Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 13
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Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 13
New greens, bunkers and a state-of-the-art irrigation system were included in a restoration of the famed Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort. Courtesy of Salamander Resorts
Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 1
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Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 1
The first hole on the Copperhead golf course at Innisbrook Resort is a beautiful, downhill par 4. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 4
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Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 4
The par-3 fourth on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort is well protected by bunkers. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 5
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Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 5
The picturesque, par-5 fifth is the no. 1-handicap hole on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort, home of the PGA Tour's Valspar Championship. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 9
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Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 9
Another example of the new bunkering on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort comes on the par-4 ninth. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 10
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Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 10
The fairway bunker on the left of the par-4 10th hole on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook has been re-positioned to catch more tee shots. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 12th
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Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 12th
Water comes into play off the tee and approach on the par-4 12th hole on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook, home of the PGA Tour's Valspar Championship. Courtesy of Salamander Resorts
Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 13
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Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 13
Position off the tee is critical to success on the par-4 13th on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 14
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Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 14
You see lots of green ahead when viewing from behind the par-5 14th on the Copperhead golf course at Innisbrook Resort. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 15
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Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 15
Players must cross a lake to the 208-yard, par-3 15th on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort near Tampa, Fla. Mike Bailey/Golf advisor
Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - Snake Pit
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Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - Snake Pit
The Snake Pit begins on the difficult 16th hole of the Copperhead Course. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 16
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Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 16
It's a challenging tee shot followed by a difficult approach on the par-4 16th on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 17
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Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 17
Avoid the water from the tee of the par-3 17th hole of the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida. Mike Bailey/GolfPass
Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 18
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Copperhead golf course - Innisbrook - no. 18
Copperhead's 18th hole features the establishment of a signature staircase set of traps that are in play off the tee. Courtesy of Salamander Resorts
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Copperhead Course at Innisbrook near Tampa, Florida has new look in time for the PGA Tour's Valspar Championship

PALM HARBOR, Fla. -- Among the favorite golf courses on the PGA Tour, the 7,209-yard, par-71 Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort was recently restored to its original design, except for some bunker changes.

The 1972 Larry Packard-designed course got new turf, a new irrigation system, restored greens and better drainage. Every March, as part of the PGA Tour's Florida Swing, the course and resort play host to the Valspar Championship.

The Copperhead Course, which has one of the toughest finishing stretches on tour (affectionately known as the "Snakepit") is one of four golf courses at Innisbrook, a Salamander Resort located near Tampa. Packard, who died in 2011 at the age of 101, lived at Innisbrook for more than 40 years and designed the resort's Island, South and North Courses as well.

Mike Bailey is a former Golf Advisor senior staff writer based in Houston. Focusing primarily on golf in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America with an occasional trip to Europe and beyond, he contributes course reviews, travel stories and features as well as the occasional equipment review. An award-winning writer and past president of Texas Golf Writers Association, he has more than 25 years in the golf industry. He has also been on staff at PGA Magazine, The Golfweek Group and AvidGolfer Magazine. Follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeBaileyGA and Instagram at @MikeStefanBailey.
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Copperhead Course at Innisbrook near Tampa, Florida has new look in time for the PGA Tour's Valspar Championship