World Woods PB - is it worth it?

[Pete Lavallee]

I stand by my statement. 

I played it around 2 years ago, and was left feeling meh.  I enjoyed TPC Tampa and Innisbrook Copperhead more.  It wasn't a bad round, and certainly not a bad course.  I just wasn't that impressed. 

Joe, you got balls of steel to stand by that statement.

I too found TPC Tampa to be quite lackluster, the greens there are incredibly flat save for one hole on the back nine; I never had so many straight putts in a single round of golf  in my life. WWPB on the other hand has a great mix of long, short, tough and gettable holes. The conversion to tifdwarf grass on the greens has really brought the contours on them to life. Plus at $50 it is one of the best values in the US. Granted it is one of the worst routed course in the US, but has so much going for it that one can easily overlook that aspect.

[Rees Milikin]

One of the best, if not the best value in Florida golf.  I love WW and after playing PV, have an ever greater appreciation for the course.

Deltona Club is another one of the best values in Florida golf.

[Rob Marshall]

Pine Barron's is awesome. I gotta get back there. Well worth the trip. Rolling Oaks is good but Copperhead is much better.

[Stewart Abramson]

If anyone is interested, links to photos of Pine Barrens and Rolling Oaks from 2014.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/golfcoursepix/albums/72157643124366835  - Pine Barrens


https://www.flickr.com/photos/golfcoursepix/albums/72157643123980023   - Rolling Oaks





World Woods Pine Barrens #4 par 5

[Joe Hellrung]

It has been a few years since I played either course, but I played them both on the same weekend.  I remember TPC as being a fun, fair challenge.  I don't recall the greens being particularly memorable, but I thought the layout was fun.  It pretty much added up to what I expected out of a Florida course.  Flattish, manicured, and not terribly difficult.  It was just a fun round!  [size=78%][/size]WW, for all the hype, was in rough shape when I played it, so that my have something to do with my judgment.  Granted WW was not a bad round, just not memorable in my opinion with so many other good options in the area.[size=78%][/size][size=78%]   [/size][/size] I don't subtract points for difficulty of golf courses - so this doesn't weigh in to my criticism of WW.  Just having played both, I have more warm memories of TPC than WW.[size=78%]


I also like the history at the TPC site with all the plaques of past winners.  Just gave the place kind of a cool feel.  For better or worse, I generally like playing courses that have held or will hold PGA events, as I like to compare my shots against the pros (albeit from different distances and course conditions).  PGA Championship at East Lake is one of my favorite events now, because I can watch someone make par at a hole I birdied and say to my kids that "daddy birdied that hole."   

I stand by my statement. 

I played it around 2 years ago, and was left feeling meh.  I enjoyed TPC Tampa and Innisbrook Copperhead more.  It wasn't a bad round, and certainly not a bad course.  I just wasn't that impressed. 

Joe, you got balls of steel to stand by that statement.

I too found TPC Tampa to be quite lackluster, the greens there are incredibly flat save for one hole on the back nine; I never had so many straight putts in a single round of golf  in my life. WWPB on the other hand has a great mix of long, short, tough and gettable holes. The conversion to tifdwarf grass on the greens has really brought the contours on them to life. Plus at $50 it is one of the best values in the US. Granted it is one of the worst routed course in the US, but has so much going for it that one can easily overlook that aspect.

[George Pazin]

I think TPC Tampa Bay is the worst course I've played in the last 3 1/2 years.

I hope you realize how lucky you are.


-----


I'll step up (somewhat) to Joe's defense:


My experiences pale in comparison to everyone on here's, but I have actually played all three of TPC Tampa, WWRO and WWPB. While I would place WWPB at the top of those three, and by a pretty good margin, I certainly didn't think WWRO was anything special, and in many respects even preferred TPC TB to it. TPC TB was my first experience with a water filled golf course. The first go round was ugly, but once I accepted my limitations (hate saying that), I fared much better in later rounds. I can't say I remember a whole lot about any of the three (played all three (3 rounds on TPC, 1 each on the WW courses) in a guys trip weekend in '97, IIRC), but I remember thinking PB was really unique and RO was entirely forgettable.


Personally, I wouldn't go to WW, I'd go to Streamsong - but I haven't been there yet, so I'm more than a little biased.

[Kyle Harris]

Haven't played TPC and don't really have the desire to seek it out.

World Woods is worth the trip. All of it. I prefer Rolling Oaks to Pine Barrens (almost 2 to 1 in round dispersion) because of superior routing and greens that seem better integrated with what is going on from the tee. The short course and practice holes are worth an hour and a half of your time. I don't buy into the strategic nature of PB4, etc. simply because it still seems the best play is down the middle, high and long. Great hole, just not these strategic masterpieces other seems to make them out to be.

The range is rather overstated in quality. Very difficult to see shots land and too much visual clutter. Same with the massive practice green.

Nobody has mentioned Brooksville CC yet, but one may be tempted to check it out. My last trip there was rather alarming. Bobby Weed's back nine re-do is superb but it appears the current ownership has decided to sod the flashed sand to the flats and plant trees in some of the smaller bunkers. I feel this alone is devastating to an otherwise fine golf course.

[Mike Hendren]

Strongly recommend The Chaz for groups of 8.  The Other Senior Tour is returning there in March and has the run of the place. 
 
www.chazhotel.com
 
Check out the Golf Digest Report with MattyG.
 
Bogey

[Joe Bausch]

Strongly recommend The Chaz for groups of 8.  The Other Senior Tour is returning there in March and has the run of the place. 
 
www.chazhotel.com
 
Check out the Golf Digest Report with MattyG.
 
Bogey

I don't know. Sort of sounds like Deliverance:  Part Deux.


 

[Mike Hendren]

Joe, we do have an Vanderbilt associate dean, MIT man and Johns Hopkins doctor in the group.  Of course, it's one guy!  You'd fit in nicely.
 
Mike

[John_Cullum]

Strongly recommend The Chaz for groups of 8.  The Other Senior Tour is returning there in March and has the run of the place. 
 
www.chazhotel.com
 
Check out the Golf Digest Report with MattyG.
 
Bogey

I don't know. Sort of sounds like Deliverance:  Part Deux.


 

Get Jeff Warne to tell you about the time he paid for 8 and only 6 showed up.

[Kevin Jackson]

I am playing World Woods Pine Barrens for the first time on Friday, March 15 at 8am as a single.  If anyone lives around the area and wants a game, I would love the company.  I think the tee time still has 3 spots available.