Tampa Trip

propman · December 19, 2018

Appears I'm headed to Tampa the 1st week of April. Flying in from Chicago and meeting my bil who has his suv down there. We plan on staying in Tampa area for probably 3 nights and plan on getting 4 or 5 rounds in. Then we plan on starting our way back to Chicago and playing 2 rounds on the way home. This part gets tricky since we'll need to monitor the weather in states like Alabama etc...

Anyhoo, Like to get some recs on places to stay and play in Tampa. I tend to be frugal (my bil calls it "being cheap") and he spends like a drunken sailor (in fact he was one back in the day). So we need to find a middle ground for places to stay and play. Courses in the $60 - $90 range with reasonable replay rates would be great ! A resort with multiple courses would also be good.

Already looked at Golfpac and Teetimes websites. Saw a place called Plantation on Crystal River. Anyone familiar with this place? Need nothing fancy.

Thanks,

Juan73 · December 19, 2018

While you can stay at Plantation ... DO NOT play the course. You are within about 30 minutes drive of 3 of the top courses in Florida. There are two courses at World Woods. And one at Juliette Falls. That should get you the 3 courses you want to play.... IF you want to drive a little further (45 minutes)... play Southern Hills Plantation course.. it is in Brooksville. IF I was staying in Crystal River those would be the four courses I would play. I lived in that area for 5 years and this year moved to Sarasota... so I have played those courses a LOT. If you are looking for a residential course... you can play Skyview which is part of Citrus Hills and about 10-15 minutes from where you are staying. World Woods might be a little above your $50, BUT you can play one of the courses in the morning and the other in the afternoon. IF your BIL has contacts OR a bunch of money see about getting on the Quarry Course at Black Diamond Ranch... also about 10-15 minutes from Plantation Inn. PM me if you have more questions.. Hope you have a fantastic trip.

propman · December 19, 2018

While you can stay at Plantation ... DO NOT play the course. You are within about 30 minutes drive of 3 of the top courses in Florida. There are two courses at World Woods. And one at Juliette Falls. That should get you the 3 courses you want to play.... IF you want to drive a little further (45 minutes)... play Southern Hills Plantation course.. it is in Brooksville. IF I was staying in Crystal River those would be the four courses I would play. I lived in that area for 5 years and this year moved to Sarasota... so I have played those courses a LOT. If you are looking for a residential course... you can play Skyview which is part of Citrus Hills and about 10-15 minutes from where you are staying. World Woods might be a little above your $50, BUT you can play one of the courses in the morning and the other in the afternoon. IF your BIL has contacts OR a bunch of money see about getting on the Quarry Course at Black Diamond Ranch... also about 10-15 minutes from Plantation Inn. PM me if you have more questions.. Hope you have a fantastic trip.

Thanks for the response.

Anyone else out there?

ilikegolf26 · December 20, 2018

You probably picked the worst city in Florida for golf....

I think World Woods would be your best bet. They were offering good rates in the afternoon and they have two courses.

propman · December 20, 2018

You probably picked the worst city in Florida for golf....

I think World Woods would be your best bet. They were offering good rates in the afternoon and they have two courses.

Haven't picked anything yet iro where to stay. WW seems like a must play.

Got any suggestions on where to stay ? Resorts, condos ??

Jcard · December 21, 2018

While you can stay at Plantation ... DO NOT play the course. You are within about 30 minutes drive of 3 of the top courses in Florida. There are two courses at World Woods. And one at Juliette Falls. That should get you the 3 courses you want to play.... IF you want to drive a little further (45 minutes)... play Southern Hills Plantation course.. it is in Brooksville. IF I was staying in Crystal River those would be the four courses I would play. I lived in that area for 5 years and this year moved to Sarasota... so I have played those courses a LOT. If you are looking for a residential course... you can play Skyview which is part of Citrus Hills and about 10-15 minutes from where you are staying. World Woods might be a little above your $50, BUT you can play one of the courses in the morning and the other in the afternoon. IF your BIL has contacts OR a bunch of money see about getting on the Quarry Course at Black Diamond Ranch... also about 10-15 minutes from Plantation Inn. PM me if you have more questions.. Hope you have a fantastic trip.

A buddy and myself are heading into the Sarasota area end of February early March. You got any recommendations for courses in that area? I have no problem with a bit of a drive. I've played Mayakka once and Streamsong. Any ideas you have are much appreciated. Thanks

Juan73 · December 22, 2018

I think there is a whole thread in this section about courses in the area.... here are a few ideas...

Since you have played Streamsong....if you have not played all three of the courses there you can go back to play those you missed.

Lakewood National is an excellent course AND will have hosted a Web.com Tour event around the 20th of February... it is a solid course.

University Park also gets good reviews.

I play at Legacy Golf Club and like it a lot. However, if you are not hitting it straight off the tee... bring extra balls!!! It re-opened in September with new greens, etc. etc.

Hope this helps.

propman · December 25, 2018

Anymore suggestions on Tampa places to stay? Stay/play packages?

OutBackHack · December 25, 2018

Stay out of Alabama is my advice.

propman · December 26, 2018

Stay out of Alabama is my advice.

reason?

ilikegolf26 · December 26, 2018

Stay out of Alabama is my advice.

I loved the RTJ Trail courses I have played in Alabama.

JsameM · February 13, 2019

some of the best golf courses I have ever played are in Alabama.....do NOT avoid.

Def will piggy back on the Southern Hills tip. Fox Hollow is solid. Westchase is decent, and close to Tampa.

Having only moved to Tampa last July, that's about the extent of my knowledge. I'm not much help on where to stay.

propman · February 15, 2019

some of the best golf courses I have ever played are in Alabama.....do NOT avoid.

Def will piggy back on the Southern Hills tip. Fox Hollow is solid. Westchase is decent, and close to Tampa.

Having only moved to Tampa last July, that's about the extent of my knowledge. I'm not much help on where to stay.

Thanks, we still are in the planning stages.. I;m leaning towards staying at the Plantation on Crystal River which seems to be a reasonable distance from Southern Hills, Juliette Falls and Southern Hills,

Back in the day, we would never have considered this area to stay because us studs would have needed night life. Now, a good dinner and a couple of cocktails will suffice and then it is sack time. Trust there are some decent restaurants around the Plantation.