As the annual host of the PGA Tour’s prestigious Valspar championship, the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort is renowned for being one of the most respected stops on the PGA Tour. Situated in the beautiful North of Tampa, Florida, this championship course offers fairways with dramatic elevation changes bordered by deep and rough bunkers that require strategy and utmost precision.

Professional golfers consider Copperhead a gem for its unique challenge that offers an amp of pressure to those who are planning to tee off this course’s tricky greens. However, don’t fret, as the Copperhead experience is not only limited to the pros; this course rewards perseverance with an upskill and a victory earned through persistence and hard work, making it a memory worth cherishing. Before planning a golf getaway with your crew, join us as we explore Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort.

The Start of a Course Built for Champions

The legendary architect Larry Packard designed Copperhead as one of the courses presented at Innisbrook in 1974. It was then known as the flagship layout among the four courses in the resort. This course differed from the others for its bold rolling terrain, dense forests, and natural elements, including magnificent yet tricky water hazards.

The Innisbrook Resort began hosting the Tampa Bay Classic in the year 2000, which was later rebranded as the Valspar Championship last 2014, and later skyrocketed to prestige due to Copperhead’s competitive course. Over the years, this course has notably crowned champions like Gary Woodland, known for his long-hitting game, and Luke Donald, with his short-game prowess.

Copperhead: The Ultimate Challenge

For golf enthusiasts, seeing Copperhead at Innisbrook for the first time is like watching their favorite golf broadcast live. The championship course is ranked 7th as the PGA Tour’s toughest course, stretching over 7,200 yards of challenging greens. This 71-par course is one of the favorites among the world’s most renowned golf professionals for its narrow pine tree-lined fairways, rolling terrain, and the infamous finishing stretch known as the "Snake Pit," where tournaments were won and lost.

This course favors golfers who are excellent shot-shapers and conquer several demanding holes that require fades or draws off the tee to set up manageable approach shots. Above all, Copperhead’s Snake Pit is its defining stretch that often makes or breaks your play with its last three holes from holes 16-18.

The layout is known for keeping players on edge from the first hole to the last. Beginners may find this course a difficult challenge to conquer, but finding the right tee spots will surprise you with its apparent playability.

Playing the Copperhead Course

Playing at Copperhead is more than just ticking off an item on your golfing bucket list; it’s about immersing yourself in a place of history and prestige that opens opportunities for you to level up your golfing proficiency. Contact us and see Copperhead at Innisbrook for yourself through our competitive Tampa golf packages for a profoundly satisfying golfing experience that is definitely one for the books.

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