By John Mooshie
Innisbrook Golf and Spa Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida is a great getaway for golf, tennis, and spa or just to relax and regenerate. This award-winning property is a mere two miles from the Gulf of Mexico and 20 miles from Tampa International Airport. (Quotes are from consumers posting to various online travel sites.)
Let’s Start with Golf
“If you love golf, this is the place to be… We would recommend and yes, we’ll return!!”
The Copperhead course is the resort’s famous, signature course that hosts the PGA Tour. Completely restored, it reopened in December, 2015, designed to stimulate thought-provoking plays. But their other three courses are just as challenging. That’s not to say they all aren’t fair. It’s simply important to choose the tees to fit your game. Non-typical of Florida style courses, these golf venues route you along hilly terrain framed by towering pines and feature some 70 feet of interesting elevation changes. Take note of their Innisbrook Golf Academy because time spent with Dawn Mercer, the Director of Golf Instruction, will vastly improve your short game.
Home Away From Home
“I stayed in in two different rooms in two different buildings due to needing to extend my stay. Extremely clean and well appointed, plenty of room to relax”.
Varying accommodation styles and views equates to a 5-star hotel. Two-story lodges feature spacious and luxurious rooms, superb housekeeping and in-room dining that mirrors a home away from home. Choosing from some 550 deluxe guest rooms, executive suites, or one and two bedroom suites, you’re guaranteed uncommon luxury.
Facilities, Grounds, and Neighboring Attractions
“The grounds are vast with lots of green and beautiful birds. The landscaping alone takes you to a place of peace and relaxation”.
While golf is the primary activity, Innisbrook also features 11 clay tennis courts, a wonderful fitness center, and six swimming pools. It’s here you’ll find all the kids’ activities, day camps and plenty of fun, thanks to waterslides, rafts and hidden lagoons. Their Nature Walk is a collection of meandering trails featuring an array of Florida’s wildlife and various species of indigenous plant life. Lakes and trails offer opportunities for fishing and bird-watching.
The resort is also a comfortable base for exploring nearby Honeymoon Island, Caladesi Island State Park, and the white sand beaches of Florida’s Gulf Coast that lie only a few miles away.
Eateries and Drinkeries
“The menu is full of great options, the service was world class. The food is at least as good or better as any ‘steakhouse’ I’ve been to. We look forward to coming back on our next trip”.
Innisbrook’s restaurants and lounges serve up diverse cuisines and cocktails. You’ll relish the outstanding Chefs de Cuisines presented at their Packard’s Steakhouse and Market Salamander Grill. Packard’s serves traditional American cuisine while Market Salamander tends to favor specialty foods. Every dining establishment features creative, imaginative, and sophisticated menus showcasing seasonal ingredients from the Tampa Bay area. When dining at Packard’s, note Chef Veselinovic’s description of how he prepared your entrée. At the Market Grill, ask the chef why it takes 3 days to make his onion rings. If casual is your preference the Osprey Sports Bar provides a perfect setting for conversation, cocktails, and live weekend entertainment.
Personal Service
“Very impressed with all of the staff… (they) made my stay amazing”.
The heart and soul of the resort is its people. Affable bellhops greet you at check in. Gregarious tram drivers are at your beck and call. Housekeepers smile and delight. The wait staff knows great service. Ask for anything and you shall receive.
