Great Courses for Casual Golfers in St. Pete-Clearwater

Par 69, 5,454 yards, 66.4 rating/121 slope

Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club and Youth Foundation in Clearwater are named for the beloved former professional golfer (winner of eight PGA Tour events) who died in 2024. Playing a round here is a feel-good experience for many reasons. First, a portion of the greens fees fund the facility’s Chi Chi Rodriguez Academy for at-risk youth. Second, reduced rates for junior players (ages 6 to 15) make this a good venue for a family outing. Third, even though the Denis Griffiths-designed layout is liberally bunkered and has water hazards on all but six holes, it’s not a long track, even from the tips – plus the fairways are scenic and inviting.

Par 72, 6,656 yards, 71.3 rating/116 slope

Mangrove Bay is a popular local course that’s been owned by the city since 1977. While it occupies a small footprint, the layout has wide fairways and big greens – and there are no homes lining the fairways. Tampa Bay is nearby and feeds the bayou and mangrove forests along the course. There are also interior ponds, but water only comes into play on four holes. This is the place for a fun round with friends or family.

Par 67, 4,540 yards, 60.5 rating/90 slope

Family owned for more than 50 years, this layout winds through a quiet residential community and is a local favorite in Pinellas Park. It’s an unusual design in that it has seven par 3s, nine par 4s and two par 5s (one on each side). Big hitters can drive some of the par 4s and will sometimes go for eagles on the modest par 5s. The course features water hazards on half the holes, adding both beauty and challenge to this layout. Average golfers will enjoy the stress-free approaches to platinum paspalum greens that roll true.

Par 72, 6,518 yards, 71.5 rating, 130 slope

This semi-private country club in Seminole offers “member for a day” playing privileges on a layout that is planted in paspalum grass from tee to green. Visitors who are not accustomed to Florida’s ubiquitous Bermuda grass will find this turf more like that found on courses in northern regions. There are plenty of water encounters and doglegs as the track winds its way along local bayous, but the fairways are wide, leading to generously sized greens.

Par 72, 6,079 yards, 70.4 rating/130 slope

Co-owners Bill and Pat Shriver, both PGA professionals, have devoted much of their lives to teaching generations of golfers and restoring Cove Cay to its former status as one of the finest layouts in the Tampa Bay area. For more than 50 years the semi-private course has occupied an enviable location along the shore of Old Tampa Bay. Spectacular views and wildlife sightings are perks of playing here, but the tight layout does require focus on your game. There are doglegs, elevation changes and frequent water encounters – not to mention deep greenside bunkers. The memorable signature is hole 17, a cool bayside par 5 culminating in a peninsula green.

Par 72, 6,200 yards, 69.4 rating/124 slope

Designed by Herbert Strong and opened in 1920, this semi-private venue is situated in downtown Clearwater, minutes from the beach and only 25 minutes from Tampa International Airport. Lined with mature, moss-draped live oaks, the vintage layout is home to rolling fairways and the meandering Stevenson Creek, which is fused into the course’s design on six holes. The course is not lengthy by modern standards, but it can play long, particularly the par 5s. Praised by local players for its diligent course maintenance, the club is also a favorite of visitors who find the seasonal memberships advantageous.