A view of green #5 at Palmer from Saddlebrook Golf & Tennis Resort.
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4.2
912 Reviews (912)
5 Stars
446
4 Stars
337
3 Stars
78
2 Stars
33
1 Stars
18
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.2
Layout
4.5
Friendliness
4.4
Pace
4.3
Amenities
3.9
86.9%
Recommend this course
808 out of 912 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
68 Reviews (68)
5 Stars
36
4 Stars
27
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.2
Layout
4.5
Pace
4.4
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.5
91.2%
Recommend this course
62 out of 68 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
130 Reviews (130)
5 Stars
61
4 Stars
53
3 Stars
7
2 Stars
7
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.2
Layout
4.5
Pace
4.3
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.5
88.5%
Recommend this course
115 out of 130 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Par 71
Length 6273 yards
Slope 136
Rating 72.5

The Palmer Course is one of two championship courses designed by Arnold Palmer at the Saddlebrook Resort just north of Tampa. Although it is seemingly tame at 6,273 yards, it plays much tougher. The golf course features more elevation changes than the resort's other course, the Saddlebrook. The undulating, tree-lined fairways were designed to mimic a hilly New England course but the moss-covered cypresses, palm trees, and marshy swamplands are true to the Florida landscape. The layout features tight fairways framed with contoured mounding and the occasional water hazard but the most formidable challenge comes from the bunkers strategically placed along the undulating greens. The approaches to the tiered greens, which are often sloped from back to front, demand accuracy. Golfers should be prepared to use every club in their bag and employ a variety of different shots.

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Saddlebrook Resort - Palmer Course
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Course Details

Year Built 1982
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Tif-Eagle Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Arnold Palmer (1982) Ed Seay (1982) Robert Walker (1982)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School Academy Yes - "Saddlebrook Golf Academy"
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No

Food & Beverage

Snacks, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities, Spa

Available Activities

Swimming, Billiards

Available Sports

Fitness

Reviews

4.2
912 Reviews (912)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 7
Course Challenges Include:
Water Hazards 29
Bunkers 22
Undulating Greens 20
This course/club is great for:
A Weekend Splurge 18
Advanced Golfers 17
Playing Multiple Courses 12
This Course's Location is:
At a Resort 28
Convenient to the City 14
Worth the Drive 14

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Reviewer Photos

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 92
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Healthy greens

Staff was ready and very helpful..course was receptive to big hits and approach...green were fun...

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Used cart

Great course. Good times

Had a nice time playing this course despite it having rained heavily the day before and it was cart path only. The pace of play was slow because of that. One group let us play through but then we got stuck behind another group that had an old timer who could barely walk. It took him 5 minutes to walk from the cart to his ball and back after hitting it 30 yards. We ended up skipping a hole to play through as they didn't bother offering to let us. Would like to come back and play again with better conditions.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Cold weather
Used cart

Great day of golfing

Saddlebrook Palmer course was in great shape and well worth the $50 deal we received. My only complaint is there’s isn’t enough signage or direction when you arrive. We had to valet, but was included in the price of golf. There was no direction to the club house which is a good 5 min walk from the front. Had to ask where to go.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

2nd time in 40 years

Fantastic experience. Layout is interesting without being so tight that you worry about loosing your golf ball on every 3rd shot. Tidewater, Heritage Club, Phoenician and now Saddlebrook are my most favorite courses to play around the country. People were really nice! Only complaint, they could invest in a few road signs inside the gate to help find the course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 20
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice Course at a good price

This was a very nice day. From valet to the starter and everyone we went in between was extremely nice and friendly. It was our first time playing there and would recommend to everyone to play. The course is challenging yet fun for all types of players and we will be back to play again and again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Walk a mile in these Footjoys

If you can somehow find the main clubhouse area, you then have to ask for them to open gates to park, then you have to walk a mile to the pro shop, then take a cart across property to the range, then take the cart all the back across property to the first tee. By the time you tee off you’re praying the course is incredible. Luckily the layout was good and the conditions for December were acceptable. Would I suggest you play here? No. Was it still fun? Of course! It’s golf!

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 10
Plays A few times a week
4.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Rough

Course layout, staff & food excellent.
But I came to play a well conditioned course this is rough, tee boxes awful, fairways Ok,& different grasses on rock hard greens.
Poor value

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Awesome

Very attentive personnel!
Very friendly staff and polite!
Definitely play again at that price!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 24
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course

Course was phenomenal to play. Wide fairways with a lot of slope. Greens were very small with alot of contour. Extremely challenging but fair course. Lots of water!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

Great course

My daughter and I enjoyed playing the Palmer course from start to finish. The entire staff was world class and range balls included in greens fee. The course is fairly open but rarely had a level stance from fairway. Lots of water and small tiered greens on most holes.

Will definitely play this course again

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 21
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Disappointed in Condition

There were very few people on the course. After playing it, one possible reason is course condition vs price a

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
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