Florida League Course Reviews

[GregB135]

On 7/22/2019 at 8:46 AM, GregB135 said:

Week 9: Innsbrook Resort - Copperhead Course

Tees Played: Green 73.1/139, 6,624 yds; White 71.1/137 6,243 yds

Conditions: Humid, warm, light breeze. Wet early (lift+clean). Hot later in the round.

Price: $$$ ($89)

https://www.innisbrookgolfresort.com/golf/copperhead-course

The Innisbrook Resort is a large golf and spa resort in Palm Harbor, just a short drive north of the Clearwater/St Petersburg area on the Central Florida gulf coast. A longtime favorite of Tampa Bay area golfers, the resort has three championship courses. The Copperhead Course we played to day is the site of the PGA Tour's Valspar Championship during the springtime Florida swing. It is definitely a shotmaking course with a lot of risk/reward opportunities. It takes sound strategy and good execution to finish the day with a good score. The final three holes are a pair of challenging par 4s bracketing a long, tough par 3 known as The Snake Pit. This is a previously reviewed course with nothing really new to report so the rest of this review will be pretty brief.

Course Conditions: In general very very good, but since we are there every year maybe a notch below the resort's standard. We played early in the morning after several days with heavy afternoon downpours. Given that, the course played exceptionally well. Carts were only restricted on par 3's so drainage was not an issue. The only noticeable mark down was a few, small, bare/worn spots on greens. I'll chalk that up to slow recovery from the tour setup and a very dry early summer period after the tour event. Tee areas are all good. Fairways were a little firm even after the recent rains. Rough was deep enough to affect shots but not be penal. The greens were smooth, rolled true, held shots well, andwere fast early then very fast after they dried a bit.

Practice Areas: It's a short walk from the clubhouse to the practice/warmup area. Ample stations, good turf, and good quality balls provided at the full swing range (limited to irons only after wet weather for us). A good size chipping green is between the range and putting green. All are kept in similar condition to the course so a very good warm up area all around. The resort has other areas dedicated to practice that are just as good if not better.

Course Employees: No change at all from the previous reviews. The people at Innisbrook set the standard on how to treat their guests and ensure you enjoy your round. Even the rangers reminding us to maintain pace of play were friendly and encouraging rather than sounding like the jerks many of their counterparts are. If you have an unpleasant interaction with anyone I'd consider it rare.

Overall Impression: All three of the courses at Innisbrook are terrific, and each one has a unique feel, appearance, and set of challenges. Copperhead is the signature course and bears that flag well. If you want a feel for what the pros face week in/week out, plan your visit in the late spring for just after the Valspar. It is daunting at times, and will challenge your course strategy and shot making skills on just about every hole. It remains an annual stop and league favorite. In fact, we will be back for the end of year team cup event to play all three courses. Copperhead is a definite recommend.

Event #8: Innsbrook Resort - Copperhead Course

Tees Played: Green 73.1/139, 6,624 yds; White 71.1/137 6,243 yds

Conditions: Humid, warm, light breeze. 

Price: $$$ ($89)

https://www.innisbrookgolfresort.com/golf/copperhead-course

Since the Copperhead course at Innisbrook resort has been reviewed multiple times in this thread, I will summarize best I can any changes to the course for this mid-season event.

Nothing new to report on the general quality of the resort or the course itself. The course though is still recovering from a period of closure due to C-19 concerns. The course was still open for a bit immediately after the cancelled PGA Tour Valspar Championship (29 Apr - 1 May). When the resort closed the hotel/rental lodging facilities, all the courses were closed as well. That left only a skeleton crew of maintenance personnel to care for 4 golf courses. In the context of general condition, the closure and lower play rate after re-opening were good for the course. The lack of rakes for the bunkers leaves you at the mercy of fellow players doing what they can to smooth the bunker after playing it, but the preferred lie rules are adopted in our league (lift and place within the bunker if you encounter a footprint/club divot). Face masks were required while in the clubhouse, and there are no inside dining options at the clubhouse.

Course Conditions: In general still very good. After a sustained dry period the fairways were firm and offered a lot of roll out on tee shots. The greens rolled smooth and true, but they are still a bit long after the closure period, so the moderately fast pace was a bit slower than we anticipated. The Bermuda rough has had time to recover from the spring over-seeding and is lush and thick, and can be a real challenge early in the day when it is dew damp and slick. 

Course Employees: As usual at Innisbrook they make sure you enjoy your stay/round on the property. There is a bit less close-up interaction, but they are all still friendly and helpful.

Overall Impression: Though the Island Course takes top billing as the toughest of the Innisbrook courses, the Copperhead gets pride of place as the host of the Tour event. It is challenging and fun, and offers a little more rolling terrain than you might expect so close to the coast. With the resort re-opened to guests the courses are being brought back up to the Innisbrook standard for conditions. One fellow competitor remarked disappointingly he thought the course was only in "OK shape". Maybe so, but even in its current state of recovery from a temporary closure, it has better general playing conditions than you will find at many other nearby facilities. Still no reason at all to downgrade the Innisbrook Copperhead course from a definite recommend. Always an enjoyable day at the golf course when we are there. 

[GregB135]

2020 Event #9 - Lake Jovita Golf & CC, North Course

Tees Played: Blue 6,883/73.1/136; White 6,229/70.3/130

Conditions: Hot, breezy, heavy rain day prior

Price: $$ ($60) - league rate was discounted due to conditions during previous event

https://lakejovita.com/

Lake Jovita is a golf and country club community in the Dade City area about 30-45 minutes north of the Tampa area. Even with it being a bit out of the way, it is not difficult to get to. Lake Jovita has two courses, the North and South. The North course is a bit more of a wide open, parkland style course that takes advantage of the rolling terrain and strategic hazard placement to generate risk/reward opportunities. The South is a narrower, shot-making style course that demands good strategy and quality shots for scoring chances. Both courses feature large, undulating greens that will challenge even the best putters in your group. When first opened, the Jovita courses could have been considered a relative bargain with great playing conditions and the unique fun and challenge of each course. Over time though, conditions have deteriorated and at this point detract from the quality of the golf experience.

Course Conditions: Heavy rain the day prior to our league event left many of the fairways between damp and wet. We had enough sun and breeze for things to dry out so there was still roll to be had on most tee shots that found the fairway. The greens had recovered from summer aeration, and despite aeration marks still evident, the greens rolled true and were playing between fast and very fast. Even with the previous days rain though, it was tough to get shots to hit and hold as we all saw more roll out on iron shots than normal. The bunkers on the course weren't any better than recorded in the previous reviews. Even conceding the post-rain expectations of firm and damp, they were unkempt, many had weeds or grass growing into the bunker, and most were down to the clay base and in need of a sand refresh. In general, the course was in poor condition. Tee boxes had bare spots or were overgrown with weeds. Just about every green on the course was bare around the edges. Fairways also had bare areas though the turf was lush and playable. 

Practice Areas: The driving range and putting green are a bit away from the clubhouse adjacent to the starting area. The full swing range is very large, and has separate areas for members and playing guests. Range balls were provided, but the turf was well worn and damp from the previous day's rain. The putting/chipping green is very large and matches well to the on-course greens as far as slopes and speeds.

Course Employees: With C-19 restrictions in place, our large group was asked to pay prior to play so we did not utilize the club house for check-in. The starters were friendly about everyone getting to the first tee to start on time. No rangers on course, but the beverage cart made enough rounds for at least two chances per side to load up on hydration options. The bar/grill area and outside snack bar at the club house were also open for business and happy to take care of us. All in all, the people at Lake Jovita are pleasant and fun.

Overall Impression: In past reviews the unkempt bunkers were just about the only downgrade for the Lake Jovita courses. This time out on the North, that was far from the case. I found the inconsistent and generally poor condition of the tee areas, the all too frequent bare areas in fairways, and the ever miserable bunkers just too much to overcome and enjoy the overall golf experience. That truly is a shame because the layout of the course (except hole #11) is a lot of fun to play. Given the standard greens fee was supposed to be $60 might not seem high, it is a bit higher than other public course options available. Even at that price though, I can't give a recommendation to Lake Jovita North. There are just too many things to have to overlook to truly enjoy the golf experience. Unless you're stuck in the north Tampa area and desperate for a place to play, right now I'd say you can skip Lake Jovita.

 

[GregB135]

2020 Event 10 Hammock Beach (2-day) August 2020

Tees Played:

Ocean Course: Gold:  6,723 / 74.8 /142; Blue: 6,371 / 73.2 / 135 

Conservatory Course: Blue: 6,792 / 73.8 / 140; White: 6,271 / 71.3 /  132

Weather: Warm and breezy

Price: $$$$ ($360) - Included room, Sat/Sun rounds, replay round Sat, practice round Fri

https://hammockbeach.com/

The Hammock Beach Resort sits right on the Atlantic Ocean in Palm Coast FL. Not quite an hour north of Daytona, and about 3 1/2 hours from the Tampa area. The resort property offers condo style guest rooms with full kitchens and various amenities. It is home to two fantastic golf courses. The signature Ocean Course re-opened in 2019 following renovations due to hurricane damage in 2018. The Ocean is a Jack Niklaus design offering lots of risk reward challenges, and the sea/land breeze variations can give is a different feel depending on time of day. The Conservatory Course is about a 15 minute drive from the resort. This Tom Watson design has more of a links feel, with lots of mounds and bunkers to steer around. Both courses maintain their resort identity with generous fairways and larger greens,  but water and wind on the Ocean course, and bunkers a-plenty on the Conservatory can take their toll on errant shots. 

Course Conditions: Spectacular might be the only word that does either course any justice. The on course conditions were everything you'd expect from a premier golf resort. Tee areas were all level and well manicured. The fairways were superb, with good turf conditions while still firm enough for good roll out on drives. The Friday practice round proved they drain exceptionally well during/after rain (always a consideration for summer in FL).  Neither course tries to beat you with deep rough, in places it seemed like it was more for aesthetics or just to define the fairway. The greens on both courses were large and receptive, rolled moderately fast, with lots of undulation to make good putting a challenge and a priority. The Ocean course has water in play on most of the landward holes. The ocean side holes beautifully incorporate the mounding of the barrier dunes for a great view and elevation, and gauging the wind is a must along the water. The Conservatory winds through the gently rolling terrain and the visual of the numerous bunkers is simply a treat. The Ocean takes top billing being on property and on the water, but don't miss the Conservatory.  Many (including me) will say it is the better of the two.

Practice Areas: In both cases the practice areas are probably among the best anywhere. Generous, all turf full swing areas do include mats for wet weather use and have more than enough space and targets to warm up or work on any portion of your full swing game. The Conservatory might have the better short game working areas with a much larger chipping/putting green, a dedicated putting green, and good practice bunkers as well. The Ocean facilities seem more geared toward serving the resort guests, so a little more of a really nice warm-up area, all close together near the first tee. The Conservatory feels more like the local membership facility and a place to practice and work on your game.

Course Employees: Like just about everywhere we've been this season, interaction with the course employees is limited thanks to C-19 considerations. That said, everyone we encountered made our visit pleasant. The Ocean is a little more customer service oriented (again, resort guest targeted). Bag/cart attendants kept us organized getting ready for play and guided us toward the first tee. The starter in the warm-up area was great at keeping all our groups on time and providing tips and stories for the course. They did have on course beverages available, but credit card only and at big resort prices. The Conservatory course, aimed more at the local members, had a couple of bag attendants to help get things organized, and the starter was friendly and helpful. (I was in the first group off on Sunday so interaction there was limited for me). Beverage cart again made ample rounds to meet any thirsty needs. We were a pre-paid group so there was no need for us to check in at either clubhouse. In both cases the 'club house' section of either facility is a small and limited space in a much larger multi-purpose area.

Overall Impression: If you are planning a golf trip to Florida, and are not necessarily interested in the 'Mouse House' area of Orlando and surroundings, then Hammock Beach is definitely worth considering. The resort rooms are all condo style rentals, so can be a bit of an up-scale grab bag on what you get. The resort itself is somewhat isolated so be prepared to do a lot of on-property dining. You'll pay for it, but won't be disappointed. The pool is an attraction of its own. As far as the golf goes, there isn't a single thing to complain about. Unless you let your ego get too much of you and play the wrong tees . An absolute recommend all around.

 

With SWMBO on the Ocean Course and typical view on the Conservatory

[GregB135]

2020 Event #11- Black Diamond Ranch Quarry Course (August 2020)

Tees Played:    

Black Tees / 7,025    73.5    134

A / B    Dark Gray Tees / 6,395    70.6    128

B    Green Tees / 5,974    68.2    125

Conditions: Warm and humid, heavy rain day prior

Price: $$ ($85) 

https://www.blackdiamondranch.com/ 

Black Diamond Ranch is a 36 hole golf facility in Lecanto FL, west of the I-75 corridor and about 2 hours drive from the Tampa area. The Quarry is the more publicized of the two courses, and includes a 5 hole stretch around a former limestone quarry, creating spectacular views and unique strategy challenges. The Tom Fazio designed Ranch course may actually be the more fun choice of the two and according to the website, the finishing three holes are in Fazio's words the "best I've ever designed". 

Course Conditions: The general conditions of the course were between good and very good. There were some wet fairways, especially through the quarry holes that were cart path only on our day of play. Nothing to complain about with regard to the tees or fairways. The greens were a bit soft on our play day, but still rolled well with moderate speed. The Bermuda rough though was deep. Like, if you don't keep a really good eye on your ball, and step on it while your looking, you're likely taking a drop kind of deep. Add in the wet conditions and anything that wasn't in the fairway became a significant challenge. The wet conditional also made the bunkers a bit of fun. Many had standing water that required a drop, but otherwise they played well enough. Big picture, play the proper tees, and hit the ball in the fairway or your score is going to be way up. Even from the forward tees two of the par threes played at 190+. The 17th hole was one of those, and the rough around the green was literally penal. Missing that green meant a lost ball drop for every member of my foursome. Nearly unfair rough depth in some areas of the course.

Practice Areas: Nice enough, but quickly crowded. I'll mention more in the overall impression section about that. The full swing area had practice balls available, but limited space for guests. With that, the turf was well worn in the guest area, but the range itself was good for warm up. The practice green was more of the same. Ample enough, but quickly crowded. With two courses worth of players all trying to warm up it was tough to not feel like you were in someone's way on the putting green. It did represent the on-course greens well as far as feel and speed. There isn't much of a dedicated short game area for chipping/pitching or bunker practice. Really just moderately nice areas to do a pre-round warm up.

Course Employees: Due to the C-19 processes the course uses, our group was asked to pre-pay and not check in in the club house. The only on-course people we encountered were the starter and the beverage cart attendant. Both were friendly and helpful enough. There was an on-course ranger, but seemed like he was there just to keep an eye on the cart path only holes and make sure nobody pauses too long for pictures in the quarry. We were allowed post-round access to the bar/grill and the servers there were nice as well, but our finishing time was near closing for them.

Overall Impression: Disclaimer - My only opportunities to play these courses have been as part of a large outside group or tournament. The two most recent of those have been during C-19 operations. At one of those no players were allowed access to any club facilities to include club house restrooms, driving range, and putting green. Everything for that group was kept separated from the club amenities. They also 'mixed up' the booking for that (128 player) tournament and let us know two days prior we were playing the Ranch and not the Quarry as coordinated by the event operator. For this league event, players were allowed to warm up on the range/green but were asked not to check in at the club house. I was a bit surprised by the access to the bar. If you do go inside, they WILL remind you not to wear your hat.

Just in general though, the courses are both kept in great shape. The Quarry course stretch of holes around the quarry itself are spectacular but the rest of the course is a bit underwhelming. With the extra deep rough, and wet conditions, the course was playing significantly longer than the posted yardage. Be wary of that and make sure you choose the right tees. Putting the ball in the fairway is an absolute must or the deep rough and penalty areas will absolutely punish you. While I love to play golf courses that are maintained as well as these, the treatment from the course toward non-members has made me feel like they didn't really want me there every time I've been. Granted, I've never tried to book an individual tee time for just a foursome. So call this a Do Not Recommend*.

[GregB135]

2020 Event #11- Bella Collina (August 2020), Monteverde, FL

Tees Played:    Member (White)  6,504 / 71.6  / 131

Conditions: Warm and humid, heavy rain day during play

Price: $$ ($85) 

https://www.bellacollina.com/

Bella Collina is a community development near Orlando centered around its signature golf course and spectacular community club house. From the moment you enter the property everything is designed to create a beautiful Tuscan feel, and the views from the club house at the highest point on the property are absolutely stunning. The golf course itself is a resort design with wide fairways and undulating greens. The route uses every bit of the rolling terrain to create a unique challenge on every hole, and mixes varying lengths and deep bunkers to dictate strategy and provide lots of fun, risk-reward challenges. 

Course Conditions: The photos ALMOST do it justice. Just like everything around the entire facility the course conditions were just spectacular. It feels a lot more like a premier resort than a semi-private community course. The tee areas were all well manicured. The fairways were lush and just a bit soft after several days of rain. Even after the very heavy downpour we had mid-round though, they drained exceptionally well and the entire course maintained its condition. The rough was deep enough to notice but is not the main challenge. The terrain and bunkers are really what make a difference. The greens were between moderately fast and fast, accepted good shots well, and rolled very true. Of note, there were 'under repair' areas on two of the greens and surrounding another. 

Practice Areas: As far as conditions go, the practice areas are the same as the course. Gorgeous and well maintained. A generous full swing range is a short cart ride from the club house and below the first tee. There is a very nice chipping/bunker green and a separate putting green. All the short game areas represent the course well and make for a great place to prepare for your round.

Course Employees: Once again for C-19 considerations we pre-paid for our group and did not need to check in at the club house prior to play. Bag attendants will take your bag at the parking lot and transport it down to the cart area. They let us know ahead of there would be no beverage cart, so we were allowed to bring our own. Everyone we dealt with was pleasant, friendly and helpful. Cart attendants, starters, rangers all made us feel welcome. The bar/grill patio was open to us, and the servers were first rate there as well.

Overall Impression: I honestly can't think of anything to downgrade about the experience of playing the Bella Collina golf course. Then again, it's hard to give negative marks to a place that has a hot tub in the locker room. The visual experience aside, the golf course is a lot of fun to play and provides a unique challenge on just about every hole. Bella Collina has been on the league calendar 3 of my 4 seasons, but this was my first opportunity to take advantage. I see why it gets raves from the whole group and is a favorite of all. Absolute Recommend!

[MGoBlue100]

On 5/1/2018 at 10:09 AM, GregB135 said:

Week 1: Lakewood National - Lakewood Ranch Florida

Tees Played: National (blue) 70.2/130 6,374 yds

Conditions: Sunny, moderate, light breeze

Price: $$$ ($75+)

http://www.lakewoodnationalgc.com/

 

Lakewood National is one of the newer venues in our area, and is in a location convenient to many central Florida travel spots (Tampa, Orlando, Ft.Myers). The course (courses in the future) is the centerpiece of a large planned community under development. As it stands now, the course has a wide open feel and look that will diminish as development continues to add more homes/condos along the course routes.

Played Lakewood National Oct 2020.  Wind blew (seemingly) 40 mph!  Beautiful course that is much more difficult than it appears from the tee box.  Lots of fun, would go back in a heartbeat.  Cool clubhouse & staff as well!

[MGoBlue100]

On 5/13/2018 at 9:10 AM, GregB135 said:

Week 4: World Woods, Pine Barrens. Brockville FL

Tees Played: Green 70.2/125 6,458 yds

Conditions: Cloudy and warm, very light breeze

Price: $ (Under $50)

https://www.worldwoods.com

 

Played World Woods Pine Barrens several (9-10?) years ago.  Super fun track that I would love to get back to.  Had (has) the coolest short game area I have ever seen.

Played Pine Barrens 8-10 years ago.  Fantastic.