14 replies to this topic

[italianstallion]

I just moved to the Rocky Point area in Tampa. I thought finding a decent golf course would be easy down here, but its been pretty hard. Course conditions at some places down here are just plain awful. Anybody have any suggestions for decently maintained course?

[parrotheadgolfer74]

Just curious as to which courses you have tried out?

[Philfil]

Innisbrook should be somewhat close, if I'm correct on where I think Rocky Point is.. - and a great course as well.

[myronm]

I lived at Rocky point for a while.  to be honest, for the best courses in the area, you'll have to drive a ways.  But within 45-60 minutes are a ton of great courses, not counting the usual muni's.

Fox Hollow,  World Woods, Cheval, TPC tampa bay, Innisbrook, are some that are reasonably close (world woods is by far the longest drive but is by far the best also).

Others Plantation palms, Heritage Harbor, Bardmoor, crescent oaks are all playable.  tarpon woods is cheap and somewhat ok at times during the year.

There are a number in the St. Pete, clearwater area that are not great but very playable on any given day.

What exactly are you looking for?

[T Shaf]

I also lived at Rocky Point many moons ago and would have to echo myronm.  World Woods is by no means close but it is easy to get to considering it's straight up the Suncoast.  Unfortunately there is simply nothing convenient to that area.  Fun place to live though!

[Hybrid]

I like Bardmoor quite a bit. Dunedin CC is another very good course for the money.  It has an awesome history, designed by Donald Ross.

[PingG10guy]

I think mangrove bay is in alright shape in st Pete. Most of the cources I play are near Riverview area on the other side of the bay.

Depends on your price point and what you appreciate. I'm 2 seconds from the macdill afb courses so I appreciate just about anything in the area, although the south course is under construction and will likely make a comeback in a year.

[supat22]

I lived in the Tampa area for 5 years, moved back to the NYC area over a year ago. Here are my suggestions, unfortunately all are a bit of a drive.

Rates will go up once Jan 1st comes around.. I still get the world woods e-mails and cry inside that I'm 1000 miles away.

Bang for Buck: Hernando Oaks, Plantation Palms, Bloomingdale GC, World Woods (either), Claw(depends on condition)
Doesn't Matter the Price: World Woods, Lake Jovita, Fox Hollow, Southern Hills , Innisbrook (I hear)

Things change very fast down there as far as golf club ownership/conditions.. that is my caveat. I suggest just calling the pro shop asking about the current conditions. As long as I've lived there and called the pro shops if I had a doubt over the condition, I never had a bad situation where someone straight up lied to me. If anything they told me the course wasn't in the best shape or aerating/overseeding.

Go to T&D(waters), Edwin Watts or any of the pro shops and get "The Golfer's Guide" has all the course listings

Best course closest to Rocky Point IMO:
Westchase, a little pricey compared to the others. Westchase is still about a 20 min drive from Rocky Point. Veterans to Waters/Anderson then left on Linebaugh.

Lastly, Orlando/Sarasota aren't that far away. You'll unlock more courses than you can imagine within 90 miles of Tampa. Good Luck.

golfnow and tee time tampa bay were the sites I used down there, not sure if the paradise cards are still around..

[tommyrobson]

I'm going down to tampa for march break (spring break)
are all those courses you mentioned publics?
If not, what are some nice public courses in the area

[T Shaf]

tommyrobson, on 17 November 2012 - 07:53 PM, said:

I'm going down to tampa for march break (spring break)
are all those courses you mentioned publics?
If not, what are some nice public courses in the area

World Woods, Lake Jovita, Southern Hills, Fox Hollow, TPC Tampa, Westchase are all public...well Southern Hills is semiprivate but I'd suggest trying it, I thought it was a fantastic course.  Innisbrook is resort, but I think you can still get on if you call the shops direct.

[BrianL99]

Why does everyone always leave "The Dunes" out of the list of Tampa area courses?  It's a bit closer than World Woods and a fabulous, non-Florida style golf course.

I understand it was closed for quite a few years, so maybe some Tampa folks haven't been up there since it was re-opened?

Edited by BrianL99, 18 November 2012 - 06:52 AM.

[scs1070]

Good ole Post Rocky Point.  Those were fun times.  

[parpar41]

BrianL99, on 18 November 2012 - 06:52 AM, said:

Why does everyone always leave "The Dunes" out of the list of Tampa area courses?  It's a bit closer than World Woods and a fabulous, non-Florida style golf course.

I understand it was closed for quite a few years, so maybe some Tampa folks haven't been up there since it was re-opened?

I just went on the website of the Dunes:  Looks awesome.

According to Google Map, it is more or less right next door to World Woods.

Edited by parpar41, 18 November 2012 - 09:07 AM.

[ronnbee]

drive to sarasota, stonybrook --semi-private

[T Shaf]

"Why does everyone always leave "The Dunes" out of the list of Tampa area courses?  It's a bit closer than World Woods and a fabulous, non-Florida style golf course"

Honestly, I've never played it although I have heard great things about it. - will try next time I'm down there.  Thanks.