Exposing more of Florida’s Hidden Gems
Truth be known the only time we spent in Tampa Bay was arriving into and departing from the International Airport. Our destination was pre planned after some advanced scouting of the Tampa / Wesley Chapel area located approximately, 35 miles north of Tampa International. Our golf and accommodations ranged from Dade City in the east across to New Port Richey on the Gulf of Mexico.
The region is known as Florida’s Sports Coast / Pasco County is all about sports and adventure. Google it!!! Or just click below! Our group was a mixture of North American and International Golf Tour Operators who for years had been sending golfers to Resorts such as Saddlebrook and Innisbrook, but unfamiliar with the great golf in between. We have now created that link of great golf, and I add, these courses are at half or a quarter of the costs to play the resorts. We also discovered many options on things to do, and a multitude of dining options.
Florida Sports Coast
Additionally, the chosen accommodations provided a more local flair. The Hyatt Place Tampa / Wesley Chapel right off I-75 proved to be an overwhelming hit. Located right across from the Tampa Outlets gave everyone easy access to a favorite pastime, shopping, plus, dining options. Walk out the front door of the Hyatt Place and there is no need to even get in your car as within a 5-to-15-minute walk are no fewer than a dozen bars, restaurants and more shopping
A relatively new addition to this area, 10 to 15 minute walk is a most popular bar / restaurant, POPSTROKE, with 2 Tiger Woods designed mini putts for those who just don’t get enough golf. Popstroke
Within a 10-minute drive or Uber of course are the Shops at Wiregrass, yes there is shopping here too, also, up to 30 bars and restaurants to suite any pallet. One visit here is never enough! The Shops at Wiregrass
I can’t say enough about the wonderful and welcoming staff at the Hyatt Place, its cleanliness and amazing breakfast. They just so happen to have a quaint little bar close to reception. Guessing that I must have made some sort of impression last time around, the bar tender poked her head around the corner and asked, “Is it almost Bourbon time Mr. DeMarchi?” Gotta love it! And, yes, it was indeed Bourbon time.
Hyatt Place Tampa / Wesley Chapel
First two rounds of our golf adventure took place at Semi-Private, Lake Jovita Golf Club close to Dade City. The first of the 4 golf gems discovered offers up 2 totally different courses, both awesome, and overwhelming hits with the group. The courses were designed by PGA TOUR great Tom Lehman & award-winning Architect Kurt Sandness.
The South Course, considered “the Members Course” is a tighter layout, more of a player’s course, where accuracy is key. There are plenty of dog-legs to deal with, plenty of water, marshes and creeks to deal with and bunkers too! The 9th and 18th holes taking you back to a most impressive southern style clubhouse are most memorable.
The North Course is a wonderful compliment to the South Course, more of a grip it and rip it style, wider fairways, fewer but more strategically placed bunkers and some interesting water plays. Believe it or not there are rolling fairways and elevation changes that come into play in this part of Florida.
Stay & Play is available at Lake Jovita, 1750 sq/ft Villas, only a 2-minute walk from the Clubhouse’s exceptional dining and cozy 19th hole. Villas are fully furnished 3BR/2BA very private locations in a gated community overlooking the 18th & 9th greens and lake with a beautifully lit up fountain.
Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club
From our stay at the Hyatt our next golf round at Plantation Palms Golf Club was only 10 minutes away. A solid track, another semi-private club that for 3 straight years has been selected “Best of the Best” by a Tampa Bay Times reader poll.
The links style design was carved from a 400-acre citrus grove that slopes from west to east, providing interesting elevation changes. The course opens up with a welcoming par 5 and then slowly steps up with a mixture of strong par 3s. It won’t take long to notice the attractive framing of fairways and greens with pine trees, water and large snow-white sand traps. Water is in play on 17 of 18 holes. Greens are elevated with some undulation to take note of, read carefully! You will also want to make Mulligan’s Irish Pub your 19th hole for the day. Lunch and a cold one or 2 are a must.
Plantation Palms Golf Club
The iconic Saddlebrook Resort is also minutes from the Hyatt, on a 5,623-acre property where you find a gazillion gallon pool, tennis courts, with over 500 condo style units 1-3 bedrooms, once on property there is no vehicle required. Walking distance to everything or call the concierge and they come get you.
Two 18-hole Arnold Palmer Designed Courses on site. We played the links style Palmer Course. It’s all about course management here. Fairways are generous but stray and there is plenty of water, towering cypress and oak lined fairways to deal with. White sand bunkers protect a variety of greens, medium to large in size with some interesting complexes.
Surrounding the greens, the thick, gnarly Bermuda rough tangles around the club and complicates the soft touch needed to play short pitch shots. Miss the green, and you face a difficult par. The Par 4 fifth hole is a beauty, my favorite, great watery visuals. Saddlebrook Resort
It was moving day for the group and we were all in anticipation to making our way towards the Gulf of Mexico and a stay at the historic Hacienda in New Port Richey. The Hacienda is a focal point of New Port Richey’s downtown and located steps from the Cotee River. After settling in, a cocktail or two, we all primed to board a ponton party boat. Cruising up the Cotee and venturing into the Gulf of Mexico before turning around and being dropped off for a fine dining experience, under the stars, overlooking the Gulf at Whiskey Joe’s.
The Hacienda was originally built in 1927 and re opened in 2015, believe me, it is a place you want to stay. Featuring 40 comfortably appointed rooms, each styled with a classic elegance, reminiscent of the hotel’s original, Spanish-Floridian charm. You will discover the original accents and architecture from the 1920s, complimented by modern amenities.
It doesn’t take long before guests of the Hacienda find themselves whisked back in time to the glory days of New Port Richey and its reputation as “The Hollywood of the East.” The once quaint town quickly became a notorious hot spot for celebrities and dignitaries from across the country, as notable figures made their way to the riverside town to set up homes, but The Hacienda was always the place to be.
Notables included Gloria Swanson and Charlie Chaplin, stars of the silver screen. Bad boy Al Capone, and baseball slugger Babe Ruth hung out, as did the first ever golfer to win all four majors, Gene Sarazan.
Historic Hacienda Hotel New Port Richey
From the Hacienda, Fox Hollow Golf Club is only 20 minutes away. Another of the Tampa Bay regions gems, a premier semi-private golf courses and one of Robert Trent Jones Sr. last designs, opened in 1994. Any time you set foot on a RTJ Sr. course you should know that this day you need to be on your game, this round will not be a walk in the park.
WOW factor sets in the moment drop your bag off, you can’t help but catch site of the 10th and 18th holes with large water bordering both sides of the fairway. Central Florida magazine consistently ranks the 18th hole as “Best Par 4 in Florida”. Your visuals are only exemplified when you step foot into the “The Grille” or 19th hole with elevated views of both holes. The Grille is another 19th hole not to be missed. Locals have been known to dine here regularly, golfing or not.
Water comes into play on 11 holes and Jones’ other signature feature – plentiful, profound and penal bunker complexes – abounds. Greens are larges with some undulation to test your putting skills. Conditioning here like all others in this collection are always top notch. Fox Hollow has hosted local qualifying for the U.S. Open as well as qualifiers for the Valspar Championship, the PGA Tour event held annually at Innisbrook Golf Resort. Fox Hollow Golf Club
To complete our linking of the of this region just north of Tampa with golf gems between Saddlebrook and Innisbrook we spent a night and played a round on the Copperhead Course, host of the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort.
The Copperhead Course will challenge your every skill as it does the players on tour, ranked as the Tour’s 7th toughest course. There are 4 courses in all at Innisbrook offering a number of options and playability.
Striking in both beauty and challenge – The Copperhead Course is a lengthy challenge for even the longest hitters at more than 7,200 yards and is a must-play. You will be navigating your way through pine tree-lined fairways and rolling terrain define the course, and the surrounding lakes and ponds present water hazards that are also home to abundant wildlife including fox squirrels, bald eagles, alligators, blue herons, and many other types of waterfowl. Striking in both beauty and challenge. Of course, the anticipation of playing, challenging and surviving the “Snake Pit” make the day most memorable. Countless PGA Tour events have been won and lost in the Snake Pit.
Innisbrook Resort is nestled on 900 acres of rolling hills and lush landscape in St. Pete’s Clearwater / Tampa Bay area. Innisbrook Resort offers an idyllic and private destination. To complement the beautiful natural setting, accommodations are all condo-style, low-rise lodges, arranged in small clusters that blend perfectly into the natural landscape. Spacious and well-appointed guest rooms and suites feature all of the comforts of home with many featuring separate bedrooms, living areas, full kitchens, and private patios or balconies with nature or golf course views. Innisbrook Golf Resort
So now you know, “the rest of the story,” just 35 miles to the north of Tampa International Airport in the Tampa / Wesley Chapel area you will find another set of Florida’s hidden gems when it comes to golf, Fox Hollow Golf Club, Plantation Palms Golf Club and Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club. Excellent golf experiences at very very reasonable green fee rates. Combine that with a stay and play experience at the Hyatt Place and The Hacienda and it opens up a whole new world of great golf, dining and adventure.
They don’t call this Florida’s Sports Coast for no good reason, there are so many other adventures to check out……
For more information on the entire Florida’s Sports Coast region Florida Sports Coast
