Tampa Florida could be “Heaven on Earth” for the Snowbirds Chowd
By Rick Zurak
TAMPA, Florida – Tampa Bay is famous for many things. The most beautiful white sand beaches, boating and fishing, the Gasparilla pirate festival, concerts galore, year round sports including NFL, NHL and MLB. And then there’s golf. As a snowbird from Buffalo, New York, I love them all.
The PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship is held in mid-March at the beautiful Copperhead course at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, but this story is about YOU coming to Tampa Bay for vacation and to play 18.
There are very few courses that host a PGA Tour event that are open to the public, but the Copperhead course is one of them. There are four courses at Innisbrook Resort. They’re all nice, but not necessarily cheap. There are two ways to play the Copperhead course and its famous “Snake Pit” finish. Either be a resort guest or a member. Innisbrook’s famous logo says it all: “Play Where the Pros Play.”
The Innisbrook Resort guest two-night package includes golf, hotel, breakfast and lunch. The cost can be as low as $400, but for snowbirds in-season, it’s closer to $1,000. The Island course, North and South courses are much kinder to your wallet. And they are good. https://www.innisbrookgolfresort.com/
The other two premium courses in the area are TPC Tampa Bay and Fox Hollow Golf Club. The TPC course is very good, but greens fee in winter are $220+. There are twilight rates, but be sure and check the sunset times for the best deal. You may not be able to finish.
Then there’s a wonderful semi-private course called Fox Hollow Golf Club, located in Trinity, just east of Tarpon Springs. The 6,768-yard par 71 layout wraps around the property so you are always going in a different direction. There’s plenty of challenge and the aesthetics are second to none.
“It’s a combination of Robert Trent Jones layout that he designed here, the conditions, the price and the people,” said General Manager/Owner Dave Creighton. “It’s a must-play when visiting Tampa area.”
Fox Hollow features a friendly staff both on and off the course.
The price is $80-$120, which in comparison to its rivals, is a deal. There is a great 19th hole bar, including a small patio, that overlooks the best part of the course. A very scenic view of golf and water combined.
“When you arrive here, looking out at the golf course, you see the first hole, the 10th hole and the 18th hole”, said Creighton. “It’s like, I gotta get out there and play this golf course!”
I agree one-hundred percent.
As for the best bang for your buck in Tampa Bay golf, hold on to your hat. You may think I’m kidding, but it’s true. How about $50 a month for unlimited golf and unlimited range. Wow! It’s called the Player Development Membership at Plantation Palms in Land O’Lakes (just north of Tampa). There is a slight catch in that you have to buy a 3 month membership for $150, but come on, unlimited golf and range?
Plantation Palms has “state of the art TifEagle greens, naturally rolling terrain with an abundance of wildlife.” It was voted “Best of the best” four years in a row by The Tampa Bay Times.
And it has a great 19th hole. https://www.plantationpalms.net/memberships
So here’s the plan for all you Baby Boomers thinking about a visit to Tampa. Do it! You will not regret the decision for a vacation that will create memories to last a lifetime. One the best golf memberships in Florida is the Player Development Membership. Play Plantation Palms, maybe twice. Then go to Fox Hollow and have an excellent golf experience.
Follow that golf outing with a round at Innisbrook Resort where you can choose from the Island, North and South courses which are fun and affordable. Go for it! A full week of Tampa Bay golf for $500. You can thank me later!
Rick Zurak has experience and associations in the golf industry that are vast and contribute to his accomplishments which include: 28 U.S. Opens, PGAs and Ryder Cups, former publisher of Niagara Golfer magazine, host of Western New York Golf Report TV Show and Director of the New York State Junior Golf Tour, now in its 32nd year. His most recent project features a YouTube audience called “Rick Zurak Buffalo Golf.” Zurak has traveled extensively while reporting first-hand experiences visiting golf destinations throughout the United States. He is a long-time member of International Network of Golf.
