Florida birthday golf trip recap

**kpaulhus** · November 25, 2014

Last month j went back home to Tampa Florida for a golf long weekend with my buddies. We played 6 rounds in 4 days. Weather was spectacular in the 70's. Started out strong with an 80, then after a late night I shot 83-87 the next day. Saturday we played world woods in brooksville and had a $50 total stroke tournament for two rounds. Shot 89-93 and was pretty disappointed. I called double or nothing on the last round (so I'm either out 200 or make 400). We played our old high school course and I scrambled/putted out of my mind. Shot my first round in the 70's in 3 years. All in all it was great to come home and play golf with my buddies on familiar courses...taking their money home was nice too :-P Can't wait til next fall!

**vangator** · November 25, 2014

Haven't played World Woods in a couple of years. Love those courses. I haven't played Diamond Hill in many years. My recollection is that it's a "goat track". But golf is golf.

**kpaulhus** · November 25, 2014

World woods is still nice as ever and a great change of pace for the typical Florida golf courses. If you look up goat ranch in the dictionary diamond hill would be pictured....but it's ere I learned how to golf so even if it's never in great shape it holds a place in my heart. Helps too after all these rounds I know what doglegs I can cut off from the tee and how that long ass 600yd #9 par 5 will get you if you don't hit 3 good shots.

**vangator** · November 26, 2014

I have a friend who plays there all the time. It's a little bit of a drive for me. I live near Indian Rocks Beach on the gulf. I tend to play most of my golf at Mangrove Bay, Bardmoor or Seminole Lakes. I prefer Mangrove Bay. I've been playing that course for over 30 years. Next year our golf league may go to the Bayou Club. That's a nice layout and a good test even from the whites.

**JonMA1** · November 30, 2014

I have a friend who plays there all the time. It's a little bit of a drive for me. I live near Indian Rocks Beach on the gulf. I tend to play most of my golf at Mangrove Bay, Bardmoor or Seminole Lakes. I prefer Mangrove Bay. I've been playing that course for over 30 years.

Next year our golf league may go to the Bayou Club. That's a nice layout and a good test even from the whites.

I spent the first 35 years of my life in St. Pete but never played golf until I moved up here (Northern Michigan). When I go back home to visit, I always entertain the thoughts of bringing my clubs and trying out some of the courses.

Have you played The Tides in Seminole? The ratings/slope don't look that difficult.

Also, is Summer the best time to play in Florida if you prefer a less crowded course?

**vangator** · November 30, 2014

I spent the first 35 years of my life in St. Pete but never played golf until I moved up here (Northern Michigan). When I go back home to visit, I always entertain the thoughts of bringing my clubs and trying out some of the courses. Have you played The Tides in Seminole? The ratings/slope don't look that difficult. Also, is Summer the best time to play in Florida if you prefer a less crowded course?

I drive by the Tides to play good courses. Not that great of a course for the money. Try it out. You may like it. Bring a hard hat. The first and tenth tees are side by side elevated tees. The balls are flying all over the place. The summer has fewer people. I ride in the summer and walk in the winter. Too hot to walk in the summer for me. I play the afternoon twilight rates in a cart for $25 at Mangrove. Bardmoor used to be on the PGA Tour (JC Penney Classic). Good layout and you can get out there in the summer for $25-$35. South of the Skyway seems to have more nice courses for a decent price.

**Lihu** · December 1, 2014

[quote name="JonMA1" url="/t/78339/florida-birthday-golf-trip-recap#post_1080562"] I spent the first 35 years of my life in St. Pete but never played golf until I moved up here (Northern Michigan). When I go back home to visit, I always entertain the thoughts of bringing my clubs and trying out some of the courses. Have you played The Tides in Seminole? The ratings/slope don't look that difficult. Also, is Summer the best time to play in Florida if you prefer a less crowded course?

I drive by the Tides to play good courses. Not that great of a course for the money. Try it out. You may like it. Bring a hard hat. The first and tenth tees are side by side elevated tees. The balls are flying all over the place. The summer has fewer people. I ride in the summer and walk in the winter. Too hot to walk in the summer for me. I play the afternoon twilight rates in a cart for $25 at Mangrove. Bardmoor used to be on the PGA Tour (JC Penney Classic). Good layout and you can get out there in the summer for $25-$35. South of the Skyway seems to have more nice courses for a decent price.[/quote] I'll second Mangrove. It's a really nice course.

**JonMA1** · December 1, 2014

I drive by the Tides to play good courses. Not that great of a course for the money. Try it out. You may like it. Bring a hard hat. The first and tenth tees are side by side elevated tees. The balls are flying all over the place.

The summer has fewer people. I ride in the summer and walk in the winter. Too hot to walk in the summer for me. I play the afternoon twilight rates in a cart for $25 at Mangrove. Bardmoor used to be on the PGA Tour (JC Penney Classic). Good layout and you can get out there in the summer for $25-$35. South of the Skyway seems to have more nice courses for a decent price.

I'll second Mangrove. It's a really nice course.

$25 with a cart is not a bad deal even for an average course up here. I'll have to plan a trip next year under the guise of visiting the family. A drive down to Sarasota-Bradenton wouldn't be out of the question either.

If memory serves, there was a Bardmoor club on the south side of St. Pete but I always associated that with tennis - clay courts and all. There's also a private golf course right down the street from my old stomping grounds called Pasadena Yacht and Country Club. It's close and I believe a really nice course, but too high-end for my game (and wallet).

Thanks guys.

**vangator** · December 1, 2014

Pasadena is a private course. Used to be semi-private, so I've played it a few times. Bardmoor is north of St Pete. They do have tennis courts, but it's mainly a golf community. There used to be 3 courses there. The East, South and North. Now there is only the North course. The other two have been redesigned into the Bayou Club. Very nice course. I think you can get on there in the summer. Could be pricey, but it's a nice course. Isla Del Sol is at the southern tip of Pinellas County. Nice course. If yu have time, check out World Woods. Two nice courses. Pine Barrens is the best. Belleview Country Club in Bellaire is a nice Donald Ross layout that you can get on in the summer. There are a lot of course in the area. Google and find out. I like Mangrove Bay for the money. Back tees are 6650, so it can test you.

**JonMA1** · December 4, 2014

Pasadena is a private course. Used to be semi-private, so I've played it a few times. Bardmoor is north of St Pete. They do have tennis courts, but it's mainly a golf community. There used to be 3 courses there. The East, South and North. Now there is only the North course. The other two have been redesigned into the Bayou Club. Very nice course. I think you can get on there in the summer. Could be pricey, but it's a nice course. Isla Del Sol is at the southern tip of Pinellas County. Nice course.

If yu have time, check out World Woods. Two nice courses. Pine Barrens is the best. Belleview Country Club in Bellaire is a nice Donald Ross layout that you can get on in the summer.

There are a lot of course in the area. Google and find out. I like Mangrove Bay for the money. Back tees are 6650, so it can test you.

I just checked out Mangrove Bay online. Beautiful course just going by the photos. This is a dangerous time of the year to be looking at golf course down south.

If I played the black tees as you suggest, I wouldn't be able to get on in 2 for some of the longer par 4's. My 3 wood would get a workout that's for sure. At just under 6100, the white tees would be enough of a test. If the course wasn't busy, I'd consider playing back. When it comes down to it, the more I worry about my score the less fun the game is. I played a 3300 yd 9 hole course this year and did pretty well. Same thing with those long par 4's, just accepted I'd have to settle for bogey on those. Except for the length, the course didn't seem as tough as the rating (36.4/135).

Anyway, my wife is already excited about the possibility of taking a trip down there next year. We're even taking about stopping along the way which would mean me playing a round or two on the drive down. I hope we can pull it off.

Thanks for all the information. By the way, the tennis complex I was thinking of is Bartlett Park down on the south side, not Bardmoor (my memory has apparently gone to hell).

**Lihu** · December 4, 2014

Quote:
Originally Posted by vangator

Pasadena is a private course. Used to be semi-private, so I've played it a few times. Bardmoor is north of St Pete. They do have tennis courts, but it's mainly a golf community. There used to be 3 courses there. The East, South and North. Now there is only the North course. The other two have been redesigned into the Bayou Club. Very nice course. I think you can get on there in the summer. Could be pricey, but it's a nice course. Isla Del Sol is at the southern tip of Pinellas County. Nice course.

If yu have time, check out World Woods. Two nice courses. Pine Barrens is the best. Belleview Country Club in Bellaire is a nice Donald Ross layout that you can get on in the summer.

There are a lot of course in the area. Google and find out. I like Mangrove Bay for the money. Back tees are 6650, so it can test you.

I just checked out Mangrove Bay online. Beautiful course just going by the photos. This is a dangerous time of the year to be looking at golf course down south.

If I played the black tees as you suggest, I wouldn't be able to get on in 2 for some of the longer par 4's. My 3 wood would get a workout that's for sure. At just under 6100, the white tees would be enough of a test. If the course wasn't busy, I'd consider playing back. When it comes down to it, the more I worry about my score the less fun the game is. I played a 3300 yd 9 hole course this year and did pretty well. Same thing with those long par 4's, just accepted I'd have to settle for bogey on those. Except for the length, the course didn't seem as tough as the rating (36.4/135).

Anyway, my wife is already excited about the possibility of taking a trip down there next year. We're even taking about stopping along the way which would mean me playing a round or two on the drive down. I hope we can pull it off.

Thanks for all the information. By the way, the tennis complex I was thinking of is Bartlett Park down on the south side, not Bardmoor (my memory has apparently gone to hell).

Try the whites the first time around. Even some of the shorter 390 yard holes are hard to get in two because it might be iffy to use the driver. The course is reasonably challenging because of all the Mangroves and the uneven fairways. I shot 91 (as a 15-16 HC) off the white tees, and might be able to shave off 5-6 strokes at this point having played it once and since I have played a lot more recently. There were less than 8 holes where I felt comfortable with my driver, and I pulled it out 6-7 times (IIRC). Just don't hook or slice. It's easy to lose balls if not careful.

It was a really fun course. It's kind of a cool place. It was only $21 with cart and lunch, when I went.

**vangator** · December 4, 2014

I only mentioned the back tees meaning it's enough of a course to challenge you if you want it. I don't know if I'd call it "beautiful", but it's a good value. :-) I'm the guy that empties his cart of sand every nine holes because I'm filling a dozen divots per hole and fixing a dozen ball marks per green. I typically try to not leave a green with an unrepaired ball mark. Anybody's ball mark. Trying to keep "my" course in shape. If it's summer time, I really recommend checking out some course south of the Skyway. They have some nice rates and a bunch of retirement community courses that are very nice. They overbuilt years ago and we benefit! Lihu, I'd like to find that $21 rate for cart and lunch! Right now I pay $17.66 to walk at twilight (2pm). If it's not too slow, I can get 18 in. it gets dark down here at 6pm. The weather is absolutely gorgeous today. 70 degrees and a light breeze. Still need sunscreen.

**Lihu** · December 4, 2014

I only mentioned the back tees meaning it's enough of a course to challenge you if you want it. I don't know if I'd call it "beautiful", but it's a good value. I'm the guy that empties his cart of sand every nine holes because I'm filling a dozen divots per hole and fixing a dozen ball marks per green. I typically try to not leave a green with an unrepaired ball mark. Anybody's ball mark. Trying to keep "my" course in shape.

If it's summer time, I really recommend checking out some course south of the Skyway. They have some nice rates and a bunch of retirement community courses that are very nice. They overbuilt years ago and we benefit!

Lihu, I'd like to find that $21 rate for cart and lunch! Right now I pay $17.66 to walk at twilight (2pm). If it's not too slow, I can get 18 in. it gets dark down here at 6pm.

The weather is absolutely gorgeous today. 70 degrees and a light breeze. Still need sunscreen.

Yeah, it was an end of summer special a few months ago.

I was just stating that the 6600 yard tees were more than "pretty challenging", because the course is not all that easy anyway. Same with Tampa TPC, that was really hard even off the blues.

BTW, do you know anything about the course right next to it? Is it shut down all year, or just in the summer (off season)?

**flopster** · December 4, 2014

Last month j went back home to Tampa Florida for a golf long weekend with my buddies. We played 6 rounds in 4 days. Weather was spectacular in the 70's. Started out strong with an 80, then after a late night I shot 83-87 the next day. Saturday we played world woods in brooksville and had a $50 total stroke tournament for two rounds. Shot 89-93 and was pretty disappointed. I called double or nothing on the last round (so I'm either out 200 or make 400). We played our old high school course and I scrambled/putted out of my mind. Shot my first round in the 70's in 3 years. All in all it was great to come home and play golf with my buddies on familiar courses...taking their money home was nice too Can't wait til next fall!

Yeah I can see the putter saved the day in this case, 3 one putt bogeys is pretty incredible but hey we take what they give right?

**JonMA1** · December 4, 2014

Try the whites the first time around. Even some of the shorter 390 yard holes are hard to get in two because it might be iffy to use the driver. The course is reasonably challenging because of all the Mangroves and the uneven fairways. I shot 91 (as a 15-16 HC) off the white tees, and might be able to shave off 5-6 strokes at this point having played it once and since I have played a lot more recently. There were less than 8 holes where I felt comfortable with my driver, and I pulled it out 6-7 times (IIRC). Just don't hook or slice. It's easy to lose balls if not careful.

It was a really fun course. It's kind of a cool place. It was only $21 with cart and lunch, when I went.

You are obviously unaware of my super-human, pin-point, laser-accuracy with the driver (ok, we all know that's BS).

Originally Posted by vangator

I only mentioned the back tees meaning it's enough of a course to challenge you if you want it. I don't know if I'd call it "beautiful", but it's a good value. I'm the guy that empties his cart of sand every nine holes because I'm filling a dozen divots per hole and fixing a dozen ball marks per green. I typically try to not leave a green with an unrepaired ball mark. Anybody's ball mark. Trying to keep "my" course in shape.

If it's summer time, I really recommend checking out some course south of the Skyway. They have some nice rates and a bunch of retirement community courses that are very nice. They overbuilt years ago and we benefit!

Lihu, I'd like to find that $21 rate for cart and lunch! Right now I pay $17.66 to walk at twilight (2pm). If it's not too slow, I can get 18 in. it gets dark down here at 6pm.

The weather is absolutely gorgeous today. 70 degrees and a light breeze. Still need sunscreen.

If I'm not mistaken, you're the one who talked me into occasionally playing longer tees - it was good advice. I really enjoy it and I think it's good for my game. My scores suffer of course, but if I'm going to have a bad round, I might as well have an excuse. But Lihu is right, the white tees will be enough of a challenge. It's got to be bitch finding a lost ball in Mangrove roots.

As far as weather, it's currently 28*, not a lot of snow on the frozen turf and sunny. There's enough of a breeze where your hands already hurt - even before a slight miss-hit. Yep... golfer's paradise up here in Northern Michigan.

Yeah I can see the putter saved the day in this case, 3 one putt bogeys is pretty incredible but hey we take what they give right?

You guys all play golf at a completely different level than I do. Don't be surprised if I play that course and forget to post my scores.

**vangator** · December 4, 2014

The Mangroves are not the problem. The course seems to be overrun with rattlesnakes recently. I've played the course for over 30 years and never saw a snake until last year. Now I see one probably once a month sunning themselves. And these are big babies. Four foot long and as big around as your forearm. If you hit a ball in the long stuff, let it go. Or poke around very gingerly. If you have some snake boots, you can find hundreds of balls easily. I forgot my snake boots last round. :-) BTW, Lihu, most people don't find the course particularly tough since the rough is not real high and most holes have one side of the fairway you can favor for crooked drives. Tough courses are the ones with water left and OB right. Those are the kind of holes you don't mind hitting the fairway bunkers. :-)

Sign In

Florida birthday golf trip recap

Recommended Posts

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

Create an account

Sign in

Topics Being Discussed Right Now on The Sand Trap

TST Partners

Popular Now

Posts

Important Information