Heading to Tampa (Cabot) and want some suggestions

[SLCLOS]

Me and a friend are doing a trip to play Cabot citrus farms on the 29th of April, but we are looking to play the 27th and 28th somewhere else. Any suggestions of where we can go would be much appreciated. We anticipate staying close to Tampa/clearwater but depending on other suggestions we might Airbnb somehwere other than there. Any help appreciated.

 

Also if anyone is up for a round or two, wouldnt mind joining other wrxrs on some courses.

 

 

[achun88]

Southern Hills Plantation would be my vote if you're going to be at Cabot.  Southern Hills is a pete dye and used to allow public tee times although doesn't look like the case anymore.  Although look like right now they have a stay and play package.  

 

https://www.southernhillsplantationclub.com/golf/stay-and-play

[Golfinfloridaafter40]

On 2/29/2024 at 11:05 AM, SLCLOS said:

Me and a friend are doing a trip to play Cabot citrus farms on the 29th of April, but we are looking to play the 27th and 28th somewhere else. Any suggestions of where we can go would be much appreciated. We anticipate staying close to Tampa/clearwater but depending on other suggestions we might Airbnb somehwere other than there. Any help appreciated.

 

Also if anyone is up for a round or two, wouldnt mind joining other wrxrs on some courses.

 

 

Stay out of Clearwater altogether unless you just want to spend all of your time there.  The traffic getting out of there and  back to Tampa then back to Clearwater is a NIGHTMARE!!! 

Tampa North is the easiest area to get everywhere from IMO.

 

So many good courses, all depends on what you want to spend.  If you don't care to drive 1.5 hours north, you should add Juliette Falls to the list.  Easily a top 5 public course in Florida and has won top honors a couple of times.  Best part is, it does not take 5-6 hours to play

 

I second the Southern Hills suggestion, it's just ridiculously expensive.

Edited March 1 by Golfinfloridaafter40

[jorellanes]

Juliette Falls is a nice track.

[Golfinfloridaafter40]

7 minutes ago, jorellanes said:

Juliette Falls is a nice track.

One of my absolute favorites!

 

Black Diamond Quarry Course

Streamsong

both belong on this list too

[sabram]

Streamsong is a couple hours by car from Cabot, but the best option in the area.

 

Besides the other courses that have already been mentioned, Brooksville Country Club is nearby Cabot (about 15-20  minutes away). The front 9 is old school and pretty flat. The back 9 is a more modern, brawny course will significant elevation changes across a former quarry. It's a fun course, although I haven't played there in several years. 

 

Lane Jovita is a little further, but has two nice courses that we sometimes played on trips to World Woods ( now Cabot Citrus)

 

Click on a photo below to view photo tour of the course:

 

Brooksville Country Club

 

Cabot Citrus - Karoo

 

Lake Jovita - South

 

Lake Jovita - North

Edited March 2 by sabram
to add photo links

[jorellanes]

Brooksville Country Club is NOT in the best shape as of last Wednesday.

[Golfinfloridaafter40]

Lake Jovita North is fun!  Much better than South

[sabram]

2 hours ago, Golfinfloridaafter40 said:

Lake Jovita North is fun!  Much better than South

For me one course didn't really distinguish itself from the other. I liked the elevation changes and marshland holes on the South. If you asked the 12 players in our group I think there would be a 50-50 split. What aspects of the North made it much better than the South for you?

[Golfinfloridaafter40]

7 minutes ago, sabram said:

For me one course didn't really distinguish itself from the other. I liked the elevation changes and marshland holes on the South. If you asked the 12 players in our group I think there would be a 50-50 split. What aspects of the North made it much better than the South for you?

South felt like a blend of an traditional country club course and a Florida resort course, a little less elevation change and rolling hills compared to North.  I will say that many of the locals seem to prefer South because it is easier for older golfers to play. I have only played South once and it was in tournament play

 

North is unique! It is a typical Florida course but with more character and hills.  Other than tee shots having more room, it is definitely more difficult if you aren't striking the ball well because of the side hill lies and undulated greens. I have played North 3 times and once in the last month.  Neither course is worth $100 to me, but I am not wealthy so that matters.  I would drive the extra hour north to Juliette Falls over either course if the price was the same.  It's about as perfect as a public course gets in central Florida. 

[Philfil]

Another vote for Juliette Falls!!

[SLCLOS]

Awesome. Appreciate all the feedback. Havent booked an airbnb yet so thanks for the heads up on staying out of clearwater. will look at north tampa. 

 

Adding lake jovita to the courses we will play. So far we got Cabot (possibly playing the 27 there) on monday tentative streamsong on Saturday and Julliette Falls on Sunday. I also got recommended westchase golf club. Looks nice, but obviously sometimes the website make it look nicer than it is. Anyone have any opinions of it?

 

 

Edited March 3 by SLCLOS

[Philfil]

7 hours ago, SLCLOS said:

Awesome. Appreciate all the feedback. Havent booked an airbnb yet so thanks for the heads up on staying out of clearwater. will look at north tampa. 

 

Adding lake jovita to the courses we will play. So far we got Cabot (possibly playing the 27 there) on monday tentative streamsong on Saturday and Julliette Falls on Sunday. I also got recommended westchase golf club. Looks nice, but obviously sometimes the website make it look nicer than it is. Anyone have any opinions of it?

 

 

Westchase is alright….
If it’s after Streamsong, Juliette Falls and Cabot Citrus Farms, it’ll suck…. But it’s just a golf course…. I’d skip that and go to Hard rock casino, a Lightning game, or something else in Tampa that’s non golf related..  you’ve pretty much hit the 3 best spots for what it is now. 

[benkodi]

16 hours ago, SLCLOS said:

Awesome. Appreciate all the feedback. Havent booked an airbnb yet so thanks for the heads up on staying out of clearwater. will look at north tampa. 

 

Adding lake jovita to the courses we will play. So far we got Cabot (possibly playing the 27 there) on monday tentative streamsong on Saturday and Julliette Falls on Sunday. I also got recommended westchase golf club. Looks nice, but obviously sometimes the website make it look nicer than it is. Anyone have any opinions of it?

 

 

If you’re going to be at Streamsong on Saturday, Juliette Falls is one heck of a long drive for one round of golf.

[SLCLOS]

4 hours ago, benkodi said:

If you’re going to be at Streamsong on Saturday, Juliette Falls is one heck of a long drive for one round of golf.

Yeah. the plan was to land in the AM and then go to streamsong. when done with that drive up and stay towards brooksville. Streamsong still might not be an option as we cant book until 30 days before as a non resort guest. But we will be staying close to Cabot now with the suggestions to stay out of clearwater.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 4 by SLCLOS

[SLCLOS]

On 3/1/2024 at 3:10 PM, Golfinfloridaafter40 said:

One of my absolute favorites!

 

Black Diamond Quarry Course

Streamsong

both belong on this list too

Black Diamond looks amazing. But seems like its member or stay and play only.

[doctor220]

Any recs for food by Cabot  ? Any genre 

[Sean30114]

Got a tee time for later this week. Looks amazing.

[SLCLOS]

2 hours ago, Sean30114 said:

Got a tee time for later this week. Looks amazing.

Excited to hear your thoughts. End of april cant come soon enough for us. excited to get down there.

 

 

[SLCLOS]

Ok. So I need another suggestion. What do any of you prefer Streamsong Red or Blue?