so it makes sense to do it when its slack.

But that said, there are still plenty of courses around within an hours drive to play that are in very good playable shape. Personally if you can't find somewhere reasonable and at a reasonable price to pay, you aren't looking very hard or have standards that are way higher than most public courses thruout the country (and I've played lots of different areas in the country even this year).

Yes, courses are going downhill here, but that's true everywhere (see postings in other WRX sites for similar complaints). Times are hard for courses, those that don't treat people well and don't take care of their facilities are struggling. Remember that within one hours drive about 5 years ago there were way over 400+ courses. That's too many for the number of golfers so various ones won't survive (or haven't). Lots of various types of factors causing them to fail - mismanagement, poor layouts, too much better competition close by, amongst other things.

But considering everything, personally Tampa has a great area for golf, especially when you consider the costs. I pay 27.50 to play World woods. In the NE it would be $90-$200 to play. TPC tampa bay is $39 and is in pretty good shape considering that they just aerated the course last Monday and Tuesday (only do it once per year) and this is the slackest time.

[Mr60Degree]

Summer Rain storms come in the afternoon, and you would most likely not be playing then anyway due to the high heat of the day by that time.

If I lived in the area I would probably just try to schedule early rounds at World Woods and consider myself lucky. Since moving from Florida I have not seen courses of that quality design and condition at their price point. I thought it was a great deal even considering me driving a few hours to play there.

[jnier75]

Speaking for St. Pete and Pinellas south of Ulmerton road, it's a very poor selection. There's a total of 4 championship length courses to choose from that are public and 1 is semi-private with limited morning tee times come winter. For the other 3 courses weekend rounds are well over 4 hours for anything after 8am. The nice courses are almost all private and still are about the same quality if not less than the resort courses over in Orlando or other areas of the state.

In the summer, I really miss playing 36 holes in a day at 2 different courses for under $50 any day of the week in Orlando.

World Woods has fantastic tracks at fantastic prices but I can get there in about the same time as Disney, which is to say it's quite a trek for a round or two of golf.

[FLGOLFJUNKIE]

TPC Tampa for $39??? Where? World Woods for $27.50?? Where are these rates coming from?

[ilikegolf26]

[quote name='FLGOLFJUNKIE' timestamp='1436494261' post='11920742']TPC Tampa for $39??? Where? World Woods for $27.50?? Where are these rates coming from?[/quote]

Probably like a once a month "hot deal" on golfnow for a single at 2:00 on a Tuesday.

[Mr60Degree]

[quote name='FLGOLFJUNKIE' timestamp='1436494261' post='11920742']
TPC Tampa for $39??? Where? World Woods for $27.50?? Where are these rates coming from?
[/quote]
[quote name='ilikegolf26' timestamp='1436532200' post='11922336']
[quote name='FLGOLFJUNKIE' timestamp='1436494261' post='11920742']TPC Tampa for $39??? Where? World Woods for $27.50?? Where are these rates coming from?[/quote]

Probably like a once a month "hot deal" on golfnow for a single at 2:00 on a Tuesday.
[/quote]

Hot deals for WW appear to be under $20, but late afternoon so those are probably worthless. Weekday morning tee times are $40. Looks like Weekend is $50.

TPC Tampa bay is considerably more expensive, in the $70 to $80 range. I have never played that course but assuming its proximity and TPC name carrying more weight, I am not surprised its more pricey.

[butch33611]

Yes there are a lot worse places to play. Try playing anywhere in Minnesota in January. Id be happy to trade you situation with mine.

[mwmgolfx]

[quote name='Mr60Degree' timestamp='1436545038' post='11923620']
[quote name='FLGOLFJUNKIE' timestamp='1436494261' post='11920742']
TPC Tampa for $39??? Where? World Woods for $27.50?? Where are these rates coming from?
[/quote]
[quote name='ilikegolf26' timestamp='1436532200' post='11922336']
[quote name='FLGOLFJUNKIE' timestamp='1436494261' post='11920742']TPC Tampa for $39??? Where? World Woods for $27.50?? Where are these rates coming from?[/quote]

Probably like a once a month "hot deal" on golfnow for a single at 2:00 on a Tuesday.
[/quote]

Hot deals for WW appear to be under $20, but late afternoon so those are probably worthless. Weekday morning tee times are $40. Looks like Weekend is $50.

TPC Tampa bay is considerably more expensive, in the $70 to $80 range. I have never played that course but assuming its proximity and TPC name carrying more weight, I am not surprised its more pricey.
[/quote]

Try a paradise card - $199 for the summer and prices are super super good. Paid for card already with savings and it provides some rounds on private courses as well that are not normally easy to get on. Or for world woods all year - get a woods card. Even the woods deals sent to those that signup for emails is usually 35-45 during the summer (anytime not just afternoon). I just got an email from World woods for $33 + golf hat during the week and $35 for the weekend after 10am That savings just requires that you signup for emails from the course. And many other courses in Florida do the same thing. Nothing to buy but super rates.

Golf Now is almost always higher than these, unless sometimes at times nobody would play for "HOT" (and I do mean hot physically) deals. I haven't used Golf Now this year when i have paradise and other deals. Why pay more and pay GolfNow's fees when one can get it cheaper elsewhere.

TPC for Florida residents right now is $65. Paradise card is $39 during the week and after 10 on weekends.

And there are other deals and cards that provide significant savings on those courses as well.

[jerebear21]

if you have a paradise card, TPC tampa is 40 bucks. West chase is 25 bucks (This is 80 during the winter)

Tampa has plenty of great tracks.

[FLGOLFJUNKIE]

The paradise card sounds great, but for someone like me that lives in lakeland and World Woods and some other courses are over 45 minutes away, I don't think there's too much value to it as I still do like to go to Orlando more to golf.

[mwmgolfx]

I'm not sure about an Orlando version. I know that they have several that are discounted there From the paradise website:

" ORLANDO CENTRAL FLORIDA CLUBS Clubs our members can book at excellent rates –Celebration, Highlands Reserve, Southern Dunes –Member for a Day Clubs Bella Collina, Legacy Alaqua –g) We handle Central Florida Club tee time requests via email one week in advance. Please email tee time requests - include date(s),time, # of players to [email protected] (a - Includes Range Balls before play, (b - Rates include Range Balls before play and 2 for 1 Drafts after play - Club guarantees $5 off published rate or the lowest rate at all time (c - Club guarantees $5 discount off published rates for Paradise Summer Card Members as follows: (Apr 15–May 31 Public 39 bef 12, $33 aft 12–Paradise $34 bef 12, $28 aft 12/June 1-Sep 30 $29 bef 12, $25 aft 12–Paradise $24 bef 12, $20 aft"

And get a LYNX card at OCN and that provides discount for all the "INTEGRITY" courses, such as orange county, Orange lake, Celebrations, etc.

[th6252]

[quote name='ilikegolf26' timestamp='1436225705' post='11899460']
I mean I know this area isn't some great golf destination but it hit me today just how awful the golf is here, especially during the summer. Greens completely closed for construction, courses just completely going downhill. So I ask, is there a worse area in the country for golf than this one?
[/quote]

Come play some public golf in the NYC metro area, particularly Northern NJ and you'll quickly see how wrong you were.

[ilikegolf26]

[quote name='th6252' timestamp='1441339509' post='12261346']
[quote name='ilikegolf26' timestamp='1436225705' post='11899460']
I mean I know this area isn't some great golf destination but it hit me today just how awful the golf is here, especially during the summer. Greens completely closed for construction, courses just completely going downhill. So I ask, is there a worse area in the country for golf than this one?
[/quote]

Come play some public golf in the NYC metro area, particularly Northern NJ and you'll quickly see how wrong you were.
[/quote]

I try to stay as far away from NYC as I can. I like my guns and large Cokes.

[chippa13]

I did a trip with a buddy of mine down there and we stayed at Innisbrook. We found plenty of good golf in the area, including a round at Copperhead.