Inside the course: Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club (PGATOUR.com)

March 14, 2010

Waialae Country Club, in the heart of Hawaiis state capital — Honolulu, paints the perfect picture of the islands.

The TOUR hits its next Florida stop this week for the Transitions Championship at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Fla. Learn more about this venue.

Fast facts Course Superintendent Ryan Stewart Original architect Larry Packard (1971) Par value 71 Number of TOUR events as host venue 11 (including 2010) Course ranking Ranked 9 (out of 51) in difficulty on the PGA TOUR in 2009 Yardage history 7,340 (2004-present) 7,315 (2003) 7,295 (2000-2002) Grass Bermudagrass (Tees, fairways, greens, rough); Perennial ryegrass (Tees, fairways, rough); Poa annua (Fairways); Poa trivialis (Greens) Tournament Stimpmeter 11 ft Sand bunkers 75 Water hazards 9 Course tour Click here Course record PlayerJeff SlumanMark Calcavecchia Year20042007 Round1st3rd FinishT20Won Holes-in-oneThere have been four aces recorded at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club Player Hole Year Ryan Moore 17 2007 Jonathan Kaye 17 2004 Mathias Gronberg 15 2004 Stewart Cink 8 2003 2009 RankingsMost Difficult Hole The par-4 465-yard sixth The downhill, dogleg-right sixth hole may be the toughest par 4 on the Copperhead. An accurate tee shot is necessary to leave a long second shot from a sloping lie. The large green is elevated and severely contoured. 2009: 0 eagles, 25 birdies, 273 pars, 120 bogeys, 13 double bogeys, 3 others.Easiest hole The par-5 560-yard 1st Copperhead opens with a double-dogleg, par-5 hole. The placement of the second shot is necessary to set-up a birdie opportunity. 2009: 3 eagles, 153 birdies, 237 pars, 35 bogeys, 4 double bogeys and 2 other. Innisbrook Resort2009 rankings Last 10 years Hole Par Yards Avg. Score Rank Avg. Score Rank 1 5 560 4.747 18 4.700 18 2 4 435 4.274 2 4.146 4 3 4 455 4.108 9 4.205 3 4 3 195 3.048 12 3.014 13 5 5 605 4.956 15 4.977 15 6 4 465 4.3 1 4.252 2 7 4 420 4.048 12 4.066 12 8 3 235 3.154 6 3.142 5 9 4 430 4.051 11 4.089 11 10 4 445 4.053 10 4.125 6 11 5 575 4.765 17 4.791 16 12 4 380 3.97 14 3.979 14 13 3 200 3.118 8 3.121 8 14 5 590 4.806 16 4.784 17 15 3 215 3.124 7 3.119 10 16 4 475 4.256 3 4.302 1 17 3 215 3.191 4 3.120 9 18 4 445 4.187 5 4.121 7 Course origins The Copperhead course is part of a 72-hole complex with natural elevation changes that range up to 80 feet. This elevation change is very unusual for Southwest Florida, especially along the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico. The Copperhead course opened in 1974 and was restored in 1999, two years after it was purchased by Westin, Inc. The goal of the restoration project was to regain the shot values and still challenge today’s longer-hitting PGA TOUR players when Innisbrook hosts TOUR events. The plan involved refurbishing all 18 greens, restructuring many of the bunkers, removing some trees around the greens to improve air movement and sunlight and clearing out undergrowth between fairways. The length of the golf course is the most visible change from 7,295 to 7,340 yards by the addition of tournament tees on five holes. A reported $500,000 was spent, and the course re-opened just in time for the 1999 JCPenney Classic. With its unusual elevation changes, the natural setting of the Copperhead course will probably remind you of a Carolina layout rather than Florida’s West Coast. —Source: Golf Course Superintendents Assocation of America Tournament course history Course Location Years Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club Palm Harbor, Fla. 2000-present