Overview of Golfing in St. Pete/Clearwater

Overview of Golfing in St. Pete/Clearwater

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Golf

Thanks to Florida’s spectacular weather, golfers can tee off year-round at great courses dotting the St. Pete/Clearwater landscape. The biggest challenge is deciding where to play. If you can’t wrangle an invitation by a member to play at a private golf club, you’ll find plenty of public, semi-private and resort courses that offer engaging layouts with fabulous fairways, manicured greens and, of course, challenging water and sand hazards. Narrow the options by using a handy list of over 40 area courses. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.


Public and Semi-Private Courses

Expect excellent conditions at the Bardmoor Golf & Tennis Club, a Seminole par-72 course owned by PGA pros. Play on TifEagle grass greens, enjoy course elevation changes and see how many shots you’ll hit for the 16th hole, a creek-side par-5 that measures 521 yards from the back tees to the cup. 

Considered one of the area’s best-kept secrets, the Donald Ross-designed Dunedin Golf Club offers a traditional par-72 course at an amazing value. Speaking of value, the reasonably priced Mangrove Bay par-72 municipal course in northeast St. Petersburg is the area’s busiest course, with well-maintained greens and a straightforward design. 

At the semi-private Wentworth Golf Club, play rolling, tight fairways that are lined with oak, cypress and pine trees. Elevated greens create interesting putting. After you’ve conquered the par-71 course, enjoy a 19th-hole beverage and snack in the English Manor Clubhouse. 

Those looking for a shorter course will love the two executive-style par-67 courses at Mainlands Golf Club in Pinellas Park. Aim to play your best because if you hit a 67 or below, you’ll get a free round of golf at the family-owned club.

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Resort Courses

Delight in a luxurious stay and lovely water views at the historic and elegant Belleview Inn. Next door, the private Belleair Country Club features Florida’s oldest golf course, which was designed by Donald Ross.

The course at the Vinoy Golf Club is a picture-perfect, par-71 course on Snell Isle, a five-minute drive from the 1925 Mediterranean Revival-style Vinoy Renaissance resort downtown. Hotel guests will love the views of the yacht basin and Tampa Bay in addition to great rates to play the golf course created by John R. Van Kleek and redesigned by Ron Garl. 

There’s no doubt that the king of local courses is Copperhead Course at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor. Stay at the 900-acre spa and golf resort, and play a round a day on Copperhead or three other picturesque courses. You won’t get to play for a few days in late spring, but there’s a great reason. Instead, you can watch 144 of the world’s best golfers compete in the PGA TOUR’s Valspar Championship. Take notes about the pros’ swings and dream of tallying scores like theirs on your next round of golf in St. Pete/Clearwater.

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Golf