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 $500 Golf Vacation in February?
The Robert Trent Jones Trail (Alabama), Audubon Golf Trail (Louisiana), Tennessee Golf Trail, 1-800-ASK Tom, Dick or Harry Golf Trail.
With all of the trails available to golfers, what do you call a cluster of five private golf courses that snake their way along a major artery right outside of Tampa, Florida? This innovative and challenging collection of courses is aptly named the Waggle Golf Trail. Located along a corridor running north/south in Pinellas County, the Waggle Golf Trail presents a new concept in golfing.
Six months ago, I organized a golf vacation for eight golfers from New York. I added a few of my local friends to the mix for a weekend getaway encompassing four days, three nights, and five rounds of golf. We all became very good friends during the outing. The group leader gave me the specifics of what the New Yorkers were looking for. He said, “Mike, we want to enjoy the warm weather in either the middle of Florida or the south. We want to play nothing but private golf courses, and we want a fried grouper sandwich. We are all members of private golf clubs up North and we like our 3.5 hours of golf.” But, he saved the best for last. He said, “Oh, by the way we only have $500 per person and would like to go in February when we’re usually swinging a snow shovel instead of a 9 iron.” Normally, I would have to pass on such a request, but, this time, I had an Ace up my sleeve…I could click the heels of my red ruby slippers (ok, maybe they’re golf shoes) and recreate the Land of OZ at the end of the Yellow Brick Road. Thus, the Waggle Golf Trail was born!
So, here’s how I designed the best $500.00 golf vacation ever!
Objective 1: My group wanted to be either in the “middle of Florida or the south.” Lake Tarpon Resort fit the bill. Located only minutes from each of the golf courses on the Waggle Trail, Lake Tarpon Resort has pleasant rooms with two double beds that overlook an inlet on the 2500-acre Lake Tarpon. Known to the locals as one of the best bass fishing spots in all of Florida, this resort boasts a family atmosphere and its own sports bar and grille. The Dockside Sports Bar and Grille is stuffed with HD televisions and has great food. Really, fried pickles?
Objective 2: They wanted to play five rounds of golf on private golf courses. Our arrival round was at Countryside Country Club. This Gary Player-designed golf club has 27 holes. Luck of the draw was to play the Lake to Pine cours e. The greens are Champion Dwarf Bermuda grass and are hidden behind many doglegs and very accessible greens.
Thursday night included dinner and cocktails at The Dockside Sports Bar and Grille. When you bring in your scorecard, the first drink is on Cliff. No, not Cliff from Cheers, but Cliff, the owner of the bar. We had a private room in the back with an awe-inspiring, 10-foot TV screen! The Chef grilled up a few fantastic New York Strip Steaks with all the fixings for $25, including salad and dessert.
The trauma of opening our eyes at an ungodly 7:30 am could only be corrected with a strong cup of JOE! Luckily, Lake Tarpoon Resort provided freshly-brewed coffee and a continental breakfast. After only  five miles and two right turns, we arrived at Eastlake Woodlands. This South course was first on our stretch of 36 holes. Eastlake Woodlands winds through hundred-year-old oaks and presents duffers with a host of challenging shots. We were on the 2nd hole when the manager of the club and a cart girl drove up and asked if we needed a hot coffee. It was 68 degrees, and, being from Florida, I was cold! I can’t help but think that he had to have looked like a bunch of pirates because there just happened to be a bottle of Captain Morgan to turn our coffees into hot toddies. That afternoon, we tackled the North course. It meandered throughout a vast expanse of greens and worked in a ton of water shots. Hole 18 is a double dogleg that allows the golfer to cut the corner and gives you the opportunity to go for the green in two. Be careful though, because the wooden bridge usually has an alligator standing guard.
Objective 3: This gang specifically requested a great grouper sandwich. Groupers are fish of any number of genres in the subfamily Epinephelinea of the family Serrenidea, in the order Perciformes. Whew! Translation… Deep Fried on a Bun equals DELICIOUS! Ozona Blue is a local hangout fifteen minutes from Lake Tarpon. It was just our luck they have live music Thursday through Saturday nights on the pool deck with the backdrop of very luxurious boats. It is everything you would imagine the perfect Florida hangout to be. I personally suggest you try the Firecracker Shrimp and the Fried Grouper Sandwich.
Saturday, like usual, was reserved for golf and local activities day. We played Cypress Run, recognized as one of the premier golf clubs in the Tampa Bay area. This course has oak lined fairways and Tiff Eagle Greens. I believe Cypress Run is one of the best courses in Tampa Bay. While we were on the range, Lew Smither (the Director of Golf) came out for a quick hello and a few pointers. Lew has been rated as one of the top 20 golf teachers in the state of Florida and is entertainment on Golf Spikes!
Saturday afternoon, we went to one of my local favorite bars, Billy Jacks  Burger Shack. Where else can you find 14-ounce, dollar drafts, an old rickety shack, and lawn chairs, where it’s almost mandatory to wear cargo shorts and flip-flops? The evening started with Charlie Ho and the BEST CHICKEN WINGS IN TAMPA. Yes I said it, THE BEST! The Little Billy’s are small belly bombers made out of real meat, not steamed, with three little holes. You can eat, drink, and be entertained for less than $20. I’ll leave the specifics of that night to the “Second Camera.” Let’s just say we want to thank Peter with All Access Limos for making sure each and every one of us made it back to our rooms, safe and sound.
Sunday was the last day of the trip, and the guys from up north had direct flights from Tampa International Airport back to New York. With their flights leaving at 3:00pm, I planned a quick round of golf at Wentworth Country Club. It had been a while since I had played Wentworth, and I didn’t realize how many strategic shots I was going to have to make. The course had just reopened with Platinum Paspallum greens, tight fairways, and many hidden greens that required a lot of pre-planning. The guys up north were in a serious tournament against each other and this was going to be the round which would “separate the wheat from the chaff!”
I have to tell you, the weekend was one for the memory books, and if you are looking for a Florida Golf Vacation, you should consider the newly opened Waggle Golf Trail. There are a few other courses tied to the Waggle that we did not have a chance to play but that I would strongly recommend.
Package Includes:
- Double Occupancy at Lake Tarpon Resort
- Free Continental Breakfast Each Morning
- Free drink at Dockside Sports Bar each night
- 1st round of beer at Billy Jacks Burger Shack
- 1 round of golf per night of stay at these fantastic private golf courses: East Lake Woodlands, Countryside Country Club, Cypress Run, Wentworth, Tampa Palms, and Hunters Greens
- Arrival and Departure rounds can be pre-booked
- Replay rounds can be booked on different courses
Request more information and pricing about the Waggle Trail.
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