Oh, golf. The sport everyone loves to hate, maybe for good reason, or maybe not. It's meticulous, detailed, every faint movement of your swing or putt having a lasting effect on just how far, short, or wide that tiny little white ball will go.
Like many difficult endeavors, it takes a ton of practice, but once you're there, it can be a game of great patience, skill, and strategy, which, hey, we could probably all use a little more of. Check out any of these five Tampa golf courses for a guaranteed 18 holes of quality golfing for you or someone you love (hint, hint, Father's Day is right around the corner).
Pebble Creek - Pebble Creek is widely regarded as one of the top golf courses in the Tampa Bay Area. Boasting a spectacular, 18-hole championship course, Pebble Creek sets itself apart from the rest with new Bermuda greens, Australian celebration tees, new sand bunkers on all holes, new landscaping, and major infrastructure updates in bridges, cart paths, retaining walls, and irrigation on the course.
Westchase Golf Club - Westchase Golf Club is recognized for its fantastic course conditions, value, and service. Deemed "one of the most beautiful public-access course in the Tampa area" by Golf Digest, Westchase is a great course to spend a day on. This beautifully-designed course is a 6,710-yard, par 72 beauty winding through natural wetlands, wooden bridges and bulkheads.
The Claw at USF - The Claw could easily be the most challenging public golf course in the Tampa Bay Area. Home to the nationally-ranked USF Men's Golf Team and Women's Golf Team, the Claw is the course to go to if you want your golfing skills challenged. The long, narrow fairways are lined with oaks, cypress, and pines and a diverse array of wildlife can be seen throughout the course. Enjoy a grass tee driving range, a learning center, and a large putting/chipping green with admission as well.
Rocky Point - For a scenic and equally challenging and enjoyable golf experience, Rocky Point is a great bet. Located less than a mile away from the Tampa International Airport, Rocky Point boasts 6,328 yards of fairways and greens perfect for a day out on the course. Sand, wind, and water come in to play at each hole, making Rocky Point a great course to work on your skills and hopefully lower that handicap.
TPC Tampa Bay - For the best in premium, PGA level golfing in Tampa, TPC Tampa Bay cannot be beat. Routed around natural wetlands, cypress heads and numerous ponds and lagoons, TPC is just as scenic as it is accommodating for not just experts, but novices as well, with a number of short tees throughout the course. Ranked 13th in Golf World Maganzine's 2010 readers poll, TPC is the course to be for luxurious, quality golfing.
