Best private golf clubs Tampa

[jerebear21]

8 hours ago, iamthebeard said:

Jerebear is the resident expert according to the thread. But here am I to interject my opinion to the original topic. 
 

have lived in Tampa since 1996 so I’ve seen a lot come and go through the years 

 

Also, Every club of any substance in Tampa has a waiting list at this point in time. But if we’re talking Tampa proper (Hillsb. country) The only golf clubs worth discussing are:

OM

Palma Ceia 

Avila

 

Now extending the grid to Pinellas you add: 

Belleair 

Pelican 

*Feather (haven’t played since the Reno) 

 

Now trying to rank those 5 

OM: best (current) course from architecture stand point - not saying much-. Solid practice area and conditions.  Also the best hang and logo, but a bring your own game joint. 100k+ initiation and deep waiting list for local members

 

Belleair: West course reno will make this this best golf course in the Bay Area by a mile. Exited to see final product. 50k initiation plus a deep waiting list 

 

PC: great social club and membership. Fantastic test of golf for what it is. Only traditional proper golf club in the Tampa area. Good luck getting on the waitlist and enjoy your wait 

 

Avila: typically decent conditions. Terrible architecture (9,10). Great under 40 program, solid practice facility 

Pelican: great conditioning, horribly boring architecture. Stuffy membership (cute blueberry jackets) and staff. Might be a fun hang if you’re not paying the bill. 50k+ and a waitlist and hope you’re a friend of the Doyle’s to get on it 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretty much spot on, but numbers are a bit off.  Though I will say if I wanted to play daily, I’d have to put Pasadena CC and Isla Del Sol(both in st pete) up there as well.  Nothing special but just fun daily play.  If you add Bradenton to the Tampa Bay Area category it opens up to a lot more. For me, it seems like it’s faster to go from tampa airport to Bradenton than it is from south tampa to Avila.  And sometimes it feels it’s faster to get to southern hills from tampa proper than to PGC or Belleair.  Infrastructure is so bad here.  If Southern Hills was 20 minutes closer, that’s my choice to play over all the other exclusives.  A couple clubs getting renovated, Vinoy and TPC Tampa.  Add in cabot citrus farm.  Tampa is getting better.