Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead) – Played April 2018
- Rankings: Golf Magazine Public #76
- Location: 36750 US Highway 19, Palm Harbor, Florida
- Year: 1972
- Architects: Lawrence Packard & Roger Packard
- Course Access: Resort
- Walking Rules: Carts Available
Score Card Information:
- Black: 7,209 yards, Par 71, 75.9 Rating/142 Slope
- Green: 6,624 yards, Par 71, 73.1 Rating/139 Slope
- White: 6,243 yards, Par 71, 71.1 Rating/137 Slope (Men’s), 77.7 Rating/149 Slope (Women’s)
- Gold: 5,676 yards: Par 71, 69.2 Rating/131 Slope (Men’s), 74.8 Rating/140 Slope (Women’s)
- Combo: 5,312 yards, Par 71, 67.0 Rating/127 Slope (Men’s), 72.1 Rating/136 Slope (Women’s)
- Red: 4,851 yards, Par 71, 65.2 Rating/122 Slope (Men’s), 69.8 Rating/131 Slope (Women’s)
Right after tax season, the wife and I, along with another family made the trek down to the Tampa/Clearwater, Florida area for some much needed R&R. As always for me, golf was on the agenda. I just cannot sit on a beach. I’m a professional relaxer but that world-class skill doesn’t translate to the beach for some reason.
To that end, the guys got some golf set up for the trip. Our first stop was Innisbrook Resort, more specifically the Copperhead course. You can see from the photo below that the Copperhead hosts the PGA Tour and has for a few years now.
The Valspar Championship has had some great winners including Jordan Spieth. And last year, Tiger Woods made a spirited run to finish runner-up early in his comeback season.
The Copperhead course is widely regarded as a player favorite. That seems to come from the fairness of the course. It demands good shotmaking all the way around. Oh and in case you get distracted, just look at the bushes to remind you of where you are.
After you walk out the backdoor of the clubhouse the first tee awaits. Just beyond that are the driving range and plenty of greens for chipping/putting.
I did want to share a bit about the architect, Larry Packard. He got a late start in golf, picking up the game at 30. He loved the Copperhead course at Innisbrook so much that he lived in an apartment on the property until his death in 2014 at the age of 101! This nice profile by Ron Whitten delves into his life a bit more and explains his design style.
Hole 1 – 521 yards – Par 5 – Innisbrooks’s View
Packard starts you with a gentle warm up and good chance at a birdie. Some of that is from the modern equipment but you can bomb a drive here as it is all downhill to the landing area.
The hole bends to the right as it rises up hill to a flattish green that is fronted by a deep bunker on the right.
Hole 2 – 359 yards – Par 4 – Second Thoughts
This hole looks benign from the tee but the water on the right will sneak up on you. Driver isn’t needed off the tee but whatever you hit, a draw helps.
The approach is extremely uphill. You won’t want to chunk it into that front bunker like I did!
Hole 3 – 386 yards – Par 4 – Narrow Neck
The third hole was the only time I truly wished I had a yardage book or a second shot at the course. I was unsure of how much landing area there truly was as it looks very constricted.
As you get past the tee the hole reveals itself. The smart play is laying back a bit on the tee to the fat part of the fairway.
Hole 4 – 140 yards – Par 4 – Bunkered
The naming of this hole is spot on. Avoiding the bunkers is first priority.
Once you get to the green there is more slope that it seems in the photo below.
Hole 5 – 526 yards – Par 4 – Longview
The yardage on the card is a bit misleading since everything in the landing area is uphill. A large bunker on the right is definitely in play but can be carried.
Here’s a closer look at the blind second shot.
Once you crest the hill in the previous photo it is downhill to the green. Picking a good line is crucial.
Hole 6 – 406 yards – Par 4 – Sidewinder
This hole favors a fade played just inside the right tree line. The landing area cants downhill and will give your drive a boost.
Be careful if you go too far right as you will have to negotiate this slender tree like I did.
Hole 7 – 345 yards – Par 4 – Hidden Gem
The blind landing area adds some challenge to this short par four. A good drive plays up the left side of the fairway.
On the approach you see there is plenty of sand to avoid but long is no good either. Precision reigns on the second shot.
Hole 8 – 176 yards – Par 4 – Drop Off
You may not be able to tell from the photo but this plays slightly downhill. I’m not sure Drop Off is a proper name for the hole. The green is on the smaller side and has some good internal contouring you can see in the last photo.
Hole 9 – 378 yards – Par 4 – Hide Away
The goal here is to fit the drive between the bunkers on each side. It is not to blow is way left like I did! From the fairway the approach plays uphill quite a bit.
Below is a closer look at the green.
Hole 10 – 374 yards – Par 4 – The Descent
Let it all out with the driver here. With a good strike the left bunker can be carried. A tight draw plays well here. The approach is straightforward with only bunkers on each side guarding the green.
Hole 11 – 514 yards – Par 4 – O’s Alley
It’s a bit tight off this tee with trees on either side. What I like about this hole is the bunkering around the green. It makes a long second shot difficult but also asks something for the player that lays up.
You can see what I mean below. It will be hard to get on the green with a wood but you can’t zone out with a wedge.
Hole 12 – 343 yards – Par 4 – Bridge Hole
This hole is another where the yardage book helps. Nothing more than 200 yards up the left side is needed. That is not a conservative play either as the water comes up fast.
From this view you can see the pond cutting into the hole. It transitions to a creek that splits the fairway in two.
Hole 13 – 148 yards – Par 4 – Forced Carry
There are shades of Pete Dye with the bulkheads on this hole. The real challenge on this hole is a green that heavily slopes back to front. It’s almost impossible to see the contour from the tee.
Even green-side you cannot see the slope clearly but believe me, it’s there.
Hole 14 – 532 yards – Par 4 – Packard’s Double Dogleg
The double dogleg was a Packard trademark and this is Copperhead’s version. The daring line is over the small trees on the left side. Getting home in two is going to be difficult here due to the mostly blind second shot.
You bend left from the tee and then back right to reveal the green and water hazard. There is a good bit of slope from back to front on the right side of the green.
Hole 15 – 172 yards – Par 4 – Snake Bite
Nothing is tricky on this shot. It’s downhill but the target is generous for a decent shot.
The collection area is the preferred miss over the sand. You can see below the different green sections split by contours.
Hole 16 – 376 yards – Par 4 – Moccasin
The PGA Tour has a penchant for naming stretches of holes. For instance, they have the Bear Trap at PGA National. Here at Innisbrook, you have the Snake Pit! You welcomed my dude below #snakepitselfie.
Funny names and sculptures aside, the hole is no joke. Faders have an advantage visually. For me, I had to pick a line I thought I could carry the water and not run out of fairway. Any miss right cannot carry the water.
I ended up in a good spot with a short iron remaining. From there the hole is straightforward. The green is not overly sloped compared to some others.
On this day, a hawk was standing sentinel over the green. Maybe they could change the name to The Hawk’s Nest, sign me up marketing department!
Hole 17 – 171 yards – Par 4 – The Rattler
Watching the pros casually hit this green belies its challenge. It plays quite uphill and the green is very deep. The slope is severe from back to front and you can have some long putts.
Hole 18 – 376 yards – Par 4 – The Copperhead
I already had a healthy respect for 18 from watching the tournament on TV but seeing it in person cemented it. I can see why Tiger took a 2-iron for position.
From our tees the hole is more tame but all of the bunkers are in play. Consequently, I made it into the left one but only had a wedge into the green. Finding the fairway is more important than distance.
The second shot is extremely uphill with deep bunkers in front. This left pin meant I had to take them on from the left side of the hole.
Below is a wider look at the green. There is some slope where the flag is located, more so than you can see.
After playing Copperhead, I can see why the pros like it. Usually, they aren’t known for their great architecture opinions and generally prefer straightforward tests. That is not meant to denigrate Copperhead at all, quite the opposite.
The course rewards solid ball striking and is in good shape, two things pros love. I appreciated the blind shots and hidden aspects of the course that force thought. The elevation changes also make players think, which is a nice change from most Florida golf.
Overall, I would say the Copperhead is an extremely solid golf course. From the right set of tees it shouldn’t beat you up but it will provide all the challenge you want.