Golf Guide: Tampa - FL

Located on the Gulf Coast, the Tampa Bay area includes Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater. With one of the nation's best airports, Tampa International, and a major north south highway, I-75, Tampa is well situated to welcome more than 15 million visitors a year.

There are more than 40 courses open to the public in and around Tampa including Innisbrook, a Salamander Resort in Palm Harbor north of the city. Innisbrook is a self-contained playground with four superb golf courses Copperhead, Island, North and South plus a Fox Squirrel, a par 36 geared to kids and families. Innisbrook also has several pools and restaurants along with the Indaba Spa.

Many of the public courses like Westchase Golf Club represent good golf for less than $40 while municipal courses like Rogers Park Golf Course, an historical track founded in the 1950s by local black golfing enthusiasts is one of the best of the munis. Also a good play is The Claw at the University of South Florida, one of the longer and more challenging public tracks at more than 6,800 yards. Robert Trent Jones Sr. fans might want to try the Apollo Beach, Golf & Sea Club.

Tampa Bay has a huge selection of places to stay. Most offer golf packages such as the Crown Plaza Tampa Westshore, a new hotel with play and stay packages less than $100.

Those looking for the full resort experience with condo accommodations have a lot of choices from Innisbrook to the 540 room Saddlebrook with two Arnold Palmer courses, tennis courts, 4 restaurants, spa, fitness complex and huge pool. Or try Emerald Greens Golf Resort & Country Club, a boutique golf resort with 50 two-bedroom condo accommodations, tennis and pool in the heart of the city.

Ranked by Forbes as the 5th best outdoor city in the nation, there is a lot going on here from Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest, a bawdy, fun-filled celebration; the high-flying Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus; Busch Gardens with its incredibly swift roller coasters; and Ybor City, a must place to find an authentic Cuban sandwich and hand-rolled cigars. Add miles of white sandy beaches, sport fishing and pro sports including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Rays and Lightning teams.

Note: Traffic in Tampa Bay can be a bear, so plan your tee times so they don't coincide with rush hour.