Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club - hole 18
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Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club - hole 18
The tee shot on the 18th at Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club illustrates some of the difficulty of the course. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Renaissance Vinoy golf course - no. 1
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Renaissance Vinoy golf course - no. 1
With water right, the tee shot on the opening hole at Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club isn't easy. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club - 4th
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Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club - 4th
The fourth at Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club isn't long from the back tee, but water right makes the hole challenging. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club - 7th
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Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club - 7th
The seventh hole at Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club is a risk-reward par 5. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club - 9th
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Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club - 9th
One of the toughest holes at Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club is the par-4 ninth with water left and OB right. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club - 12th
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Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club - 12th
Water located front left of the green adds difficulty to the par-4 12th at Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Florida. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club - hole 13
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Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club - hole 13
The par-3 13th at Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club is mostly carry. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Renaissance Vinoy GC - 14th
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Renaissance Vinoy GC - 14th
Two large bunkers protect the par-4 14th at Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Florida. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club - hole 16
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Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club - hole 16
Big hitters can try to reach the island-green par-5 16th at Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club in two, but it comes with great risk. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club - 17th
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Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club - 17th
The short par-3 17th at Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club is anything but easy. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Renaissance Vinoy golf course - no. 18
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Renaissance Vinoy golf course - no. 18
Golfers get a final birdie opportunity on the Renaissance Vinoy's reachable par-5 18th. But they have to avoid water on the right. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
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Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Florida: A modern look from a classic past

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- A couple of miles away from the Renaissance Vinoy Resort is the Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club, a private course open to resort guests.

Originally designed by Donald Ross, Ron Garl redesigned the current championship version of the golf course in 1992, but improvements have been ongoing in recent years. Befitting a resort like the Vinoy, the course is always in pristine condition.

The golf course isn't long at just 6,600 yards, but with plenty of water hazards, sand, rough and smooth undulating greens, it offers plenty of challenge to better players.

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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Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Florida: A modern look from a classic past