I'm going there Dec. 26-31. Staying in St. Petersburg.
I'm going to play N. Watertower in Sarasota, Maximo in St. Petes, Cliff Stevens and Coachmen in Clearwater, Plantation in Crystal River, and Barnett in Orlando.
Any other course suggestions? What about other stuff to do in FL? Thought I'd get some ideas together. It's going to be great!
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Discin' in Florida
I've only been to Orlando and east of there so I can't comment on the courses you mentioned besides Barnett Park. Barnett's a fun couple of courses though. The original course has seen tons of play and is easier to get around on. The newer course is still a little rough but I like the design better than the original. There's also 36 holes at Turkey Lake now. Too bad the Gran Canyon in Brooksville is gone now. You would have loved that.
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Schoen-hopper
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Dude, Maximo rocks. Cliff Stephens is badass too.
Check it...
This was like 3 weeks ago. That's hole 18 @ maximo, btw. Played a few casual rounds there w/ Geoff Bennet from Michigan, the day after the tourney @ Cliff Stephens. Florida has some serious golf to be had.
There's a private course you might want to look into. I can get you the fella's number. You have to call ahead. It's where Climo & some others go for a serious private game. It's in an old quarry... only about 30 miles north of Clearwater. They call it the Canyon.
...and if you go to GDISC's shop (amazing), you'll see like 10,000+ discs in stock in one room, among other gear. It's in Clearwater too.
Check it...
This was like 3 weeks ago. That's hole 18 @ maximo, btw. Played a few casual rounds there w/ Geoff Bennet from Michigan, the day after the tourney @ Cliff Stephens. Florida has some serious golf to be had.
There's a private course you might want to look into. I can get you the fella's number. You have to call ahead. It's where Climo & some others go for a serious private game. It's in an old quarry... only about 30 miles north of Clearwater. They call it the Canyon.
...and if you go to GDISC's shop (amazing), you'll see like 10,000+ discs in stock in one room, among other gear. It's in Clearwater too.
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This is the course in Brooksville. The Gran Canyon. I played it in April and it is awesome. I was just in Florida again last week and played Wickham Park in Melbourne and F. Burton Park in Cocoa (was playing a glow round when the night launch of the shuttle went off. WOW). I have a buddy that lives in Rockledge and I was told that the Canyon has been sold and is closed but I suppose those guys could be wrong and it may still be available by appointment. In April they were actively trying to sell it.beisner wrote:There's a private course you might want to look into. I can get you the fella's number. You have to call ahead. It's where Climo & some others go for a serious private game. It's in an old quarry... only about 30 miles north of Clearwater. They call it the Canyon.
Personally, if I were going to play one of the two courses at Barnett I'd play the new course. But if you will be pressed for time I'd play the original because it is marked better. Turkey Lake is good too but the new holes were hard to find and they changed the layout mixing old and new holes. So it might be hard to find your way around it in a hurry.
There's lots of great disc golf in Florida to be sure.
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I'll have to put on some weight to fit in with the Manatees. I'll just have to do my best. 
Mike at Sunking Discs told me the baskets at the Canyon were removed when the property was sold. I was looking forward to playing out there before the course disappeared, but I am too late.
In Orlando, it sounds like both Turkey Lake and Barnett have a course that's older and easier and one that's new and very difficult. I'll probably have to go with the toughies. You know me, running all over the place trying to figure the holes out before teeing. Hopefully the vegetation doesn't get me.
Where's the shop in Clearwater? I think Sunking supplies them. I was going to go to Brooksville on the way to Crystal River, but I might stop by the other shop if it is more convenient. Still planning on hitting a course in Floral City that morning as well.
Mike at Sunking Discs told me the baskets at the Canyon were removed when the property was sold. I was looking forward to playing out there before the course disappeared, but I am too late.
In Orlando, it sounds like both Turkey Lake and Barnett have a course that's older and easier and one that's new and very difficult. I'll probably have to go with the toughies. You know me, running all over the place trying to figure the holes out before teeing. Hopefully the vegetation doesn't get me.
Where's the shop in Clearwater? I think Sunking supplies them. I was going to go to Brooksville on the way to Crystal River, but I might stop by the other shop if it is more convenient. Still planning on hitting a course in Floral City that morning as well.
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I had a blast in Florida. Perfect time of year to visit. Thanks for all the helpful info. I was very impressed with the disc golf and everything else.
The courses were great. Every one that I played was in a beautiful park and had very nice tee signs, pads, and baskets.
I played N. Watertower Park in Sarasota on the 26th. The flora was incredible! Nothing like anything I've seen before. Tight, low ceiling shots with trouble all the way up to the green. The course was fair though, as par could usually be saved with an excellent recovery shot.
It was almost 5pm when I got to Maximo in St. Pete's. I played the short tees because many of the holes were blind from the long tees and I was short on time. This course was like a rainforest jungle. Right next to the gulf, but not too much water in play. The dogleg on treeville hole 6 was pretty crazy. The painted trees might not look so great, but they were very helpful in getting me through the course in under an hour. I would have really liked to play the long tees as they looked a great deal more challenging.
The next day I hit N.E. Coachman in Clearwater. Very beatiful park. Creek in play on a stretch of holes. The course plays similar to N. Watertower in distance and foliage thickness.
Down the road to Cliff Stevens next. I couldn't believe how different this park was from Coachmen. Much longer from the pro tees and enough open space to shape a shot and reduce the luck factor given by the trees. Loads of Spanish Moss hanging from the trees looked really cool and didn't effect the disc flight too bad if you hit it. Much water in play on the course, including on a 500'+ hole #16, with water going all the way to the hole. The lake was curved so that you could pick a spot on the right to bale out. Landing at a good spot was just as important as distance. Trees on the right made it more appealing to throw over the lake again on the second shot. Shot even from the pro tees (course had 18 alt tees) and was the best in a group of advanced players. Didn't see Climo, though.
Wen't to Clearwater beach and explored the beach house neighborhood out on the island. The beach was incredible. Fine, white sand and covered with seashells. It was like 65 degrees and the water was even warmer. Warmer than the warmest day in San Fran's water. The locals were not in the water, though. They all thought it was freezing cold out.
Guys at Cliff Stevens told me to hit up Taylor Park in Largo, so I did. This course was loaded with pine trees and next to Taylor Lake. Short, but a fun course in a very nice park.
Just toured around on the 28th. Drove through downtown Tampa and Ybor City. Then to downtown St. Petersburg. We saw the Coffee Pot Bayou, Sunken Gardens, the Palm Arboretum, the Pier, and the Salvador Dali Art Museum. We also went to Indian Rock Beach and drove down to Fort DeSoto Park and saw the North Beach at the very end of the keys.
Friday, we drove up to Floral City, about 2 hours north of where we were staying in St. Pete's. It was nice to get out of the city for a while. Floral Park was amazing. Moderate length with trees on every hole, but not too many. No water trouble or deep shule. Good variety of distance, shots required, and elevation. Plamen shot 61 from the am tees and I shot 47 from the pro tees. I also got intoduced to "the real" shuffelboard from some friendly older-timers.
I went to Brooksville to shop at Sunking Discs. I had also went to shop 2420 in Clearwater and was disappointed. I now realize that I missed the big disc golf store in Clearwater. Brooksville was a cool town with some rare elevation for Florida. The Quarry course looked enticing from the 1st hole, but I had to get on the road.
Crystal River was the next stop. I sent the family to the Homosassa Springs St. Wildlife Park just down the road. The resort was very nice. They didn't give me any trouble with the dress code, and rented me a cart for just $5 extra. I had a little trouble with the directions though. I asked for a map, and the employee told me that I was playing the Lagoon's course. I later realized after a few holes, that the Lagoon's course was actually a 2nd ball golf course and that the disc golf holes were not on the map. Many of the baskets on the course were longer than the most visual basket, so this also made it very confusing. I had a cart though, so it wasn't too much energy to pre-navigate the holes. While playing, this ball golfer told me he saw a guy throw a disc in the water and then can a 180' shot over the water. A few holes later, I'm back at the same water seing some guy in the pond wading around. Somehow I knew this was a disc golfer. I saw he didn't have a cart so I drove over and it turned out to be a KC guy named Brant that I played with at Ted's Dread. He gave some course navigation and I gave him a ride.
The course played extreemly difficult. The first tee had been moved since the tourney layout. The new shot was into a difficult headwind with tons of trees on the right and water straight and left. I immediately put two discs in the drink. Another wet disc on the 2nd hole. Tons of long annhyzers on this course. OB cartpaths and/or water were in play on most holes. Some holes played off (of) the golf course and played though thicker rough. I lost a CFR wraith that I had rescued from water 4 times, in a small (but thick) palmetto tree. By the time I was done the scorecard read 75 and my hand was bleeding from throwing so hard. All in all a remarkable course, but brutally tough. I'm sure I could take off 10 strokes with another round, but as the first round took 3 hours, I had no more time.
Orlando was the trip's last stop for fun in the sun. By Saturday last week the temps were up into the 80's. Even though the morning temp was only about 65, the ground was covered with dew. With 2 courses at Turkey Lake and 2 courses at Gordon Barnett, I couldn't make my mind up which to play. Everyone was giving different feedback. I got the general idea that I should play Barnett because Turkey Lake had one course that was open and easy and one that was ridiculous and unmarked.
I went to Turkey Lake first. I saw the back course first, which I thought would be the longer, thicker course from the initial look. The course turned out to be amazingly beautiful, with moderate length. Several downhill shaped shots to start out. The back nine (like many courses I am noticing) was good, but not as remarkable as the front.
The other course at Turkey Lake was called T-2. I tried to throw the first hole and immediately realized I would not be able to get past the pain. Throwing a putter gave me no trouble at all, but I quickly realized that this was the course that was insano. The signs were outstanding. Colorful and acurate. The tees were carpet and matched the PDGA color code using blue and red for every hole with a few gold and white pads. This was the course that was very long and very thick. The par was like 61, but I would have been pressed to break 65 as there are so many opportunities for trouble. I heard from the locals playing league that the course record is 54, by Hosfeld. The rough was extreemly punishing. Fresh fruit growing from the trees was nice though. Turkey Lake was very nice, with some very memorable holes on both courses.
Gordon Barnett was a very crowded park in a questionable neighborhood. First course seemed fun, playing across a creek. I lost my only disc, a Glow Aviar, on the 3rd hole in some water that wasn't on the map. With the mangrove trees right on the course, it was apparent that the course was flooded for a good portion of the year. My feet were soaked before long. The original course featured some really cool holes and some that were pretty bland.
The north course played both longer and through some really thick stuff. Some of the holes played in some really wet areas. Great extreemly challenging course, but a punishing experience, at least from the long tees. Hole 18 was unbelievable. 312 into a headwind to a 25' radius island green! I used Plamen's putter that he was begging me not to throw. I threw it with a big anny over the water and around a tree on the right, on my side of the water. The next shot was between a couple trees and over the water. There were some homies on the green that refused to move, and added some extra challenge to the shot. I got the par.
None of the courses were disappointing and I would love to come back again some day.
The courses were great. Every one that I played was in a beautiful park and had very nice tee signs, pads, and baskets.
I played N. Watertower Park in Sarasota on the 26th. The flora was incredible! Nothing like anything I've seen before. Tight, low ceiling shots with trouble all the way up to the green. The course was fair though, as par could usually be saved with an excellent recovery shot.
It was almost 5pm when I got to Maximo in St. Pete's. I played the short tees because many of the holes were blind from the long tees and I was short on time. This course was like a rainforest jungle. Right next to the gulf, but not too much water in play. The dogleg on treeville hole 6 was pretty crazy. The painted trees might not look so great, but they were very helpful in getting me through the course in under an hour. I would have really liked to play the long tees as they looked a great deal more challenging.
The next day I hit N.E. Coachman in Clearwater. Very beatiful park. Creek in play on a stretch of holes. The course plays similar to N. Watertower in distance and foliage thickness.
Down the road to Cliff Stevens next. I couldn't believe how different this park was from Coachmen. Much longer from the pro tees and enough open space to shape a shot and reduce the luck factor given by the trees. Loads of Spanish Moss hanging from the trees looked really cool and didn't effect the disc flight too bad if you hit it. Much water in play on the course, including on a 500'+ hole #16, with water going all the way to the hole. The lake was curved so that you could pick a spot on the right to bale out. Landing at a good spot was just as important as distance. Trees on the right made it more appealing to throw over the lake again on the second shot. Shot even from the pro tees (course had 18 alt tees) and was the best in a group of advanced players. Didn't see Climo, though.
Wen't to Clearwater beach and explored the beach house neighborhood out on the island. The beach was incredible. Fine, white sand and covered with seashells. It was like 65 degrees and the water was even warmer. Warmer than the warmest day in San Fran's water. The locals were not in the water, though. They all thought it was freezing cold out.
Guys at Cliff Stevens told me to hit up Taylor Park in Largo, so I did. This course was loaded with pine trees and next to Taylor Lake. Short, but a fun course in a very nice park.
Just toured around on the 28th. Drove through downtown Tampa and Ybor City. Then to downtown St. Petersburg. We saw the Coffee Pot Bayou, Sunken Gardens, the Palm Arboretum, the Pier, and the Salvador Dali Art Museum. We also went to Indian Rock Beach and drove down to Fort DeSoto Park and saw the North Beach at the very end of the keys.
Friday, we drove up to Floral City, about 2 hours north of where we were staying in St. Pete's. It was nice to get out of the city for a while. Floral Park was amazing. Moderate length with trees on every hole, but not too many. No water trouble or deep shule. Good variety of distance, shots required, and elevation. Plamen shot 61 from the am tees and I shot 47 from the pro tees. I also got intoduced to "the real" shuffelboard from some friendly older-timers.
I went to Brooksville to shop at Sunking Discs. I had also went to shop 2420 in Clearwater and was disappointed. I now realize that I missed the big disc golf store in Clearwater. Brooksville was a cool town with some rare elevation for Florida. The Quarry course looked enticing from the 1st hole, but I had to get on the road.
Crystal River was the next stop. I sent the family to the Homosassa Springs St. Wildlife Park just down the road. The resort was very nice. They didn't give me any trouble with the dress code, and rented me a cart for just $5 extra. I had a little trouble with the directions though. I asked for a map, and the employee told me that I was playing the Lagoon's course. I later realized after a few holes, that the Lagoon's course was actually a 2nd ball golf course and that the disc golf holes were not on the map. Many of the baskets on the course were longer than the most visual basket, so this also made it very confusing. I had a cart though, so it wasn't too much energy to pre-navigate the holes. While playing, this ball golfer told me he saw a guy throw a disc in the water and then can a 180' shot over the water. A few holes later, I'm back at the same water seing some guy in the pond wading around. Somehow I knew this was a disc golfer. I saw he didn't have a cart so I drove over and it turned out to be a KC guy named Brant that I played with at Ted's Dread. He gave some course navigation and I gave him a ride.
The course played extreemly difficult. The first tee had been moved since the tourney layout. The new shot was into a difficult headwind with tons of trees on the right and water straight and left. I immediately put two discs in the drink. Another wet disc on the 2nd hole. Tons of long annhyzers on this course. OB cartpaths and/or water were in play on most holes. Some holes played off (of) the golf course and played though thicker rough. I lost a CFR wraith that I had rescued from water 4 times, in a small (but thick) palmetto tree. By the time I was done the scorecard read 75 and my hand was bleeding from throwing so hard. All in all a remarkable course, but brutally tough. I'm sure I could take off 10 strokes with another round, but as the first round took 3 hours, I had no more time.
Orlando was the trip's last stop for fun in the sun. By Saturday last week the temps were up into the 80's. Even though the morning temp was only about 65, the ground was covered with dew. With 2 courses at Turkey Lake and 2 courses at Gordon Barnett, I couldn't make my mind up which to play. Everyone was giving different feedback. I got the general idea that I should play Barnett because Turkey Lake had one course that was open and easy and one that was ridiculous and unmarked.
I went to Turkey Lake first. I saw the back course first, which I thought would be the longer, thicker course from the initial look. The course turned out to be amazingly beautiful, with moderate length. Several downhill shaped shots to start out. The back nine (like many courses I am noticing) was good, but not as remarkable as the front.
The other course at Turkey Lake was called T-2. I tried to throw the first hole and immediately realized I would not be able to get past the pain. Throwing a putter gave me no trouble at all, but I quickly realized that this was the course that was insano. The signs were outstanding. Colorful and acurate. The tees were carpet and matched the PDGA color code using blue and red for every hole with a few gold and white pads. This was the course that was very long and very thick. The par was like 61, but I would have been pressed to break 65 as there are so many opportunities for trouble. I heard from the locals playing league that the course record is 54, by Hosfeld. The rough was extreemly punishing. Fresh fruit growing from the trees was nice though. Turkey Lake was very nice, with some very memorable holes on both courses.
Gordon Barnett was a very crowded park in a questionable neighborhood. First course seemed fun, playing across a creek. I lost my only disc, a Glow Aviar, on the 3rd hole in some water that wasn't on the map. With the mangrove trees right on the course, it was apparent that the course was flooded for a good portion of the year. My feet were soaked before long. The original course featured some really cool holes and some that were pretty bland.
The north course played both longer and through some really thick stuff. Some of the holes played in some really wet areas. Great extreemly challenging course, but a punishing experience, at least from the long tees. Hole 18 was unbelievable. 312 into a headwind to a 25' radius island green! I used Plamen's putter that he was begging me not to throw. I threw it with a big anny over the water and around a tree on the right, on my side of the water. The next shot was between a couple trees and over the water. There were some homies on the green that refused to move, and added some extra challenge to the shot. I got the par.
None of the courses were disappointing and I would love to come back again some day.
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I deuced this hole. Threw a Beast over the water and made a long putt. Sure it was luck but it did impress the locals.Schoen-hopper wrote:Much water in play on the course, including on a 500'+ hole #16, with water going all the way to the hole.
You didn't by chance check out the shows at sunset on Pier 60 in Clearwater Beach? Dallas does a great fire show every night. Some of my best show photos were taken at Pier 60.
I'd recommend going back in the summer. More bikini's!
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I posted pictures of Crystal River way back when. I don't think I took any pics of Cliff Stevens since I was there on business and didn't drag the camera with me.
I'll never play 16 again! They have three 'sleeper' holes hidden between 17 & 18 so I could still get a full round in.
There's a stage area for bands at Pier 60. Was there vendors selling stuff up and down the pier? Was there a play gound and big slides and bungee trampolines? If you were at Clearwater Beach you had to be at Pier 60. Maybe there weren't any street performers there that night! Good to know!
I'll never play 16 again! They have three 'sleeper' holes hidden between 17 & 18 so I could still get a full round in.
There's a stage area for bands at Pier 60. Was there vendors selling stuff up and down the pier? Was there a play gound and big slides and bungee trampolines? If you were at Clearwater Beach you had to be at Pier 60. Maybe there weren't any street performers there that night! Good to know!