"Copperhead is the best course the PGA Tour plays in Florida"

[Coral_Ridge]

"Copperhead is the best course the PGA Tour plays in Florida"  Ernie Els

The above quote from Els is on a brochure I picked up while staying in Tampa on business last week.  Is that to be considered worthwhile praise or is it old news from the Sunshine State.  Is this golf overrated in the eyes of GCA.  The Innisbrook golf courses used to be well thought of in the past I know.  I have not kept up on Florida golf much lately.

Copperhead

[Tom_Doak]

You could see that as a compliment to Copperhead, or just as a comment on how weak the rest of the Florida courses are, or as a slap in the face to Doral and the TPC at Sawgrass.

[Tom Roewer]

Copperhead is a very good golf course!  Since it began hosting the PGA (after the JC Penney mixed event) I don't recall ever hearing anothing but praise from the pros interviewed. It used to have a date after Disney and was off radar because of that, but now it reall shines being in the Spring.  The property itself has been in financial difficulty for years but recently the women who heads (headed) BET bought the entire place and vows to make it better.  One of the other courses on property, Island, hosts many USGA qualifiers and is strong on its own.  It's way better than Doral, and just very different from TPC Sawgrass with big elevation changes and rolling, tilting fairways and very good greens.

[Jeff_Brauer]

I agree Copperhead is very good. I have enjoyed it several times, including playing it once with Larry Packard, who is following the MacKenzie scenario of actually getting to be a better golfer in his old age.

This is a course with very traditional design values and no tricks and not designed to be terribly hard, since its a resort course.  The straightforward nature is probably what appeals to the pros - hit it within 10 feet and you have a better chance for birdie than if you hit it within 20 on the gently rolling greens.

I don't think saying its a good course is a knock on any other course, just a vote for doing courses the old fashioned way and letting the pros score what they score, rather than adding a lot of little wrinkles to make it unnecessarily tough, as some of the other Florida tour courses have done.

And, its a very aesthetic and artistic course, which appeals to everyone.  This is the course featured in The Golf Course by C and W with the free form tees, and is the highlight of the 70's landscape architecture school of golf design.  The bunkers are very nice too. Clean edge, lots of shape and variety. IN some ways they look like a lot of other cape and bay bunkers, but the subtle variety of the shaping makes them a cut above most.

[David Stamm]

You could see that as a compliment to Copperhead, or just as a comment on how weak the rest of the Florida courses are, or as a slap in the face to Doral and the TPC at Sawgrass.

I'm thinking it's door #2.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Copperhead was in GD's top 100 20 years ago.   It was good then and has only gotten better.  I have not played it recently but I thought the Island course was as good.

As for it being the best course the pros play, I doubt it.  TPC, and Bay Hill are pretty good.  I never like Doral.  As a whole though, I am not enamored with FLA golf.

[David Stamm]

   As a whole though, I am not enamored with FLA golf.

Although I've never played there, I tend to agree based on what I see. Indian Creek and Seminole obviously are exceptions.

[John_Cullum]

   As a whole though, I am not enamored with FLA golf.

Although I've never played there, I tend to agree based on what I see. Indian Creek and Seminole obviously are exceptions.

Why do you say Indian Creek and Seminole are exceptions?

[David Stamm]

   As a whole though, I am not enamored with FLA golf.

Although I've never played there, I tend to agree based on what I see. Indian Creek and Seminole obviously are exceptions.

Why do you say Indian Creek and Seminole are exceptions?

Because it appears to me that the courses are superior to anything else I've seen. Of course, I haven't seen it all down there.

[John_Cullum]

I couldn't tell from your answer if you had actually seen Seminole or Indian Creek

[Mike_Cirba]

Kyle Harris...weigh in please.

From televison, it looks better than most, Sawgrass and Seminole notwithstanding.

I know KH has on the ground experience.

Personally, I think Edward Larry Packard was pretty good and somewhat in the Von Hagge mode of 70s artistry.

[RJ_Daley]

I've never seen Copperhead, but am lucky to play and Ed Lawrence Packard as my home course, and there are a number of others he designed and some with his son, here in this area.  They are all solid courses providing great golf enjoyment.  I recognise the style even on TV.  

Wasn't Copperhead one of the first Wadsworth high profile jobs, Jeff?  I think Wadsworth's was one of Ed Lawrence's later job go-to constructors.

[Jerry Kluger]

I played Copperhead and really enjoyed it.  I felt it rather tight in quite of few spots - but maybe I just wasn't hitting it that straight the day I played it.  The elevation changes are refreshing for Florida golf but like most courses, the PGA tour can now overpower it.

[John Mayhugh]

My home club is also a Packard course, complete with a double dogleg par 5.  It's not as narrow as some of his other courses I've seen.  Our most notable feature are tee shots on 1 & 10 that are about 100 feet above the fairway.  Great walking course but for this.

I haven't played any of the top private courses in Florida, but definitely prefer the Copperhead course to Doral Blue.

[Tom Roewer]

Wadsworth Golf Const. had there office in Oldsmar, about 8 miles from Innisbrook in my hood.  It's still there but not much activity as I believe they moved headquarters.  IMO Bay Hill is not as good.  I've played both it and Copperhead many times both in competition and with members.  And again don't forget Island, it's a very good course maybe as good as Copperhead, just different.

[Jeff_Brauer]

RJ,

It was not only a Wadsworth job, but Brent Wadsworth was an owner of Innisbrook. I think Larry Packard got a minor position and still lives there.  Word always was that as Owner that Brent stayed on site and enhanced Larry's plans, esp. on the copperhead.

Brent was also a former Packard partner in the design biz.  It lasted only a few years in the 50's before Brent realized he wanted to make more money on the construction side.  Larry wanted to remain a gca. They ended up working together often for many years thereafter, often on a negotiated deal, but sometimes through bids.  When Brent decided to do Innisbrook, he naturally called Larry.

[RJ_Daley]

Jeff, thanks for the history.  How does the son Roger fit into those older partnerships with Wadsworth?  I haven't googled Roger lately to see what he is up to.  Is he very active now that North is not with him, or is he still working with North?  

[Jeff_Brauer]

rj,

As noted, the partnership broke up well before Roger was even a twinkle in Larry's eye, so he wasn't involved.  He worked for Larry for several years, and then when Larry retired, went out on his own, partnering with North.

I don't keep up with him, but Larry told me he always struggled a bit early. Larry took on some international work in retirement, and sub contracted the drawing work to Roger to keep him busy.  All of this info is several years old now. I really don't know what Roger is up to now, and like you, haven't heard his name much, nor do I know if North is with him.

[Jeff_Brauer]

Actually, I think someone told me recently that Roger had set up an office in China now.