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By:
Claudio DeMarchi
On
any given month, you can pick up golf
magazine or go online and find and article
that will guide you to "Play Where
the Pro's Play"…ho hum. It is
never really the same anyway. The greens
are always slower, pin placements easier
and, well, there is not usually much rough
to contend with because everyone wants
the pace of play to be good, that you
shoot a good score, buy a shirt and go
home happy - and of course hope that you
come back again.
Here
is something that is a little different!
No, I mean really different. But it is
only for 72 players, so if it gets your
mojo goin', you had better act on it because
I'm talking about an event where you will
be playing where the pros are playing
when the pros are playing! In fact, on
the last day you will be playing the same
course where the pros played their final
round - with the same pin placements and
the same conditions.
This
event is called "Play Like a Pro
Weekend," and takes place March 19
-22, 2010 at none other than the Innisbrook
Resort & Golf Club in Palm
Harbor Florida (near Tampa), and just
so happens to be taking place on the same
weekend as the Traditions Championship.
You
see, the Innisbrook Resort has four legendary
courses, and while the pros are hogging
the Copperhead Course Thursday through
Sunday, you will be teeing it up on the
North and Island Courses on Saturday and
Sunday. But, your final round on Monday
will take place on the Copperhead; the
course and pin placements will be the
same as the pros played the day before.
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This
weekend is not just golf. Well, yeah
it is, but in addition to golf you
will have breakfast taken care of
daily and you'll receive passes to
the Transition Tournament's hospitality
suite for Saturday. And yes, food
and drinks are included here, but
you may not want to over indulge (unless
your golf round was really terrible
that day) because that Saturday evening
you will be lounging around the Island
pool enjoying a steak and lobster
dinner, with drinks included here,
too.
After
the Sunday round on the Island course,
participants will be back at the Copperhead
hospitality suite for the final round
of the Transition Tournament before
heading off to the Oakley dinner party
with the Oakley pros. Everyone will
even leaving with a brand new pair
of Oakley's worth about $150.00. The
whole deal will set you back $1,680.00
(taxes in), and non-golfers can
enjoy this weekend for only $840.00.
The
expansive Innisbrook Resort and Golf
Club has 620 guestrooms and suites
spread out in 28 different lodges
around the 4 courses on site. Combine
all that with a new spa, state of
the art fitness center, 3 top notch
restaurants, plus the option of cooking
your own meals or order ordering room
service, you never have to leave the
property.
You
certainly won't have to leave the
property for golf. There is a reason
Innisbrook is ranked in Golf Digest's
"Top 75 Golf Resorts in America"
and why the tour pros consider the
Copperhead Course as one of
the top 5 they play all year. The
tree lined fairways probably won't
surprise you, but the rolling terrain
and elevation changes are certainly
uncharacteristic of Florida courses.
A while back Paul Azinger was quoted
as saying, "Copperhead is the
best course we play on tour."
The
Island Course throws just about
any type of golf at you that you can
imagine. The key to scoring here is
get past the first 6 holes that take
you around Lake Innisbrook. Lots of
water and accuracy of the tee is a
must. The middle six are in a parkland-setting
with rolling terrain routed through
tall pines. The grip it and rip it
final six are just that long and wide
open capped off by one of the most
photographed holes in golf.
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The
North Course is a little on the short
side by modern standards at only 6,300 yards
from the tips. Definitely not a grip it
and rip it course. Accuracy is at a premium
here from tee to green. Watch out for the
par three's - there is only one that is
less than 190 yards. You will find some
of the dramatic elevation changes that you
will find on the Copperhead course along
with the tree-lined fairways, a fair bit
of water and your fair share of doglegs.
Last,
but certainly not least, is the links style
South Course with enough sand bunkers
and waste bunkers that if you are in them
will no doubt take away any thoughts of
another trip to a beach that day. Water
hazards await you on 10 of the holes on
the course that rolls out to just over 6,600
yards. The 400 par 4, 10th will be one hole
that you certainly won't forget as you climb
almost 70 feet from tee to the green above.
Even
if you may not play like a Pro, you might
as well feel like one! Whether you decide
to play in the "Play Like A Pro"
weekend, or just visit Innisbrook at a time
more convenient to your schedule, we know
you will not be disappointed.
10/09
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