Tampa Bay Area Course Reviews

[Lacassem 12,027]

13 minutes ago, B.Boston said:

Agreed. This is great. We should do this for our area.


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We definitely cover enough area to do something 

3 minutes ago, GregB135 said:

 

Thanks guys! I've tried to write to the overall experience of playing each course. I know magazine reviews only rave about courses that cost a small non-vital organ to play. I hope I'm writing for more 'regular people' and the places they might play.

Thanks again for the feedback, glad you enjoy the format. I'll spin up a new thread for the upcoming league season. Rumor has it we'll get to see a couple of new tracks again this year. The past seasons are in 'Florida League Course Reviews'.

You have done a great job reaching the average golfer I think address and price are big glad you included those

[fozcycle 13,180]

Hey Greg, you should have reached out. The last two reviews were in my area(Saddlebrook is just across the Highway. Anyway, great reviews.


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[revkev 23,515]

18 hours ago, fozcycle said:

Hey Greg, you should have reached out. The last two reviews were in my area(Saddlebrook is just across the Highway. Anyway, great reviews.


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We really do need to get together and play - now that I have an associate I take at least one Saturday off per month. 

[00sportsman 2,381]

If you played in either a Tampa Tour or Todd Wright Tour event, then Yes. The Tampa Tour is a local summer league for individual stroke play events. Todd Wright Tour events are team multi-format events held throughout the year. 
The only time I've been able to play with RevKev was around last Christmas along with Fozcycle and now I can't recall our fourth.

The way the fourth played that day(so I’m told anyway), I’m glad you can’t remember who it was.[emoji41]


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[revkev 23,515]

Would you mind if I did a course review on here?  I played Dunedin Golf Club a couple of weeks ago and thought it might be worth a review.

[GregB135 1,016]

17 hours ago, revkev said:

Would you mind if I did a course review on here?  I played Dunedin Golf Club a couple of weeks ago and thought it might be worth a review.

Feel free! Glad to have another set of eyes and point of view talking about golf in the area.

[GregB135 1,016]

 

Update to the previous review on Bloomingdale. Played again 8 March 2021.

General course conditions have improved somewhat. Still some rough/worn tee areas. A couple of the greens either needed or were getting some repair. The greens behaved a little strange. They looked like they had recently been top dressed, but they were cut very short, and had apparently been rolled recently. Green speeds were a bit inconsistent, but leaned toward very fast, and they weren't holding anything that didn't land steep with a LOT of spin (1/2 wedges rolling out 30 feet kind of stuff).

Through the late winter/spring months, the course has been more busy and crowded than I have ever seen it. And it doesn't seem like the pro shop keeps tabs on the tee sheet very well. I looked at tee time availability online and booked the second of a string of "empty" tee times. At check in (literally minutes later) I'm pointed toward the group I'm behind, and 10 minutes before my tee time there are 4 foursomes queued up at the first tee with another in the fairway. They were playing some kind of a scramble or 4:25 could have been much longer. Don't expect an expedient pace of play.

Last note, they have begun some kind of major renovation/reconstruction on the practice areas. The putting green was basically cut in 1/2 and they were removing a lot of turf around the short game green. If these changes significantly alter the quality of their practice area, I might have to find a new course to call home.

[tony@CIC 19,392]

23 minutes ago, GregB135 said:

 

Update to the previous review on Bloomingdale. Played again 8 March 2021.

General course conditions have improved somewhat. Still some rough/worn tee areas. A couple of the greens either needed or were getting some repair. The greens behaved a little strange. They looked like they had recently been top dressed, but they were cut very short, and had apparently been rolled recently. Green speeds were a bit inconsistent, but leaned toward very fast, and they weren't holding anything that didn't land steep with a LOT of spin (1/2 wedges rolling out 30 feet kind of stuff).

Through the late winter/spring months, the course has been more busy and crowded than I have ever seen it. And it doesn't seem like the pro shop keeps tabs on the tee sheet very well. I looked at tee time availability online and booked the second of a string of "empty" tee times. At check in (literally minutes later) I'm pointed toward the group I'm behind, and 10 minutes before my tee time there are 4 foursomes queued up at the first tee with another in the fairway. They were playing some kind of a scramble or 4:25 could have been much longer. Don't expect an expedient pace of play.

Last note, they have begun some kind of major renovation/reconstruction on the practice areas. The putting green was basically cut in 1/2 and they were removing a lot of turf around the short game green. If these changes significantly alter the quality of their practice area, I might have to find a new course to call home.

Thanks for providing your great write-ups on Tampa area courses. As to Bloomingdale: As an improvement,  they ought to put up a big net on the right side of the practice area. When I was coming around the corner on 18, My eyes were drawn to the practice area in the hope of avoiding someone's  errant shot. 

[GregB135 1,016]

Bloomingdale just started a MAJOR renovation to the practice area.
Building an all new putting green (about 2/3 size of the old one), rebuilding the whole short game green, and expanding the full swing range hitting area. Lots of bulldozers and bare dirt right now


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[GregB135 1,016]

Sorry readers, I haven't necessarily been neglecting this thread, just haven't played many courses in the area that have not been reviewed already. This post from my league season course review thread is about as close to the Tampa area as we have played all year. Odd, since we are called The Tampa Tour.

For those who've followed along, the renovation of the Bloomingdale practice areas continues. The new chipping green is complete and in use. It is a nice upgrade to the previous, with more area to hit from, it is a little more level, and has true target flags. Behaves a bit softer and slower than the course greens though. Also in play now is the new putting green. Much smaller and more level than it's predecessor. You can still see some of the turf roll seams, and until it has time to mature, it's going to roll slower than the greens on course. Although, I did play the course a couple of weeks ago, and the on course greens were cut noticeable longer than in the past. Bar/grill indoor seating is re-opened.

My other most recent local round was at Cypress Creek. Nothing of note to change from the previous review. Still a good quality track, for a good price. Not sure when the inside amenities will re-open.

Cheers and happy golfing.