By no means is this an exhaustive list. It is merely some of my favorite courses in and around the Tampa area, where the courses are as equally challenging as they are beautiful. They vary widely in price but all offer a good value for your golfing dollar. Golf is a passion of mine and I'd love to share more with you about the area courses and make recommendations to fit your budget or desired difficulty of play. Where there's no link available, I've tried to at least provide contact information and the Par, Yardage (from the tips), Rating and Slope respectively. Enjoy!

Clubs in the greater Tampa area.

Club Renaissance - 2121 S Pebble Beach Blvd, Sun City Center (813) 642-9192. 72 6701 72.5/128.

The Eagles - 16101 Nine Eagles Dr, Odessa (813) 920-6681. 72 7089 74.7/132. Ron Garl/Gary Koch. Home course of Beth Bauer.

Fox Hollow - 10050 Robert Trent Jones Pkwy, Trinity (727) 376-6333. 71 7138 75.1/137. Robert Trent Jones Sr. (The last course he designed). A beautiful course with well protected and difficult greens - no sure 2 putts here.

Heritage Isles - 10630 Plantation Bay Dr, Tampa (813) 907-7447. 72 6976 73.2/132. Water hazards come into play on all 18 holes - some hidden behind the greens so be sure to grab the right club.

Innisbrook - 36750 U.S. Highway 19 North, Palm Harbor (727) 942-2000. Copperhead 71 7230 75.6/134. Island 72 7017 74.1/132.  Innisbrook actually has 72 holes of golf, but the Copperhead and Island courses are by far the most popular and challenging.  Atypical for the Tampa area courses and host for the PGA Tour Chrysler Championship, Copperhead has dramatic changes in elevation, pine tree lined fairways, and very difficult, fast greens.  This course will test everything you've got. Check out their web site and see what the pros have to say about it.  A great stay and play facility.

TPC at Lutz - 5300 Lutz Lake Fern, Lutz (813) 949-9901. 71 6898 73/131. Bobby Weed. Very challenging but fair, it's all you'd expect from a Tournament Player Club facility.  Meticulous grounds compliments by first rate service, clubhouse and practice facilities.  A must play in the Tampa area.

Clubs just a little south of Tampa Bay, but worth the drive.

Imperial Lakewoods - 6807 Buffalo Rd, Palmetto (941) 747-4653. 72 7019 73.9/136.  Lots of great holes all building to an awesome finishing par-5.

Legacy - 8255 Legacy Blvd, Bradenton (941) 907-7067.  72 7067 73.7/143. Arnold Palmer.  An all around great course and clubhouse.  Meticulously maintained, the links style layout features mounded fairways and large, contoured greens winds it's way through georgeous wetlands.  There's one great hole after another but you'll love the signature par-3.

Clubs about an hour north of Tampa, but well worth the drive.  The natural terrain is more reminiscent of the Carolina's.

Silverthorn Country Club - 4550 Golf Club Lane, Brooksville (352) 799-2600. 72 6827 72.9/131. This former Arnold Palmer facility is an all around beautiful and challenging course.  There are plenty of risk/reward shots here, with both the front and back 9's have great finishing holes.

World Woods - 17590 Ponce de Leon, Brooksville (352) 796-5500. Pine Barrens 71 6902 73.7/140. Rolling Oaks 72 6985 73.5/136. Tom Fazio.  An absolute must play just about an hour's drive up the Suncoast Parkway.  If you only play two courses when you're in Florida, make sure it's these two.  Tom Fazio created a masterpiece with World Woods.  Consistently rated as one of the top 5 courses in Florida, these course will challenge both the physical and mental aspects of your game.  There are so many great holes, but Rolling Hills' downhill, across a brook, par-3 number 8 will keep you coming back again and again.