Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course)
Innisbrook's pine-lined Copperhead, home of the Valspar Championship and its fearsome 'Snake Pit' finish — a resort course any guest can play near Tampa.
Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course) in photos
Can I play Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course)?
Yes — the Copperhead is the flagship course at Innisbrook Resort and is available to resort guests, so any golfer can play by staying at the resort. It is typically booked as part of a stay-and-play package, with Copperhead an upgrade over the resort's Island and South courses. No membership is required.
How to book: Book through Innisbrook Resort, usually via a stay-and-play golf package that includes lodging and rounds; Copperhead access is added as an upgrade and prime tee times fill fast in the cooler high season. Reserve well ahead for winter and spring, and note the course closes around the Valspar Championship each March. Carts are included.
About Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course)
Opened in 1972 to a Larry Packard design, the Copperhead Course confounds expectations of flat Florida golf, rolling through pine forest with real elevation change and water-guarded, tree-framed corridors. Since 2000 it has hosted the PGA Tour's Valspar Championship and is regularly rated among the tour's very toughest tests, most of all over the closing three-hole 'Snake Pit', where championships are decided. The flagship of Innisbrook Resort near Tampa, it is played by resort guests, typically as an upgrade within a stay-and-play package. Accurate driving and nerve at the finish matter far more than raw distance on this demanding, atmospheric layout.
Signature hole
The 'Snake Pit' — the closing three holes (16, 17 and 18) — is one of the toughest finishes in golf, a gauntlet of pine-framed, water-flanked holes where the Valspar Championship is routinely won and lost.
What makes it special
The 'Snake Pit'
A brutal closing trio (16-18) rated among the hardest finishing stretches in professional golf.
Not your usual Florida golf
Genuine elevation change and pine-lined corridors that feel more Carolinas than Gulf coast.
Valspar Championship host
A PGA Tour venue since 2000, playable by any Innisbrook resort guest.
Tournament pedigree
- Valspar Championship (2000–present)
Need to know
Best time to play
October to May is the prime season — warm, dry and comfortable — while summer is hot, humid and prone to afternoon thunderstorms. Avoid Valspar Championship week in March, when Copperhead is closed to resort play.
Dress code
Collared shirts required; no denim. Soft spikes.
Good to know
Carts are included and walking is permitted with a caddie; unusually for Florida the course has genuine elevation change and rolling, pine-lined corridors. Rated among the PGA Tour's toughest courses, it demands accurate driving — allow about four and a half hours.
Upcoming golf tournaments
Prefer to watch the world’s best? Book tickets to an upcoming tournament, then add a hotel and flights.
Getting there
Nearest airports
Tampa (TPA) ~40 min; St. Pete–Clearwater (PIE) ~30 min.
On arrival
Innisbrook sits in Palm Harbor on Florida's Gulf coast, about 40 minutes north-west of Tampa International Airport and 30 minutes from St. Pete–Clearwater. A car is the simplest way in; the resort is set on rolling, wooded grounds just off US Highway 19.
Stay near the course
Stay on site at Innisbrook Resort, whose lodge suites are spread across the property and paired with golf packages — the standard way to secure Copperhead tee times. Clearwater Beach and Tampa are a short drive for those wanting a wider base.
Search hotels near Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course)Plan your golf trip
Hotels near the course
Live-priced stays a short drive from the 1st tee.
Search hotelsFlights
Get to Palm Harbor — search fares to the nearest airport.
Find flightsTournament tickets
Rather watch the pros? Book golf tournament tickets.
See golf ticketsThings to do
Tours and experiences around Palm Harbor.
Explore Palm HarborFrequently asked questions
Can the public play the Copperhead Course?
Yes, as a resort guest — Copperhead is open to Innisbrook guests and is usually booked through a stay-and-play package, with no membership required.
How much does it cost to play Copperhead?
Resort-guest green fees run roughly USD 85–200 per round with cart included, cheapest on off-season weekdays and highest in the winter and spring peak. Prices are approximate and part of a resort package.
Do I have to stay at Innisbrook to play Copperhead?
In practice yes — Copperhead access is offered to resort guests, typically as an upgrade within a golf stay-and-play package rather than as standalone public daily play.
When is the best time to play?
October to May offers the best weather; avoid Valspar Championship week in March, when the course is closed to resort play.
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Green fees, access rules and tee-time policies change frequently and vary by season. The figures here are indicative for trip planning — always confirm on the official site before booking.
Guide updated 2026-07-27.