What are the best golf resorts in Tampa, Florida?

Located on Florida’s west coast, Tampa is a haven for golfers. It is also a spectacular city. So in this blog post we’re going to take a look at the best golf resorts in Tampa. 

Golf resorts have the best of both worlds and there is a reason they are so popular. Essentially everything is onsite and there is no reason to leave. Golf, entertainment, restaurants, bars, other amenities. 

For the number of golf courses around the city of Tampa, there is a surprising lack of resorts, especially when compared to other cities in Florida. 

But where they lack in quantity, they make up for in quality. Let’s take a look at the best Tampa Bay golf resorts.

See also: What are the best public golf courses in Tampa?

The best golf resorts in Tampa

Innisbrook Resort

So we start our list of the best Tampa golf resorts, with the sensational and immensely popular Innisbrook Resort.

The resort is located in Palm Harbor, north of Clearwater some twenty-five miles from downtown Tampa. It is also approximately twenty miles from the Tampa International Airport.

It occupies a wonderful spot that is equidistant between Lake Tarpon and the scenic Gulf of Mexico. Swathes of woodland stretching from the coastline penetrate into the nine hundred acres of verdant landscape. Alongside that are some seventy acres of lakes dotted throughout. 

Innisbrook is unlike many other traditional golf resorts. Where these tend to have all the amenities centrally located around the main resort, Innisbrook does the opposite.

There various accommodation options, restaurants, golf clubhouses, pools, you name it, all having been dotted spaciously throughout the site. This gives the resort an airy, leisurely feel, more like a holiday camp than a traditional golf resort.

There are around 300 guest rooms including a number of different rooms, suites and condo-style lodges.

Five different restaurants ensure you’re never lacking quality dining options. A particular favorite is Packard’s Steakhouse. Located at the Copperhead clubhouse, it only serves the finest premium-aged beef steaks. If you’re just looking for a few beers and somewhere to enjoy the ball-game, then Osprey Bar is the place to go.

The resort offers a range of different amenities including six different pools! But it’s the Salamander Spa which is truly sensational. Innovative healing techniques, personalized guest attention and some genuinely talented therapists ensure you’ll leave feeling utterly refreshed.

Golf at Innisbrook Resort

And finally we move on to the golf offering. As an annual host to the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship, you could argue this should be on most people’s bucket list.

There are four top-class championship golf courses, with the Copperhead Course being the one most people recognize. Designed by Larry Packard, this is a fine test of golf with pine tree-lined fairways across gorgeous rolling terrain.

The Island Course, North Course and South Course are the other three options, each presenting a different and appealing challenge. 

Innisbrook Resort is without doubt the best golf resort in West Florida.  

Saddlebrook Golf Resort

Alongside Innisbrook Resort, Saddlebrook is the other golf resort in Tampa with multiple golf options onsite. This is yet another firm favorite with golfers visiting Tampa on a golf vacation. 

The resort is located over half an hour’s drive north of the city, up towards Wesley Chapel. 

Just like Innisbrook, this is another destination at which you never feel cramped. Space is certainly not lacking and the resort is sprawled out across some four hundred and eighty acres of lush tropical grounds. 

Perfect for families and groups of golfers, this huge resort has nearly 800 accommodation options! The Deluxe guest rooms are perfect for groups, of which there are just shy of 500 onsite. Whilst the two-bedroom suites work well for families needing two separate rooms.

The restaurants are unpretentious and serve up hearty and tasty fare. Tropics does a fantastic breakfast buffet. Whilst Dempsey’s Too is the place to go for seafood and prime steaks.

One area the resort prides itself on, is the number of activities to enjoy. Tennis and pickleball courts, a family-friendly pool, nature preserve and kids club are just some on offer. The 7,000 square-foot European-style spa is sensational and offers twelve treatment rooms.

Two Arnold Palmer championship golf courses make this a golf haven. Both courses meander through the picturesque grounds where you’ll find cypress and pine trees, palms and lagoons. 

Neither course is particularly long and you’ll find relatively generous landing areas off the tee. But constantly rolling terrain means a flat lie is a rarity, whilst the greens are heavily contoured. And of course, no Florida course is complete without copious amounts of water.

Despite this, they are both such fun to play and you can really enjoy yourself without having to overthink every shot. No wonder this is popular for returning visitors. 

See also: What are the best golf courses in Tampa?

Emerald Greens Condo Resort (Carrollwood Country Club)

The closest option to central Tampa is the fantastic Emerald Greens Condo Resort. Located just to the north of Greater Carrollwood, it’s a mere fifteen minute drive from Tampa’s International Airport.

One of the highest rated golf resorts on many online review sites, Emerald Greens Condo Resort is a great choice. This is another resort which markets itself firmly towards golfing groups and families.  

One of the reasons it is so popular is the condo-style living arrangements it offers. There are 30 condominiums which are likened to golfer’s lodges. These give the impression of a vacation home, whilst at the same time being able to enjoy the amenities onsite. 

These amenities include a junior Olympic-sized swimming pool which features a splash pad. You’ll also find tennis courts and a state-of-the-art fitness center. 

When it comes to dining options, there are two to choose from, albeit both being very different to one-another. The Oasis Poolside Grille serves light meals, snacks and other nibbles. This is perfect for during the day.

But when it comes to the evening, the 1972 Bar & Grille at Carrollwood Country Club is the place to be. It offers a number of signature dishes either for more formal elegant evenings, or for larger groups just looking for good American fare. 

When staying at Emerald Greens, guests get to enjoy one of the finest private country clubs in the Tampa area. Carrollwood Country Club has 27-holes of golf onsite called Cypress, Meadow and Pine. 

The club opened in 1972 but was completely renovated in 2003 by Dan Marples. It was such an extensive renovation, it took two years to complete.

Over the years it has hosted a number of high-profile events, including one of the first Senior Tour Events. This means the likes of Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead and Don January have all graced the fairways here.

Great golf, great location, and great value, Emerald Greens Condo Resort is a superb stay and play option. 

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