TPC TAMPA BAY
Course Architect(s): Robert C. Weed, Chi Chi Rodriguez (Consultant)
Year Opened: 1991
Location: Lutz, Florida
Slope: 139. Rating: 73.9
Par: 71
Yardage: 6,898
Hole-by-Hole: 1 - Par 4 395 Yds 10 - Par 4 395 Yds
2 - Par 3 191 Yds 11 - Par 3 179 Yds
3 - Par 4 425 Yds 12 - Par 5 495 Yds
4 - Par 4 427 Yds 13 - Par 4 345 Yds
5 - Par 4 332 Yds 14 - Par 5 588 Yds
6 - Par 3 144 Yds 15 - Par 4 452 Yds
7 - Par 5 541 Yds 16 - Par 4 430 Yds
8 - Par 4 414 Yds 17 - Par 3 217 Yds
9 - Par 4 472 Yds 18 - Par 4 456 Yds
Par 35 3,341 Yds Par 36 3,557 Yds
Key Events Held: GTE Suncoast Classic (1992-96),
GTE Classic (1997-2000),
Verizon Classic (2001-03),
Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am (2004-11),
Encompass Insurance Pro-Am (2012),
Champions Tour Qualifying School (1994).
Course Record: 61 (Rocky Thompson, 1994; Fuzzy Zoeller, 2004)
Awards Won: Received a four 1/2-star rating in Golf Digest's Places to Play.
Re-certification in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program.
Website: tpcoftampabay.com
HISTORY: When the course was constructed, Bobby Weed took an already open piece of land and opened it up even more, as he removed over 50-percent of the trees. When he first viewed the property, he chose a horse as his guide around the landscape. In a short period of time, the TPC of Tampa Bay has proven itself amongst the best on the Champions Tour. The course has a great history of top notch golf with some of the past winners including: Jack Nicklaus, Larry Nelson, Bob Gilder, Hale Irwin and two-time winner Bruce Fleisher.
When Nicklaus captured the 1996 event, he rebounded from an opening round of 76 to shoot 68-67 and win by one shot over J.C. Snead. Rocky Thompson captured the 1994 title in record fashion when he carded a course-record of 61 on the final day to knock off Ray Floyd by one shot. Fleisher captured the first of his two Verizon titles in 2000 with three rounds in the 60s, as he tied the tournament record of 200, set by Jim Colbert and George Archer in 1992. In 2003, Fleisher became the event's only multiple winner when he outdueled Champions Tour all- time wins leader Hale Irwin down the stretch. One shot off the pace with two holes to play, Fleisher birdied the tough 17th from seven feet to take the lead, as Irwin three-putted from 20 feet away. Fleisher has had amazing success at the TPC of Tampa Bay. In eight appearances, Fleisher has two wins, two seconds, a third, a fifth and eight top-25 finishes.
In 2004, Mark McNulty became only the 11th player in history to title in his first elder circuit start. Trailing by four shots after round one, McNulty, from Zimbabwe, fashioned rounds of 65-68 to post a one-shot victory over Larry Nelson. McNulty, who shot all three rounds in the 60s, became the first player to win in his first Champions start since 2001 when Bobby Wadkins captured the Long Island Classic. McNulty's three-day total of 200 tied the tournament mark set by Jim Colbert and George Archer in 1992 and equaled by Fleisher in 2000.
Irwin captured the 2005 weather-shortened event by one stroke over Morris Hatalsky and 2004 champion McNulty. Rain throughout the weekend reduced the tournament to 36 holes and Irwin was forced to complete his second round on Monday. Irwin finished at eight-under-par 134 for his second victory of four in 2005 and gave him multiple wins for the 11th consecutive year, by far a
tour record. Irwin, who played the back nine first in the final round, began his day on the 16th hole and one stroke behind Hatalsky. Irwin parred his first two holes to remain in contention. He nearly holed his second shot at the par-four 18th, as his shot stopped within two feet of the cup. He kicked
in that birdie putt to grab a share of the lead. Around the turn on the front nine, Irwin moved atop the leaderboard with a birdie at the par-four third. He parred his final six holes, including a tough two-putt par at the last, to hang on for the win. It was the first time in event history that the
tournament was shortened by weather.
History was made in 2006, as 1976 U.S. Open winner Jerry Pate broke through for his first Champions Tour title, edging out Hatalsky, Irwin and Mark James by one shot for the win. Trailing by one shot heading into the final round, Pate carded a six-under 66, which included a birdie putt on the last, as he struck a five-iron to within 11 feet. After a birdie on the 14th, Pate moved into a tie for the lead, but it was short-lived, as James took the lead with birdies at 15 and 16. Irwin tied James with an eagle at 12 and a birdie at 14. The par-three 17th became the downfall for both James and Irwin. James, playing in the group ahead of Irwin with Pate, knocked his tee ball to 35
feet, but his uphill putt came up 10 feet short. James, the 1999 European Ryder Cup captain, missed that putt to fall back to minus-10. Irwin pushed his tee shot into the bunker on the right side. He tried to be too delicate with his blast from the sand and the ball stopped 20 feet shy of the flag. The
three-time U.S. Open winner narrowly missed the par putt, but fell into a four-way tie for first. James could only make par on the last and Irwin's 50-foot attempt to tie just missed. Pate burst on to the golf scene with a win at the 1976 U.S. Open.
His last title came at The Players Championship in 1982 when, playing with an orange ball, he famously jumped in the lake off the 18th green at the TPC at Sawgrass with then PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman and course architect Pete Dye. After numerous operations on his shoulder over the years, Pate recreated his signature dive from '82, when he dove headfirst into the adjacent lake by the 18th green. Ironically, the five-iron which Pate struck on the last, was the same number club he hit on the final hole at the Atlanta Athletic Club when he won the 1976 U.S. Open.
REVIEW: The course starts off with a sensible par four, turning hard to the right. A three-metal is needed off the tee, which must be placed left of the fairway bunkers guarding the corner of the dogleg. Your approach shot with a short-iron should set up a reasonable birdie chance, unless the pin is back left. Stay right and leave yourself 15-feet with the worse case scenario..par.
The second is a straight-forward par-three. Nothing fancy, just hit the long kidney-shaped green with a mid- to long-iron and move on.
The third hole is a straight par-four with water guarding the left side to the green, however the landing area is an easy target, some 45 yards wide. A mid-iron will be needed to dissect the green, which slopes from back to front with three dervish bunkers and a chipping area protecting par.
Another severe dogleg to the right, the fourth stretches 427 yards from the tips and requires a straight tee ball over the lake that guards the right side. Bail out left features a pair of fairway bunkers, so accuracy is key. The 40-yard deep green drops off severely in the back and by the way,
don't miss left, as two bunkers await.
One of the easiest holes on the course, the fifth is a must to birdie at just 332 yards. A long-iron or fairway-metal will set up a 100-yard pitch to a shallow, but wide green. The putting surface is just 26 yards, the smallest on the course.
The sixth gives the player another chance at birdie. The shortest par-three on the course requires just a short-iron to a fairly simple green. If the winds kicks up, then club selection will be difficult, otherwise, think birdie.
The only par-five on the front side is the seventh, a definite birdie hole and maybe better. Players can reach this one in two, however, you must first avoid the canal that runs along the left side, as the hole bends left and then right towards the green. The putting surface slopes quickly from back to
front and depending upon pin placement, three-putting could offer a setback.
Although just 414 yards in length, the eighth is one of the more difficult on the course. The first obstacle is the tee shot, which must carry over water towards the fairway which bends to the left. The hazard continues all along the left side while trees guard the right. Next task is to find the green. Not an easy task when the surface is protected by three bunkers and is very slender. Although the green is 50 yards in length, being on in two is a tough chore. If the pin is back, add two clubs to your second shot.
A bear of a par-four awaits as you close out the front side. At 472 yards, this is the longest two-shotter on the course. Bending slightly to the left, water guards that entire side, so play out to the right side of the fairway. Yes, you'll have a longer second shot, but you will be dry. The green is protected by a grass bunker on the left and a surface that slopes down to the front.
The back nine begins with a par-four with water all along the right side of the fairway to the green. The landing area is wide enough, so chose wisely, as cutting it too close to the right could spell doom. The green slopes from the center to all three corners making a two-putt a difficult task.
The 11th is one of the finer par-threes on the course. Cypress trees protect the entire right side while sand guards the left. This hole usually plays into the wind, so picking the right stick will be key. Don't be ashamed to make par.
Another reachable par-five, the 12th is just 495 yards. However, don't be fooled, water is this holes defense with two separate lakes on the right. The wind is no bargain either, as you play directly into the breeze. The horseshoe-shaped green slopes from the center out to the sides and down towards the water.
Similar to the fifth in length, the 13th is a simple par-four of just 345 yards. A wide fairway with water left and four bunkers protect the landing zone, but this hole can be had. Although the green is elevated, a little wedge will set up another birdie. The putting surface has a huge swale in the center, so if the pin is up front, attack. If it's back, settle for par.
The longest hole on the course, the 14th is a brute of a par-five at 588 yards from the gold tees. Bending to the left, water protects the entire side with a huge bunker, 75 yards in length at the bend. The layup area is wide, so leave yourself a wedge to an elevated green that is 36 yards deep.
The putting surface slopes from back to front with three pot bunkers around the green.
The final four holes at the TPC at Tampa Bay are top notch. We first start out with the second-hardest hole on the course, the 15th. Bending to the left, this 452-yarder requires accuracy and length. The entire left side is protected by sand and water while the right side features trees and out of bounds. The second shot with a long-iron must avoid the bunkers on both sides of the green, and water on left. The green is the longest on the back side at 41 yards deep. When the pin is back, this one plays like a par-five.
The 16th is a straight away par-four with sand left and trees right. The landing area is wide enough to catch a mis-hit off the tee, but it will leave a long approach to a very wide green. Sand guards the right of the surface while a chipping area flanks the left. Once again, par is a very good score.
The longest par-three on the course, the 17th is a beaute at 217 yards. Club selection is always a key, but is at its utmost importance here with an 11,000 square foot green. The right side is guarded by a pond while the left is protected by a large bunker. Birdies are rare on this undulating and large green.
The final hole of the course is a gem, stretching 456 yards from the back tees. With water flanking the entire right side to the green, this dogleg right is a great finishing hole. When playing into the wind, your tee shot must be played down the left side to avoid the hazard and sand. A fairway-wood
or long-iron is next to a green which is very undulating and features a chipping area, short and left. Finishing off your round with a par is a bonus.
FINAL WORD: "It's a beautiful golf course," commented Tom Weiskopf. "We don't play courses
in this kind of condition with this kind of challenge, for the most part. I think the design is very fair. There is enough width and enough definition. There is nothing tricky, nothing controversial. There's a lot of variety. You hit a lot of different clubs. It's a good, straightforward kind of traditional
course."
There's no question that Weiskopf hit it right on the head...Wide fairways, large greens (averaging 6,400 square feet), variety and great conditions. It's not the hardest course in the world, which makes it more attractive to all types of golfers with numerous tees and generous greens.
There is plenty of water however, as the fairways weave through lakes and natural wetlands - 19 in all - and around strategic bunkers that number 81. Not to mention, the TPC at Tampa Bay also boasts an outstanding practice facility along with a spacious clubhouse and pro shop. To make matters more appealing, the price is right, especially from April through December at under $125. How about that, a course the pros play that you can play. Just what the doctor ordered.