Clearwater FL Relocation and Golf Options - Seeking help

[RDH010]

Evaluating potential clubs to join as well as attempting to select a neighborhood in Clearwater area. Will be working near the Clearwater air park. The Mrs. will work from home. We tend to move often for work (3-4 years) so it’s tough to consider programs with a significant initiation fee upfront.

Currently residing in North Texas and playing out of Stonebridge Ranch (clubcorp). I played Countryside (clubcorp) on the ONE reciprocal program over the weekend and IMO it was in poor shape. Off our list. Drove by Belleair and Pelican and both looked good with Pelican looking most excellent. I imagine Pelican is nearly impossible for us to attain. I inquired about Belleair and got a quick response. We are in the 35-40 age range and Bellaire has an intermediate membership classification $4k initiation + $600/mo. This is definitely within our budget.

I wish I could do Avila, Old Memorial but I imagine they are a bit too far for us to enjoy + I imagine the up front costs are considerably higher. Other options would potentially be Tampa Palms, Hunters Green, Palma Ceia but I’m not sure they are worth considering if we can do Belleair + live nearby.

[Jungleland]

If you are living over that way than Belleair is a good option. You can look at Feather Sound as well. OM and Avila are too far of a commute, traffic is crazy around here in Snow Bird season. Palma Ceia is great if you live in Hyde Park but it’s a pretty mundane course that is generally in good pretty nice condition. No driving range to speak of either. The Club Corp facilities are what you are used to in NT, I lived in Southlake and Timarron was in my neighborhood, constant traffic, no different here.

[RDH010]

After making some inquiries over the weekend, the race seems to have narrowed between Feather sound and Belleair, consistent with your comment @Jungleland.
Feather Sound is probably in the lead by offering a competitive intermediate (under 40) membership at 340/mo and a waived 2.5k initiation fee. This is a good price point for young professionals. The comments I read and the vibe I get is that Feather Sound has a bit better feel for the under 40 crowd.

[hagimihale]

I concur what @Jungleland and others have said. Feathersound and Belleair are likely your best choices. I've lived in the Tampa area for almost 30 years now. Old Memorial and Avila are beautiful, but the drive will be rough especially during winterbird season. The President of the bank I worked at years ago was a member at Feathersound and we played it once. Beautiful course.

[bross61]

I've lived in the area for 20 years. Feather is a great club. Lots of members under 40. Ask Feather Sound about course renovation plans before you join. You may want to check out Bayou Club also. However, I would concur with the replies above; the traffic can be brutal. Pick the nicest club closest to your home or office if you plan to play often during the week. You can play the North Tampa courses on the weekends -

[RDH010]

How difficult (expensive) is Pelican Golf Club to join?

[bross61]

Not sure about Pelican. Heard they were asking 30k+ initiation and wanted to limit access to 200 or 300 members. That was a couple of years ago when they first opened. I think you may need a sponsor there too, but I don't know. I heard the owners were trying to duplicate Old Memorial's model. This is all second hand information and you may want to call and find out. Feel free to PM me if you want also.

[cwb12]

[RDH010]

Received Avila membership packet. Initiation is 60k family, 40k intermediate (Under age 40), 40k corporate with 2nd designee 30k, 3rd designee 20k. Intermediate can defer initiation until age 40 by paying 3k upfront and quarterly payments of $250 until age 40 when balance is due.

Dues: family-925/mo, U30-$308/mo, 30-35-$411/mo, 35-40-$617/mo, Corp-$617/mo

Other interesting points: mandatory 33.50 gratuity/mo for F&B with a 600/yr min F&B. Guest fees $90-100 typ, with an unescorted guest fee of $135. Private carts allowed per club policy at $1,536/yr.

No apparent promotions at this time but I didn't ask or prod either.

[jerebear21]

those numbers of pelican are incorrect. you're not getting into pelican and it's not about the money. It's set up for those deeply rooted in the tampa bay community. best membership in florida. i played there a couple weeks back. finishing up 17, the guy putting on 10 won it all in 75'.

[jerebear21]

Also don’t get offended. Just trying to veer you toward other options.

belleair is getting renovated. Feather sound as well. They are using the same turf as old memorial. Hopefully the greens don’t end up as OM. All are great clubs. Another choice I would pick if you want most bang for buck is Innisbrook resort. 4 great courses to play including copperhead. You can walk the north/south. One of the best value in golf.

[RDH010]

Thanks for the information @jerebear21 . We will definitely ask the questions about course renovations. I hope to provide feedback here for others.
Maybe I will have to take up fishing until the renovations are completed and play public (World Woods, Streamsong, Innisbrook)!
Regarding Innisbrook, where would be the ideal place to live in this case? Is Dunedin too far south? Keep in mind I am working at Clearwater Air Park.

[jerebear21]

anywhere along US19 from clearwater to dunedin is fine for Innisbrook. If I lived closer towards US19, that's my preference. You really cant' go wrong with innisbrook. There's 4 courses with the copperhead being the best course on the florida tour swing (bayhill, sawgrass, pga national may think otherwise but anyone who's played them all would agree with me on this).

And unless you're willing to fork out $120 each round for mandatory caddie fee, OM, PGC and Concessions is off your list. (yes they are mandatory and yes its uncomfortably humid during summer time from May-October) they are set up as national-type clubs with cottages and world class service.

[RDH010]

Update:

Played Feather Sound CC today, conditioning was quite good given it is July 11th. The small green complexes are very quick and tee to green it was fine. Scores a solid B/B+ IMO. My rating could be influenced by the fact it was the worst I’ve played all year.

The course routing is good and holes for the most part are not back to back. I asked the GM why Feather Sound would be better than Belleair. He commented about the upcoming renovation, the holes are each uniquely framed on 160+ acres, around 270 golfing members. Feather Sound renovations will begin in April 2021 and close the course until at least November. Plan is to fix drainage issues (course can be unplayable for multiple days following rain event), enlarge green complexes, and possibly do some re-routing. There was work being done on the clubhouse with the previous 19th hole being transformed into 2 hitting bays with trackman + fitting. The GM is optimistic that they will be able to obtain reciprocal agreements at nearby clubs while the renovations are going on. He also mentioned once the renovations are over they will have to pick up the initiation fees significantly. Right now initiation fees are being waived.

I also received an update on Belleair CC that the renovations to the west course have been shelved. Partly due to COVID timing, but more importantly they were going to lease grounds from the city of Belleair near the waterfront and change course routing (adding a par 3 right after the par 5 along the water). To do this and/or some other work they were going to have to engage in permitting or review with the corps of engineers and the process was estimated to take 12-24 months to get it cleared. So it sound like back to the drawing board at this point, which is fine by me. We are leaning towards a house in Belleair and have driven the area near there and Pelican multiple times; everything just looks top notch there, we are hoping to go for a tour this week/weekend. My wife was told by the membership coordinator that guests were not being allowed to play at this time which is a bummer. If anyone has a connection, let me know!

[Robber6656]

Something doesn’t make sense with Belleair. I thought they renovated the West last year. I usually play there in October and we couldn’t get on the West due to the renovation? Anyways the East is pretty good but very short. East has one green and one tee are on the inter-coastal. Both courses are Donald Ross. The west imo is the better of the two. A nice par 5 along the water. Pro shop staff is very nice. If I lived down there that’s where I would join. Pelican is on the site of the old Bellview Biltmore. It was a nice old Ross that was built in an old Florida neighborhood. I used to play there a lot when my parents were in Sand Key. It was purchased by a Doyle who is or at least was a member at Belleair. Unless theY moved a mountain of dirt to obstruct the view of the houses I don’t get how it’s going to be so exclusive but that’s what he’s shooting for.

 

Never played Feather Sound but I’ve heard good things. Dunedin is very close to Innisbrook. Copperhead is great. Island has one of the worse holes I’ve ever played but it’s a very good course.

 

To be honest, Tampa is not a golf hot bed. Belleair is a great area to live. The other side of the inter coastal is Sand Key which has some great condos if that’s what you are looking for. Good luck.

Edited September 1, 2020 by Robber6656
Spelling

[dock4]

Thank you for all the info, I have been reading this thread as I too just moved here.  I decided to join Innisbrook as we ended up buying a house in Palm Harbor.  Thanks for the info!

[Cutbomb56]

Hi guys,

 

I'm headed down to the Clearwater area for vacation from North Dakota. What are the best public courses to play in that area? Thanks!

 

Cheers,

[Robber6656]

Dunedin Golf Club is an old Donald Ross layout with a lot of history.  Last I played it was in average shape but it is a great golf course. It was the home of the senior PGA back in the day. Snead, Hogan, all the greats played there.

 

Bardmore has some goofy holes but it’s not bad.

 

Innisbrook Copperhead is fantastic but it will be pricey.

 

World Woods is about an hour away. Well worth the trip.

 

Streamsong is 2 hours away.