MISTWOOD GOLF DOME ON RT. 53 IN BOLINGBROOK is open daily. But with outdoor golf season coming soon, be ready with some practice on Toptracer. Grab a lesson or get fitted for some new clubs. Mistwoodgolfdome.com or (630)-739-7600.
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect on LinkedIn or Facebook.
NEXT WEEK the Valspar Championship of the PGA Tour visits Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor Florida. Valspar brings the “Most Colorful” tournament of the year to the Copperhead course, one of the favorite courses PGA Tour players play all year long.
WITH THE PGA TOUR IN TOWN the Innisbrook Resort becomes the center of the golf world next week, as what’s known as the “Florida Swing” wraps up. Innisbrook’s famed Copperhead course will be the main focus, and get all the television time on the networks. But did you know-Innisbrook has three other 18 hole golf courses that are right on property.
72 Holes presents members and resort guests, four rounds of both fun and challenging golf. So yes you can play where the pro’s play. But there are other options as well. They are the Island Course, and the North and South Courses. So do you need more. The resorts practice area’s are well sized and Innisbrooks golf schools that have been a staple for years, add even more.
The par 3, 13th hole on the Island Course.
ALL FOUR of the resorts golf courses were designed by Larry Packard, who lived his later years at Innisbrook until he passed away at age 101.
Packard’s Steak House restaurant is an outstanding place for food and beverage, it’s located in the Copperhead Clubhouse near the first tee of the golf course.
But before Copperhead became the flagship course of the resort, the Island Course was the major challenge on property. The Island Course plays only 15 yards shorter than Copperhead (7,194 to 7,209) and has a little more water in play. The Island Course recently played host to the Big Ten Conferences Women’s Match Play Championship, won by Northwestern University in Illinois. But that’s not the only college event the course has ever hosted. Because in 1990 the course was home to the NCAA Men’s National Championship, won by a lefthanded player named Phil Mickelson.
The Island Hole on the Island Course- the par 4, 18th.
The resort is looking to have a big name championship back on the Island Course, but when or what remains to be seen. But prior to doing that, there might be some work to this aging beauty.
So since nothing is official, there is plenty of time for members and resort guests to go out and challenge the courses that runs through the trees and waterways of Innisbrook.
What is happening at Innisbrook besides next weeks Valspar Championship. For that side of the story, here is the interview with Innisbrook’s GM/Executive Director Mike Williams.
CLICK HERE to hear the interview with Mike Williams, on the plans for the resorts new Par 3-Short Course, and other changes in the planning stages.
The par-5 2nd hole on the Innisbrook South Course.
The South Course at 6,620 yards is longer in terms of yardage than only the North Course.
But it still plays with different challenges. The first three hole work their way between the trees. But the fourth hole sees the course open up, as it winds it’s way towards the homes the surround one-piece of the property. The closing holes see the course tighten up just a little.
The par-3 third hole is one of the best holes on the resort property. Playing only 180 yards from the back tee’s, the hole is not long. But there is a small creek that angles across the front of this shallow green.
The par-3 third hole. Playing 180 yards from the back tees.
Water comes into play on ten holes of the South Course, with six of them on the back nine. The 18th hole is currently a par 3, and that could change in the short future.
NOT TO BE LEFT OUT is the resort’s North Course, that is to have it’s routing changed with the addition of the new short course.
The North Course is the shortest course at Innisbrook, topping out at just 6,325 yards. But in this case, short does not mean easy. While the North Course won’t play as hard as Copperhead or the Island Course, it will test your game.
Right from the start on the par-4, 380 yard first hole, there is a need to get your ball out to the right side of the fairway past the trees that stick-out on the left. But being out on the right side of the fairway gives the golfer a better angle for approach in between the greenside bunkers.
The Par 4 465 yard third hole on the North Course, with a green guarded by the Black Lagoon. (R) Mike Williams is the Innisbrook Executive Director.
To finish up the closing holes on the North Course, requires some strategy. Because the par-3 16th hole, might be only 170 yards but it’s heavily guarded by front and rear bunkers. Seventeen is slight dogleg left, with a tight fairway and a green heavily protected by small but angled bunkers. Eighteen is a dogleg right to a slightly elevated green and bunkers left and right.
Welcome to Copperhead. The par-5, 560 yard first hole, the shortest par 5 on the golf course.
COPPERHEAD is more than just a one week stop on the PGA Tour. It’s one of the few courses on the PGA Tour that anyone can play.
Plus if your struggling to play four courses in four days, and the Florida heat is running high. The better news is that you can get a cart on all four of Innisbrook’s golf courses.
Copperhead mixes the challenge of the round, between doglegs-left and right. Bunkers large and small. Some water here and there, and fairways that wind between the trees. So what more as a golfer can you ask for in an 18 hole round of golf. It’s no wonder that many of the PGA Touring professionals rate Copperhead as one of the top 5 courses they play on tour.
Striker is there to greet you when you enter the snake pit, holes 16-17-18.
While many golfers will tell you about the “Snake Pit”, the closing holes (16-17-18) there is more to Copperhead.
The 607 yard par-5 fifth hole, requires some carry and is uphill off the tee. But the fifth hole is not the only hole with some serious elevation change. When you play Copperhead, you will learn that Florida is not as flat as you might think.
Recent renovations to Copperhead that included the new white tour-angle sand, and a replacement of the greens have been spectacular additions to the golf course. The greens are as good as you find anywhere and that’s not just near Valspar week.
So why not bring your favorite foursome to Innisbrook, and test the resorts foursome of 72 holes full of golfs challenges. Before or after it becomes Copperhead+4.
Before or after golf you can enjoy the Salamander Spa, or dining in the three clubhouses (North & South Courses share a clubhouse). There are multiple pools on the property as well. Book your next golf trip to Innisbrook at Innisbrookgolfresort.com or call (800)-492-6899.
SPECIAL NOTE next weeks podcast edition of Ziehm & Spears will have Len in the media center at the Valspar Championship.