Innisbrook Resort is a premier Florida golf destination spread across 900 acres of rolling hills, tranquil lakes, and pine-lined fairways in Palm Harbor, just north of Tampa. It’s home to four championship courses designed by Larry Packard, including the legendary Copperhead, host of the PGA TOUR’s Valspar Championship. Think challenging layouts, stunning scenery, and that classic resort vibe with pools, spa, and endless activities.

Quick Facts

  • Four championship courses: Copperhead, Island, North, and South totaling over 23,000 yards of golf
  • Rolling terrain and elevation: Rare for Florida, with tree-lined fairways, water hazards, and bunkers galore
  • Year-round play: Mild winters (perfect escape), great conditions spring/fall; summer mornings for deals
  • PGA TOUR pedigree: Copperhead ranked among the toughest on tour (7th toughest in recent years)
  • Stay-and-play heaven: Packages include unlimited practice, breakfast, and priority tee times

Perfect For

  • Guys’ Trips: Multi-round days (36 holes easy), post-golf steaks at Packard’s, high-stakes Snake Pit bets, and Tampa-area nightlife or cigars
  • Families: Massive pools, Salamander Spa, kids’ programs, tennis, mini-golf; forgiving options on North/South courses for all levels

Top Standout Courses

Copperhead Course

The star, host of the PGA TOUR’s Valspar Championship. Tree-lined, demanding ball-striking test with elevation changes and the famous “Snake Pit” finish (holes 16-18) where tournaments are won and lost. Over 7,200 yards of pure challenge and drama.

Island Course

Often called equally or more challenging than Copperhead, with tight fairways, intimidating water, bunkers everywhere, and huge elevation shifts. Ranked among top resort courses by Golf Digest; stunning finishing hole that’s one of Florida’s most photographed.

South Course

Classic parkland style with rolling hills, lakes, and strategic play — more forgiving than Copperhead/Island but still a solid test. Great for groups or building confidence before tackling the big ones.

North Course

Shorter and scenic at around 6,000 yards with interesting holes and beautiful views. Ideal for a relaxed round or family play while still feeling like championship golf.

Stay-and-Play Options

  • Innisbrook Resort on-site: Spacious rooms, suites, condos, multiple pools, Salamander Spa, restaurants (Packard’s Steakhouse a highlight), and direct course access
  • Classic package (one round per night) or Platinum package (up to 36 holes/day including Copperhead) include breakfast, merch credit, and unlimited practice

All Key Innisbrook Golf Highlights

  • Copperhead Course (Valspar Championship host)
  • Island Course (top-rated resort gem)
  • South Course (parkland classic)
  • North Course (scenic and playable)
  • 10-acre practice facility and golf instruction

Pro Tips

  • Book stay-and-play packages early via innisbrookgolfresort.com or specialists including Copperhead upgrades
  • Fly into Tampa International (TPA), just 20-30 minutes away
  • Pair golf with Florida favorites: fresh seafood, Tampa craft beer scene, beaches, or the Valspar Championship in March
  • Tee times booked via resort; pick forward tees on Copperhead unless ready for the tour-level challenge

Time to slither through the Snake Pit and chase birdies on Florida’s rolling hills. Innisbrook is calling your reset.

Houston, We Got No Problem: Why Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston Needs to Be Your Next Golf Trip 

There’s just something so incredible about beautiful, well kept, muni Golf Courses, and Houston’s got a great one. Memorial Park Golf Course is Houston’s crown jewel municipal layout, a historic, Tom Doak-redesigned masterpiece in the heart of the city, nestled within the massive 1,466-acre Memorial Park (one of the largest urban parks in the U.S.). With wide fairways, fascinating green complexes, strategic bunkering, and runoff areas that reward creativity, it’s a playable yet challenging track that’s hosted the PGA TOUR’s Texas Children’s Houston Open since 2020. Affordable greens fees, top conditioning, and that big-city energy make it perfect for quick getaways or multi-round Houston golf trips.

Quick Facts

  • 18-hole championship course: (par 72, up to 7,400 yards), originally 1912/1936 (John Bredemus), fully renovated by Tom Doak (with Brooks Koepka input) in 2019
  • Urban park setting: Flat terrain with added dimension via ravines, water features on closing holes, minimal bunkers (just 19!), and bold contours for drama
  • Year-round play: Houston’s mild winters (great escape); hot/humid summers mean early tees; overseeded for spring PGA event vibes
  • Affordable elite access: Greens fees often $50-$150 (resident/non-resident, peak/off-peak); one of the best bargains for PGA TOUR-level quality
  • PGA TOUR home: Hosts the Houston Open annually, play where the pros battle for drama on the back nine

Perfect For…

  • Guys’ Trips: Urban energy with quick access to downtown Houston nightlife, post-round burgers/beers at on-site spots, and easy combo with nearby courses like The Golf Club of Houston or BlackHorse
  • Families: Public muni vibe with forgiving wide fairways, practice facilities (lighted range, putting/chipping greens); non-golfers enjoy the surrounding park trails, picnics, or nearby museums/zoo

Top Standout Features

Tom Doak Redesign (2019)

The star, Doak’s first PGA TOUR-hosting project, blending public playability with pro-level excitement. Wide fairways for everyday golfers, but precision needed for ideal angles; undulating greens with runoff/short-grass surrounds create risk-reward and creativity (Koepka helped focus on scoring drama).

Signature Closing Stretch

Bold water features and strategic decisions on the back nine, designed for excitement and tournament finishes. The layout encourages bold play while keeping it accessible; often praised as one of America’s top munis (Golf Digest, Golf Magazine rankings).

Practice Paradise

Lighted double-deck driving range, large putting/chipping greens, and a pro shop, great for warm-ups or all-day sessions. On-site Beck’s Prime for quick bites and drinks adds to the casual vibe.

Great Stay-and-Play Resorts & Spots

  • Nearby Houston hotels: The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa (partnership packages with Memorial Park tee times, no resort fees, pools/spa); Galleria-area spots like Staybridge Suites or IHG options for easy access
  • Urban packages: Combine with Houston golf trails (usgolftreks.com or similar) for multi-course deals; no on-site lodging, but downtown/ Galleria hotels are minutes away
  • Easy add-ons: Pair with nearby gems like Wildcat, Tour 18, or BlackHorse for full Houston golf itineraries

All Key Memorial Park Golf Highlights at a Glance

  • Memorial Park Golf Course (Tom Doak redesign, PGA TOUR host)
  • Lighted driving range & practice areas
  • On-site clubhouse & Beck’s Prime dining
  • Nearby: The Golf Club of Houston, BlackHorse, High Meadow Ranch
  • Plus Houston’s other munis (Gus Wortham, Sharpstown) for variety

Pro Tips

  • Book tee times early via memorialparkgolf.com or GolfNow, popular spot, especially weekends; use the app for easy access
  • Fly into Houston Hobby (HOU) or George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), short drive to the park
  • Pair golf with Houston classics: BBQ, craft beer scene, NASA, or Astros games; spring timing catches Houston Open energy
  • Play mornings to beat heat/humidity; forward tees keep it fun; embrace the urban park feel, walkers welcome, but carts available

Time to tee it up where the pros play, chase birdies in the heart of Houston, and reset on one of America’s best munis. Memorial Park is calling your escape. 

Hawaii could outlaw golf and it would still be a top 5 state to visit in the world. But luckily it hasn’t so it remains numero uno. Kapalua Plantation Course is the crown jewel of Maui golf, a Ben Crenshaw/Bill Coore masterpiece perched on the slopes of the West Maui Mountains, offering dramatic elevation changes, sweeping ocean vistas from nearly every hole, and that unbeatable Hawaiian aloha spirit. Home to the PGA TOUR’s season-opening The Sentry (formerly Tournament of Champions), it’s consistently ranked as Hawaii’s #1 course (Golfweek for years) and a top public layout nationally. Think massive fairways, generous greens, trade winds, and the chance to bomb drives like the pros on the epic downhill 18th.

Quick Facts

  • Championship links-style: 7,596 yards from the tips (par 73), but playable with wide fairways and multiple tees (down to 6,077 yards)
  • Bucket-list drama: Huge elevation drops, downhill tee shots, panoramic Pacific views, and wind that adds real challenge
  • Year-round paradise: Mild temps (70s-80s°F), best in winter/spring for calmer conditions and The Sentry event (January)
  • Premium access: Public resort course with stay-and-play packages; greens fees $300–$500+ peak, twilight deals available
  • Elite status: #1 in Hawaii (Golfweek), top 25 America’s Best Public (Golf Digest), host to PGA TOUR winners’ showcase

Not even Captain Cook regretted going to Hawaii and he was killed there by natives. There’s no recording of his last words but I’m sure it was something along the lines of “My only regret is that I didn’t get to play a cool 18 holes with the sun on my face and ocean spray in my hair.”

Perfect For…

  • Guys’ Trips: Playing where the pros start the season, chasing long drives on 18, post-round Mai Tais with sunset views, and pairing with Lahaina nightlife or beach hangs
  • Families: Resort luxury with pools, spas, beaches; forgiving layout for varying skill levels; non-golfers enjoy snorkeling, hiking, or Kapalua Bay vibes

Top Standout Courses

Plantation Course (Ben Crenshaw/Bill Coore)

The undisputed star, grand-scale design with ocean views from virtually every hole, massive elevation (downhill bombs galore), and that famous par-5 18th (150-foot drop for monster drives, site of Tiger’s 498-yard record blast). Wide fairways make it approachable, but the scale and wind keep it pro-level tough. Bucket-list essential with PGA TOUR pedigree.

(Note: Kapalua also has the Bay Course, rolling fairways, tropical gardens, iconic ocean par-3 17th for variety, but Plantation is the headliner.)

Great Stay-and-Play Resorts & Spots

  • The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua: Luxury oceanfront with direct access, pools, spa, kids’ programs
  • Montage Kapalua Bay: Upscale villas steps from the bay, exclusive Plantation rates
  • Kapalua Villas: One- to three-bedroom options with golf/ocean views, private feel
  • Packages via Troon Golf Vacations or resort sites, include tee times, lodging, perks like practice access

All Key Kapalua Plantation Courses at a Glance

  • Plantation Course (Crenshaw/Coore, Hawaii’s #1, PGA host)
  • Bay Course (complementary resort track,  tropical & scenic)
  • Practice facilities, top-tier range, short game areas
  • Nearby: Other Maui gems like Wailea or Kaanapali for multi-course trips

Pro Tips

  • Book tee times & stay-and-play packages early via golfatkapalua.com or Troon, 60-day window online, but peak fills fast (especially January post-Sentry)
  • Fly into Kahului (OGG) 45-minute drive to Kapalua
  • Pair golf with Maui musts: fresh poke, shave ice, Road to Hana, snorkeling at Kapalua Bay, or whale watching (winter)
  • Play mornings to beat winds; use forward tees for fun; rent premium clubs if flying light; embrace the scale, it’s big!

Time to tee it up where the TOUR begins, bomb drives into the Pacific breeze, and reset in Maui’s ultimate golf paradise. Kapalua Plantation is calling your escape.