The Copperhead Course

The Copperhead undoubtedly is The golf course that most lovers of golf are familiar with. After all, they've seen America's greatest golf stars taking on its pine tree-lined fairways and rolling terrain during the Chrysler Championship each fall. So you, like many other visitors to Innisbrook, will want to make the Copperhead one of your must-places to play.

With its unusual elevation changes, the natural setting of the Copperhead course will probably remind you of a Carolina layout rather than Florida's West Coast. The Copperhead, of course, is ranked in "America's Top Resort Courses" by Golf Digest and No. 4 in the state by Travel & Leisure Golf's Florida's 50 Finest.

From the tournament tees Copperhead presents a stern test of golf. At  7,300+ yards, this par-71 layout is designed to challenge the players of all ability levels. The Copperhead Practice Facility is located adjacent to the first hole and is complimentary to those with a tee time on the course.

"The course is a daunting layout," says Chris Card, Director of Golf.  "Larry Packard put together a stunning design...he combines  narrow, tree-lined fairways with elevation change and very firm, fast greens. It's absolutely breath-taking from tee to green."

The course opens with a par-5 (560 yards from the back tees and 450 from the forward) that is a sweeping dogleg right with a tee box perched some 50 feet above the fairway. The placement of the second shot must be accurate to set up a birdie chance here.

One of the favorite holes here is the par-5 No. 5 (605 yards from the back tees and 465 from the forward). This is a hole that's challenging from tee to green. You'll be happy to walk away with a par on this hole. "It has a huge uphill elevation change from the tee to the landing area," says Tony Arielly, our director of group sales. "Then about 200 yards out from the green, it starts to drop dramatically back down. You have a blind shot for your second shot going over the hill. Then the green slopes away from you as you make your approach shot." Despite the difficulties, this is one of our most-photographed holes.

No. 14, a par-5 that measures 570 yards from the back tees and 510 from the forward, is another of Lawrence Packard's famous double doglegs - one that goes right, left and then right to the green. It's definitely a risk-reward par-5. "If you can carry water on the right and avoid a massive bunker on the left, you may get a birdie," says Arielly. "You don't want to make a mistake on your second shot. There's a two-tiered green so if you're short, your ball could roll back down off the green. If you're long, it could roll the other way."