robertwest

The layout is decent, but it is probably one of Dye’s least remarkable layouts. Most people outside of Amelia Island haven’t even heard of this course. Shoot, I’m from Jax, have played all over for 30 years, and I hadn’t even heard of it until a few years ago. This leads me to my biggest issue with the course: the rates are out of whack for 1) the notoriety (lack thereof in this case) and 2) the conditions. I paid $153 for a Saturday AM. Yes, it’s the busiest time of the week, and I get that. This course during peak season on a Saturday AM isn’t worth any more than $75. In fact, I played it 2 years and 1 week ago and it was $64. It was in better shape then. There were several fairways with bare spots, and the rough just off the fairways was straight up beat on most holes. The course and the grass didn’t look healthy at all. The greens were respectable, but it’s evident that divots are not being properly repaired and it’s taking its toll. Here’s the reality: people from North and others visiting the resort don’t know any different. The resort is essentially getting what it can get. There’s demand and they’re happy to max out the rates, even if they’re grossly inadequate for the quality. If you’re used to premium public courses or private golf, there’s a solid chance that you’ll be underwhelmed - unless you’re from up North and any course that isn’t covered in snow in January is passable to you.

This course was phenomenal all around. To be honest, I went into the round with moderate expectations. I had heard great things over the last decade or so and had read the reviews here, but I was still skeptical given the course architect being relatively unknown. I would say the course doesn't play the full 7236 from the tips, but that's normal for a lot of courses in this the central FL area. Played short compared to the normal course of this lenghty. With it being on higher ground, it tends to drain well and the fairways actually provide some rollout even for high trajectory folks. The layout was great and routed in such a way that the vast majority of the course is without any homesites (10 and 11 are the only ones I remember with homes) making for a very peaceful and unencumbered round of golf. Greens were deep (36 yards or more) but generally narrow (many under 20 yards) across the holes. Fairways were very wide but angled to still call for picking a line. Turf quality was excellent and I only recall one rough area on the course (left side of 11 green.) Driving range was pretty solid. Turf could have used some work there as it was sparse. Chipping and pitching area was top notch for a public course and the putting green was in great shape as well. I would say the course and practice facilities are a clear 5/5 on the spectrum of public courses. However, where this place really falls short is with their clubhouse and their golf carts. The clubhouse very clearly looks like an original model home for the community converted into or doubling as a clubhouse that's really just a bar and a grill with the pro shop feeling secondary. We saw the same home on either 10 or 11. The golf carts are really questionable. I haven't seen carts this old at even a municipal course. I own the same EZGO model and it's a 2005. They have exceeded their lifespan by years and they've tried to bandaid the carts by painting them. Rather than just touching them up, they opted for an assort of color wheel colors. All in all, they just look tacky and don't fit the course. Go to other comparable quality public courses and you'll find carts no more than 2-3 years old since most courses trade in their fleets after a 3-4 year lease. I say all of this to say that I think the latter part is what's holding this place back from becoming elite. The course is there but the carts, clubhouse, and other little things are not.

This was the first time I played Plantation Palms as I didn't play it prior to its closing in 2014. This is actually a surprisingly creative layout with a lot of character. The conditions, though, are very, very rough. Personally, I think opening the course prematurely may stunt its growth and hopeful eventual return to serviceable conditions. The effort of the staff is certainly there as I saw maintenance crews working on probably half of the holes during a mid-day round. I'll check back once a month to monitor the growth and may consider joining if the conditions reach the levels they are anticipating. In great shape, this course has 3.5-4 star potential.

I joined here a few months back and really enjoy this course and the facilities offered. As a competitive player who has the privilege to play some top notch courses, my standards are fairly high. Tampa Palms has definitely met my expectations. The course layout is difficult and for an errant power hitter, it likely plays difficult than the 73.6 rating (the Golf Advisor rating is inaccurate). The greens are pretty small, so ball-striking is at a premium. The greens always roll very true (usually close to a 10 on the stimp) and are pretty close to tour quality. With the nearly all the wooded areas adjacent to the fairways being swamp, it's imperative to keep your ball in play off the tee as there is no way you'll be playing out of the woods.

As for the staff, the cart staff is great and very helpful. They are exceedingly polite and thoughtful in getting you prepared for your tee time. The pro-shop staff (particularly the 3 professionals), on the other hand, are relatively brief and impersonal. Simply put, they are very short and seemingly not concerned with building rapport with the members and guests.

This course isn't in the shape that it used to be, but is still of solid quality. I noticed quite a few overgrown areas in the rough, many washouts in waste areas and bunkers, and some crab grass invading the Bermuda in the fairways. My guess is that this is due to the new management with Raulerson and the ridiculous amount of rain we've received this summer. I played CC of OP quite a few times years ago and the course conditions now seem to be descending to that level: respectable but not great. Ultimately, I would say there just seems to be an absence of attention to detail like there used to be at FI. For instance, the range looked pretty dilapidated (the club holders were cheap and rusted metal) and the old ball machine was sitting there rotting away even though it's no longer in use. With all of this being said, it's still my favorite course to play when I make it back home.

The developers must have not realized that this land, like most of Lutz, used to be a swamp. The course doesn't drain well at all. There were ponds in the middle of FWs that had been there so long all of the grass was dead surrounding them. The tee boxes are nothing more than weeds and dirt. The greens are the only think remotely respectable with this course. If they could eliminate some of the weeds and roll them, they might be smooth. Heritage Harbor is just another run down Bay Area "country club" that was built years ago for the influx of retirees from the North and Mid-West.

I'll start by saying that the greens ran pretty true. There were weeds in about half of the greens and many weren't properly cut (you could see the poor angling around the collars.) Outside of the greens, the course is pretty boring. I played the tips and I can see how it'd be difficult if you didn't hit it straight off the tee. Other than that, there isn't much character to the course. Everything about this course preaches 1970s/1980s. The clubhouse is stuck in 1985 like every other clubhouse in Tampa Bay (minus the private clubs). You can tell that this course used to be pretty decent. If they'd eliminate the weeds throughout the fairways and particularly around the greens along with paying closer attention to beautification around the tee boxes and other common areas, it'd be a much better course. This course tries to charge $70 plus dollars during "peak season". Just like most of the other courses in the area, it's well overpriced w/o a Golf Now deal. I wouldn't pay more than $30 for this course at any time. Also, if you're a sub 90s shooter I'd stay away from this course as the holes are pretty close together and other groups were all over the place.

I've lived in the Bay Area for two years now and have played some quality courses including Old Memorial and Palma Ceia. This was my favorite layout thus far. This course allowed me to pound away with the driver and attack every par 5. It was refreshing as many courses in the area don't leave the risk-reward opportunity up to the player (instead the designers almost force power hitters tone it down). The greens were charred and relatively average, but the potential is there to be a championship course. I enjoyed the elevation changes and the peaceful vibe I got playing this course.