A view of green #5 at Palmer from Saddlebrook Golf & Tennis Resort.
GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
4.3
909 Reviews (909)
5 Stars
445
4 Stars
335
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
87.3%
Recommend this course
805 out of 909 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
73 Reviews (73)
5 Stars
39
4 Stars
29
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.3
Layout
4.5
Pace
4.4
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.5
91.8%
Recommend this course
67 out of 73 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
127 Reviews (127)
5 Stars
60
4 Stars
51
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
88.2%
Recommend this course
112 out of 127 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.

Book a Tee Time at
Saddlebrook Resort - Palmer Course
Powered by GolfNow.com

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

4.3
909 Reviews (909)

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 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

No Cart Service

Course was in okay shape. Some fairways were better than others. It was a hot day, however there were no cart services extended to golfers on the course.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

One of the best value courses for the money in the area

A lot of prices have gone up recently and a lot of those courses don't live up to the price. I think Saddlebrook is right on par with what it offers. The course was in great shape, really nice greens, fairways were good, rough in some areas was patchy and my only real complaint is some tee boxes were bad. But for the money, excellent and will definitely be back.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course isn’t in the greatest shape

The fairways and greens are in pristine condition, but otherwise it was fine

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 81
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Not worth the money

For a resort course it was very sub par, greens were great but that’s about it. Not worth more than $40 imo

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
1.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Waste of money & 3 hours

I have to preface this review by saying that I'm 62 & have played golf since I was 4. My father was a golf pro, I was an assistant many years ago. I state this just so you have some idea that I know what I'm talking about & am not just picking on a course for whatever reason. I moved to the area in 2004 & have played Saddlebrook several times a year since & it's never disappointed or been in less than pristine condition until recently. I played here last month & it was barely tolerable but I wasn't too upset because it hadn't rained in the area for many weeks so I gave them the benefit of the doubt. I have to say, the course has actually gotten worse in the last month-much worse. The greens are still in good shape but the tees aren't just suffering from lack of water, they have various issues going on from obvious lack of care-disease insect infestation, etc (heck, the first tee box was overrun with armor plated brown grasshoppers). Many tee boxes were so hard I had to poke around looking for a spot to tee off & my driver didn't get green grass on it all day, just dirt & brown, burnt grass. The fairways were a mix of green & brown, maybe 50-50 but that shouldn't be on a course like this. The rough, forget it--burned to a crisp & not a hint of green color in sight.
Arnold Palmer would NOT be happy. I've played on some GREAT golf courses during my almost 60 years of playing the game & really can't recall playing on a course in such disrepair. New owners bought the resort, promising drastic improvements but it's obvious what their plan is--let the course fail & develop the entire property. They already plan on taking 9 holes from 1 of the 2 course & build homes & apartments in its place. I live 10 minutes from Saddlebrook & will not be back. Sad, there have already been 2 courses in our area that were allowed to sell to developers & build homes & apartments & another nearby course might be headed in the same direction as the owner who bought that course a few years ago has turned it from a premier course into trash & it's right next to my community.
Anyway, for the amount of money they want to play here, there are many other nearby courses more deserving of your golfing dollar.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Saddlebrook Palmer

Great layout, challenging but not impossible. Greens in good shape, roll well. Pace of play was excellent. Staff in the Proshop and starter were helpful and efficient. One negative is the parking. Confusion at Valet, always was included now they seem to want to charge an additional $12 plus tip. Self parking is not doable, half mile walk. It is not easy to navigate from Valet to proshop, too far to carry your clubs and you pass thru the resort swimming pool area. If it is your first time, you'll need help. Budget an extra 15 minutes.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 59
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played

Saddlebrook

The Palmer course is in very good shape
It’s a strategic course good for any level of player
Greens are very good and slick going down hill stay below
the hole
Can’t wait to play it again

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Some areas in fairway were in poor condition. Course is very nice. Halfway house was closed.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Saddlebrook Palmer Course Review

Quite a bit Northeast of downtown Tampa and about 75 mins from the beaches lies Saddlebrook Resort. The course layout is nice and requires all the shots. The greens were running pretty fast but the fairways were hard and pretty dried out along with the range.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 32
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Enjoyable Course

The course was in good condition, from tee to green. Enjoyable round, other than couple in from of us was struggling and quiet after 10 holes. Great layout, with appreciable amount of water. would play again.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Golf was good but

Course itself was in good shape but the staff was unfriendly and the resort navigation was confusing

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice course - odd resort layout

Once you get thru security, find the resort, walk forever to check in, get a cart, drive forever to driving range, and then drive all the way back to start its ok. I think some better signage would be helpful (was our first time here). No cart for drinks came around, no water or anything on course, halfway house closed, etc. but fun course to play and it wasn’t slow at all so the golf itself was fine. The course was challenging in the right ways and enjoyable if you can hit where you want.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 14
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Average

We were supposed to play the Palmer Course but starter suggested we play the Saddlebrook course due to the back up on Palmer course. Did not like that you had to carry your clubs to the club house after having to valet park. They should at least have someone running a golf cart shuttle to and from parking area to the clubhouse. You are forced to walk through the resort pool area which was very odd. There was no beverage cart on the course. Course itself was in decent shape, typical Florida course.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Request A Vacation Quote From Saddlebrook Resort
Please provide your information below and a staff member at Saddlebrook Resort will be in contact to help you start planning your travel.
Nearby Courses
Wesley Chapel, Florida
Resort
4.0150176471
566
Wesley Chapel, Florida
Public
3.9170882353
849
San Antonio, Florida
Public
3.9571
140
Zephyrhills, Florida
Semi-Private
3.6764176471
1389
Zephyrhills, Florida
Public
4.0870294118
454
Tampa, Florida
Semi-Private
4.1687764706
1498
Tampa, Florida
Private
4.0
3
Land O Lakes, Florida
Public
4.0651
701
Zephyrhills, Florida
Semi-Private
4.0183529412
1208
Zephyrhills, Florida
Private
0.0
0
Zephyrhills, Florida
Private
0.0
0
Golf Packages

Best of Innisbrook Package

FROM $247 (USD)
PALM HARBOR, FL | Enjoy 4 nights' accommodations at Innisbrook Golf & Spa Resort and 4 rounds of golf at Innisbrook Golf Resort - North Course, South Course, Island Course, & Copperhead Course (site of the PGA Tour's Valspar Championship).

Innisbrook Golf Around Package

FROM $227 (USD)
PALM HARBOR, FL | Enjoy 3 nights' accommodations at Innisbrook Golf & Spa Resort and 2 rounds of golf at Innisbrook Golf Resort - Island Course & Copperhead Course (site of the PGA Tour's Valspar Championship).

Best of Disney Golf Package

FROM $107 (USD)
ORLANDO, FL | Enjoy 2 nights' accommodation at Tuscana Resort Orlando and 3 rounds of golf at Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course, Palm Golf Course and Lake Buena Vista Golf Course.

Orlando Ironman Golf Package

FROM $157 (USD)
ORLANDO, FL | Enjoy 4 nights' accommodation at The Fountains Resort Championsgate and 6 rounds of golf at Orange County Panther Lake, Orange County Crooked Cat, Omni International, Omni National, Celebration Golf Club and Falcons Fire Golf Club.

Orlando Member for a Day Golf Package

FROM $147 (USD)
ORLANDO, FL | Enjoy 2 nights' accommodation at Tuscana Resort Orlando and 3 rounds of golf at Bella Collina Country Club, Southern Dunes Golf and Country Club and The Country Club of Winterhaven.
Now Reading