Full Version: golfing in Tampa in early March?
So for our College teams spring break we are headed to Tampa for 5 days and I have just a couple quick questions.... what should we expect weather wise?? also we are playing TPC Tampa Bay, Bloomingdale’s Golfers Club, and The Eagles Golf Club, what do you guys know about these courses? Condition of them this time of year? Just basic info would be great! Thanks!
Was a member of both TPC and Bloomingdale for 4 years each. Bloomingdale from 1997-2001 and TPC from 2001-2005. IMO, TPC is up and down in terms of condition. Early March will be about a month before the Outback Steakhouse pro-am, so they should be getting the course in order.
Bloomingdale was THE premiere course in this area in the early to mid 1990's. At the time it was one of the longest and most challenging courses in the area and was home to over 100 single digit handicappers. We had some GREAT Friday and Saturday games. But, a company bought both Bloomingdale and River Hills and put all its money and effort into River Hills because it's a country club with tennis, pool, etc. Bloomingdale is JUST a golf club. Anyway, many of the members left Bloomingdale when it went public. I haven't played there in a couple years, so can't comment on the condition. It's a good test, especially when the rough is up and the greens are fast.
Eagles is an average public facility IMO. Average layout and average condition.
If you're making a trip and can choose the courses to play in this area, there are several better courses IMO. For example:
Lake Jovita
Fox Hollow
Innisbrook
And others if you want to travel a half hour or so outside of Tampa/Clearwater
Of the 3 you listed, TPC should be the best in terms of condition. But if you're playing on the weekend, you should expect a long round. That's one of the reasons I left and joined a private club.
Enjoy! The weather should be perfect. It's sunny an 76 today.
Kevin
Bloomingdale was THE premiere course in this area in the early to mid 1990's. At the time it was one of the longest and most challenging courses in the area and was home to over 100 single digit handicappers. We had some GREAT Friday and Saturday games. But, a company bought both Bloomingdale and River Hills and put all its money and effort into River Hills because it's a country club with tennis, pool, etc. Bloomingdale is JUST a golf club. Anyway, many of the members left Bloomingdale when it went public. I haven't played there in a couple years, so can't comment on the condition. It's a good test, especially when the rough is up and the greens are fast.
Eagles is an average public facility IMO. Average layout and average condition.
If you're making a trip and can choose the courses to play in this area, there are several better courses IMO. For example:
Lake Jovita
Fox Hollow
Innisbrook
And others if you want to travel a half hour or so outside of Tampa/Clearwater
Of the 3 you listed, TPC should be the best in terms of condition. But if you're playing on the weekend, you should expect a long round. That's one of the reasons I left and joined a private club.
Enjoy! The weather should be perfect. It's sunny an 76 today.
Kevin
QUOTE (tpariff @ Feb 10 2009, 02:02 PM) 
Was a member of both TPC and Bloomingdale for 4 years each. Bloomingdale from 1997-2001 and TPC from 2001-2005. IMO, TPC is up and down in terms of condition. Early March will be about a month before the Outback Steakhouse pro-am, so they should be getting the course in order.
Bloomingdale was THE premiere course in this area in the early to mid 1990's. At the time it was one of the longest and most challenging courses in the area and was home to over 100 single digit handicappers. We had some GREAT Friday and Saturday games. But, a company bought both Bloomingdale and River Hills and put all its money and effort into River Hills because it's a country club with tennis, pool, etc. Bloomingdale is JUST a golf club. Anyway, many of the members left Bloomingdale when it went public. I haven't played there in a couple years, so can't comment on the condition. It's a good test, especially when the rough is up and the greens are fast.
Eagles is an average public facility IMO. Average layout and average condition.
If you're making a trip and can choose the courses to play in this area, there are several better courses IMO. For example:
Lake Jovita
Fox Hollow
Innisbrook
And others if you want to travel a half hour or so outside of Tampa/Clearwater
Of the 3 you listed, TPC should be the best in terms of condition. But if you're playing on the weekend, you should expect a long round. That's one of the reasons I left and joined a private club.
Enjoy! The weather should be perfect. It's sunny an 76 today.
Kevin
Bloomingdale was THE premiere course in this area in the early to mid 1990's. At the time it was one of the longest and most challenging courses in the area and was home to over 100 single digit handicappers. We had some GREAT Friday and Saturday games. But, a company bought both Bloomingdale and River Hills and put all its money and effort into River Hills because it's a country club with tennis, pool, etc. Bloomingdale is JUST a golf club. Anyway, many of the members left Bloomingdale when it went public. I haven't played there in a couple years, so can't comment on the condition. It's a good test, especially when the rough is up and the greens are fast.
Eagles is an average public facility IMO. Average layout and average condition.
If you're making a trip and can choose the courses to play in this area, there are several better courses IMO. For example:
Lake Jovita
Fox Hollow
Innisbrook
And others if you want to travel a half hour or so outside of Tampa/Clearwater
Of the 3 you listed, TPC should be the best in terms of condition. But if you're playing on the weekend, you should expect a long round. That's one of the reasons I left and joined a private club.
Enjoy! The weather should be perfect. It's sunny an 76 today.
Kevin
I'll second everything Kevin said.
TPC is a nice layout that is more about shotmaking than length - keep it in play and you can score well! TPC is usually in good shape, but as was mentioned this is 4-5 weeks before the Outback Pro-Am, so they could be doing some prep work for the event.
If you do play the Eagles and have a choice - choose the Forest course over the Lakes. They are both decent layouts, but the Forest is definitely the nicer of the two.
Kevin also listed 3 of my favorites in the Tampa Bay area. Another good choice if you are willing to drive about 45 minutes or so via expressway is World Woods, a perennial Top 25 you can play.
http://www.worldwoods.com/fw/main/Home-1.html
The weather should be 55-65 at night and 70-80 during the day.
Enjoy your stay!
TPC Tampa Bay is great. I played last january while visiting friends. The course was in geat shape. The best part is the $50 replay rate.
Check our World Woods. The Pine Barrens course is supposed to be as close to Pine Valley as you can get (I drove all the way there only to get Lightning'd out).
Check our World Woods. The Pine Barrens course is supposed to be as close to Pine Valley as you can get (I drove all the way there only to get Lightning'd out).
I would also make the 45min trip to play World Woods Pine Barrens. I played it a few years ago and it was a great track, especially for the price.
forget b-dale. Im the assistant out at river hills and b-dale isnt in very good shape at all.
the eagles is pretty bland anyway, wouldnt recomend it.
I dont know what your budget is, but i would say save some money a forget TPC and maybe trying to go up to world woods (or brooksville CC)
Southern Hills is a great course, i know through wholesalers you can play river hills which is in great shape right now.
other good ideas
innisbrook
eaglebrook
bridgewater
fox hollow
the eagles is pretty bland anyway, wouldnt recomend it.
I dont know what your budget is, but i would say save some money a forget TPC and maybe trying to go up to world woods (or brooksville CC)
Southern Hills is a great course, i know through wholesalers you can play river hills which is in great shape right now.
other good ideas
innisbrook
eaglebrook
bridgewater
fox hollow
thanks for the help guys, its just a trip for my college Team so I really have no say in what courses we play, All I know is we are scheduled at the three courses I mentioned... Well at least the weather will be nice and its golf
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