The Island Course

Ample water, tight fairways, intimidating hazards, and abundant bunkers -- all designed to test the skills of the most accomplished golfer have won much acclaim for the Island Course at Westin Innisbrook. The Island, often considered to be just as challenging as the Copperhead, is ranked among the country's top 50 resort courses by Golf Digest and No. 14 in Travel & Leisure Golf's "Fifty Finest in Florida."

The varying terrain, coupled with a variety of tee placements, can challenge both the professional player as well as the weekend golfer. The course has been a regional qualifier for the U.S. Open and is remembered as well for the NCAA championship that Phil Mickelson won here in 1990.

One of Innisbrook's four championship courses, the Island Course, was the first to open for play in December of 1970. There are 18 truly unique holes here. "This is a long par-72 course with water in play on at least half the holes," says Brock Nicholas.

The Island offers enchanting, picture-postcard scenery. "You'll find tall pines draped with Spanish moss," Nicholas says, "and lots of serene views. I love the Island Course. It's tighter off the tees and just as tough as the Copperhead. You need to be straight here."

The Island's first six holes are dominated by lateral water hazards and fairly level terrain which require pinpoint accuracy on both tee shots and approaches. The middle six holes feature rolling hills dominated by cypress and pine trees. The final third of this course boasts a mixture of holes designed to reward the bold yet penalize the errant golf shot. The golf course winds down to a finishing hole that will test the nerves of even the most steady player.

Your first hole is a par-4 (372 yards from the back tees and 322 from the forward). It's dogleg right with a well-protected green. Water runs along the right side of the hole and there are bunkers on both sides of the green. But this opening hole is a birdie opportunity.

The signature hole on this course is No. 7, a par-5 dogleg-left that plays at 565 yards from the back tees and 467 from the forward. This could be the most treacherous test you'll face on the Island. "This is a very tight driving hole," says Nicholas, "with water and trees on the right. The second shot is tight as well with a lake on the right."

Keep in mind on No. 7 that from the fairway to the green, the ground rises uphill about 60 feet. There's a green here that's well-protected with multiple-lobed bunkers.

The No. 9 hole on the Island Course is another toughie. "It's a par-4 that plays 415 yards from the back tees (329 yards from the forward). It's a dogleg left, but it's easy here to run through the fairway and into the woods if you're too daring off the tee," says Tony Arielly.

Your approach shot on No. 9 requires a shot over water to a green that's surrounded by bunkers.

The finishing hole on this course is very similar to No. 9 in its layout. It's also one of the most photographed holes in the state of Florida if not in the nation. "It's a narrow dogleg-left par-4 (370 yards from the back and 290 from the forward tees) with trees on the right side and lots of water on the left," says Arielly. "There's also water in front of the green. You need to use a fairway wood or a long iron off the tee to try to hit around the corner. It's a make-or-break hole." On this hole the green also slopes toward the water.