Destination: Tampa

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Innisbrook, a 900-acre resort in Tampa, has four courses on the property.

Mar. 14, 2010
By LINKS Magazine

The gateway to the Sunshine State's southwest Gulf Coast is a destination in itself, combining the excitement of a city with the charms of Old Florida.

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Where to Play

Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club: This community located northeast of the city features two courses, the North and South, which sit on a rolling site that is rare for the Sunshine State.

TPC Tampa Bay: The Champions Tour's Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am has drawn both golf legends and celebrities like Bill Murray to this layout, one of the area's best tests of golf.

World Woods Golf Club: Tom Fazio's two courses, Pine Barrens and Rolling Oaks, are a bit outside town, but both are well worth the drive and should be part of any golf trip to the area.

Where to Stay

Innisbrook Resort: The 900-acre resort, home to the Transitions Championship, has the most golf in the area with four courses, including the menacingly named Copperhead, which challenges TOUR players on the Florida swing.

Saddlebrook Resort: With two courses designed by Arnold Palmer, this 540-room property (most are one- and two-bedroom suites) is an ideal spot for a restorative getaway in the sun.

Westin Tampa Harbour Island: Centrally located near downtown, historic Ybor City and the chic SoHo (South Howard Avenue), this property on a small island is the perfect base for exploring the third largest city in Florida.

Where to Eat

Bern's Steak House: Consistently ranked among the best steakhouses in the country, Bern's is known not only for its food but also for its prodigious wine list. Oenophiles should take a tour of the wine cellar.

Columbia Restaurant: The original location in Ybor City has been offering both locals and visitors Spanish-Cuban cuisine since Casimiro Hernandez Sr. founded the eatery in 1905.

Mise En Place: Diners should arrive expecting to find a wide selection of modern dishes. But if you have trouble deciding what to order, the tasting menu is the perfect way to enjoy chef Marty Blitz's cuisine.