[Brad Tufts]

I'm researching a potential trip to Tampa sometime in the future, and am curious as to the GCA-worthwhile options....

World Woods would be a must-play (36), due to the discussion it generates, so that's a given.  I've played TPC Tampa Bay, and it was decent, so I may go back there.  The Belleview Biltmore looked good as a restored Ross I believe, so that would be a go as well.

So this trip may involve 7-8 rounds, and above are ideas for 4.

I'm looking for public-accessible selections at least for now.  I'd even be willing to go find another Fazio after WW  .

Classically-designed and quirky preferred over new and bland, seems a difficult sell in FL....

I do know that Disney golf and the Orlando area is ony 2 hrs. away, but they are expensive and I've played Osprey and Eagle Pines.  There should be some good places closer to TB.

I have seen mention of Dunedin CC, Bradenton CC, and the Bobby Jones courses as Ross, or at least mail-order Ross...are these courses worth a play?

I searched for a while last night, and WW, TPC, and BB were the only ones that struck me.  What am I missing??

Thanks for any potential help.

[Mike_Sweeney]

http://www.southernhillsplantation.com/stayandplay.asp

2 or 3 guys this past weekend said very good things about this place. You can stay there when you play WWPB.

[Adam Clayman]

Brad I don't know if it's a factor, but my buddy and his three friends got a freebie at Southern Hills Plantation just for listening to their sales pitch. Not bad considering the course is atypical Florida with real movement to the ground.

It's not a world beater, but a solid course and when in Florida, one can't be too picky.

[Brad Tufts]

The pics look decent, $99 pp for two nights and a round, provided you take the tour.

Anyone know anything about Ross at Dunedin, Bradenton, and the Bobby Jones complex?

[John_Cullum]

World Woods is definitely on the list.

You should probably come play with me at Lake Jovita.

Sara Bay in Sarasota sounds like a pretty well done Ross restoreno.

A new hidden gem might be the renovated Brooksville CC. I will check it out soon.

Inexpensive but good courses are Bloomingdale and USF.

[John_Cullum]

And if you're really adventurous, and serious when you say quirky

http://www.scotlandyards.com/

It's really a fun place to play.

[Tom Roewer]

Brad:  East Lake Woodlands (North Course) is a really good course.  The best Von Hagge I've ever seen.  I worked there for 10 years and can help you with access if you wish.

[Andy Hughes]

Brad, I can tell you anything you might need to know about the Bobby Jones courses. If you lived in Sarasota, you would play there once in a while cause the City Championship is there.  
For your trip-I'd suggest you might be happier elsewhere.

I don't know how hard access might be there, but I would suggest Sara Bay just north of Sarasota.

And I may be the only guy on gca.com to play it, but the River Club (Ron Garl) in Bradenton I continue to insist is underrated. It has a number of good holes (and yes, it also has some holes with typical Florida homes in view). I'll be playing there later this month and plan to snap some photos and do a write-up

[Johnny_Browne]

Brad,
http://www.eaglebrooke.com/Golf_Home.asp
Eaglebrooke is ron garl designed course in lakeland halfway between tampa and orlando. I always play it when in Orlando - less expensive and enjoyable although some housing.
Happy Christmas,
Johnny

[John_Cullum]

Eaglebrook is good. I think its Garl's home course.

[Sally Livingston]

Brad

I believe if you're a member at a club, you can have your head pro call Innisbrook and play Copperhead.

I haven't played Dunedin for a couple years, but it was in pretty good shape then.

The Belleview Biltmore was a Ross course renovated by Chip Powell (with consultation from the Ross Society - Brad Klein). Chip also designed The Venecian in Venice, FL and Royal St Cloud out past Kissimmee, FL. Again it's been several years since I've played BB but it was a fun FL flat course.

Legacy is a good course to play in Sarasota.

[John_Conley]

For this trip I think you should play the following:

The Dunes at Seville (may be closed when you are visiting)
Golden Hills (across the street from Golden Ocala)
El Diablo (brace yourself for poor conditions - play winter rules)
Skyview at Terra Vista (stone's throw from Black Diamond)

If you can access private courses you may wish to add:

Golden Ocala (superb)
Black Diamond Ranch - Quarry (world-class holes)
Southern Hills Plantation (SoHilly.com)

One to check out is Candler Hills at On Top of the World resort.

Sleepers in the area include:

Twisted Oak in Beverly Hills
the other stuff around Brooksville
Plantation Inn (which hosted a Shell's)

Or you could make your life easy by replaying World Woods.  None better.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

The Concession, a new course in Sarasota is very good.

[Rob_Waldron]

Steve Smyers has a new course called Bridgwater opening in January. It is a daily fee course located in Lakeland (Halfway between Orlando and Tampa).

[Mark Chaplin]

I wonder if as one of "Scotland Yards finest" I'd get a cheapie green fee!!

[Jfaspen]

Just going to throw it out there that I'm spending a week in Daytona (Jan 9-15th).  Planning on playing 36 at world woods one day (prob thurs the 11th) and then golf at least 2-3 more days in the daytona/orlando area.  I'd love to meet/see some of the florida GCA contingent again esp at world woods for 18 or 36.

jeff

[John_Conley]

Jeff, I'll be here.  Our closing date on the new house is 1/22 so I may be distracted.  Would love to get out for a round.  World Woods may be too far for me.  Somewhere closer to Orlando.  JOHN

[Chris Burgard]

I know a couple of people who quite like Southern Dunes in Haines City by Steve Smyers.

Chris

[Andy Troeger]

Brad,
You'll enjoy both World Woods courses I think, I liked Pine Barrens better, but the back nine especially at Rolling Oaks is very good. I'm guessing I played Belleview Biltmore before the renovation, but to be honest I thought it was flat and rather uninteresting and generally typical Florida golf and remember nothing about it other than that it was flat and that I played it...its certainly possible that the renovation/restoration has made it more interesting again.

[John_Cullum]

Brad

Please note that some of these suggestions are pretty far from Tampa.

[Brad Tufts]

Thank you for all the suggestions guys and gals....this is all part of my annual exercise with Ryan Simper looking for a combination of value, well-designed golf courses, decent weather, and no aerification holes....

I am very restricted with days for work each year, and i try to go the week of my birthday (a fortunate off day, Thurs. this year) in April, in combination with Patriots Day here in Boston the following Monday.

Currently in consideration are

1.  New Mexico
2.  Tampa
3.  Birmingham or LA
4.  SF

I feel like the entire Northern Hemisphere aerates April 1st.

The conversation continues....

[Andy Troeger]

Brad,
If you're looking between Tampa and New Mexico (guessing Albquerque/Santa Fe range?) go with New Mexico. I do like World Woods, but Paa-Ko Ridge and Black Mesa are even better IMO, and there are a handful of other courses in the area that are worth playing. Other than Twin Warriors ($130), which can get expensive for travellers, the other courses are pretty reasonable for what you get...under $85, and some under $50. Gotta love mountain views, but the courses are challenging walks.

No clue when they aerate...but I'm moving to Albuquerque in two weeks; IM me if you end up out there.

[rjsimper]

Andy,

Paa-Ko and TW aerate 10 days before planned arrival.  Would you say that those courses on 10 days recovery are better than WW without aeration?

Are PK and BM walkable, or would that just be tom-foolery?

[Andy Troeger]

Ryan,
My guess is that you could walk either one if you're in good shape, but it would be very strenuous. Paa-Ko might be the harder walk of the two, especially if you wanted to see the alternate tees on #16 and #17 (which of course you would!). Black Mesa has walking paths, so they must think somebody would want to try it.

Regarding the 10 days recovery...it kind of depends on what you're looking for I guess. It seems like if you saved Paa-Ko for the end of your trip and gave it two weeks you'd get pretty decent surfaces (I'm no super--so anyone who knows more can interject here!). I'd rather play UNM-Championship and Pueblo de Cochiti over Twin Warriors myself, so no huge loss if you skipped that one IMO. Its not bad by any means, but it wasn't a trip make-or-break kind of course for me.

I didn't really answer your question on picking one...without knowing the condition at WW (which I guess varies, it was nice in Feb '05), I'd take my chances at Paa-Ko still. You're not going wrong with either one.

[Adam Clayman]

El Diablo (brace yourself for poor conditions - play winter rules)

News Flash: Hot off the presses.

The El Diablo is in pretty good shape. Albeit a bit mushy. The overseeded Rye grass looks good.

What doesn't?

The newly constructed aqua blue ceramic tiled trailer park inspired waterfall near the 12th green  

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