Innisbrook Resort Tampa Bay Shines Brightly In The Sunshine State.

Florida has long been golfing capital of the United States with over 2,500 golf courses in America’s 27th State.

That’s more golf courses than any other State.

Though there’s one golfing resort shining brighter than most in the Sunshine State and that’s the much-acclaimed Innisbrook Resort.

Four-time Major winner Ernie Els at 'The Snake Pit' - the start of the three hole closing stretch on the Copperhead Course.  (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)

Four-time Major winner Ernie Els at ‘The Snake Pit’ – the start of the three hole closing stretch on the Copperhead Course. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

In fact, Innisbrook Resort boasts not one golfing complex in Florida but three – Innisbrook at Tampa Bay, Renunion in Orlando and Hammock Beach at Palm Coast.

Our focus this past two years has been at Innisbrook, Tampa Bay and the venue for the PGA  Tour’s Valspar Championship.

The Copperhead is known around the golfing world as home also to one of the toughest three-hole finishing stretches in professional golf – The Snake Pit.

The Snake Pit has bitten plenty of the world’s top golfers but then again there’s those like three-time Major winning Padraig Harrington who sucked the venom out of the same three hole closing stretch with three straight birdied on route to a course record setting 61 on day one of the 2012 championship.

It remains Harrington’ s lowest-ever career low score and naturally the Irishman has fond memories coming back to Tampa Bay.

However a visit to Innisbrook Resort Tampa Bay to play golf is not one to leave you wrapped in a tourniquet as Harrington displayed two years ago.

Innisbrook Tampa Bay boasts not only the famed championship Copperhead Course but three other championship standard golf courses in the North, The South and The Island Courses.

And each of the three provide their own rich reward.

The Island Course  is a full par 72 layout measuring 7,310 yards off the tips.

It’s a tight course with intimidating water hazards, plenty of sandy bunkers, and considered by many to be as equally demanding as the championship standard Copperhead.

Bring your camera when playing the Island course because as the name implies the scenery is picture-postcard stuff and none better than the 373-yard par four closing hole.

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The North Course measures 6,085 yards off the back tees and plays to a par 70.

The opening hole commences from just behind the Innisbrook Resort Reception complex but the real introduction to the North Course comes at the 437-yard par four third hole and the first of seven holes in succession where water comes into play.

In fact, there’s 11 holes on the North Course where you could your ball to water so you may need to pack an extra sleeve of Callaways.

But don’t let that deter you as there’s five par threes on the North Course and just three par fives, so plenty of opportunities to break ‘Old Man Par’.

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The South Course measures 6,620 yards and plays to a par 71.

Naturally it’s south of the North Course but it enjoys something in common with North in that is also features water on 11 of the 18 holes.

The South Course is very much a links-style layout and while it’s not a links course in the true definition of the word the prevailing Gulf of Mexico breezes provide the sort of challenge one finds on the links gems of Ireland or Scotland.

So if you’re looking for a one stop, four-in-one golf destination you could do no better than book into any of the famed golf course named rooms at Innisbrook Resort Tampa Bay.

 

 

 

 



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