Belleview Biltmore GCR&S
Tampa, FL
1925, Donald Ross; 2001 renovation, Chip Powell & The Donald Ross Society
6614, par 71
'03 Fees: $40-$100
'02 Packages: 2 night Classic Golf Package ($185 pp til 4/30) includes room, breakfast, 18 holes, unlimited range balls, club cleaning and storage, and shuttle.
Golf Magazine Review, "Time Warp in Tampa Bay": Maybe the best-kept secret on FL's West coast. This little-known Ross-designed gem (originally known as Pelican GC) received a 2002 $2.4 million restoration that adheres closely to the original blueprints supplied by the Donald Ross Society. Nature, not houses, dominates the layout. Crowned pedestal greens, a Ross trademark, invite run-up shots but shed careless approaches, while well-placed fairway bunkers snare errant drives. Four par 4s over 440 yards. Large water oaks and pines narrow a few fairways, and water comes into play on 7 holes. Wind is the major factor here on the flat layout, exposed to onshore Gulf breezes. Ken Venturi Golf Academy on-premisis.
Where To Stay: Stay in genuine turn-of-the-century style at the Belleview Biltmore Resort & Spa. Set on a high cliff overlooking Clearwater Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, the sprawling, stately, gabled 244-room Victorian hotel is FL's oldest golf resort. Built by railroad magnate Henry Plant in 1897, it was renovated in 2001 to the tune of $9,000 per room, with swimming pools, spa, fitness center and other ammenities. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Belleview Biltmore was once patronized by Babe Ruth and other Jazz Age celebrities who's black-and-white photos line the hallways (The Shining, anyone?).
Best Bar Nearby: The golf club's Grill Room and Bar is a 19th hole for the 21st century: sports bar atmosphere, 14 TVs, and 5 satellite dishes.
Other Area Tracks To Play: Ross afficianados will also want to check out nearby Dunedin CC (www.dunedincc.com , $46-$54), a semi-private 1927 Ross that served as the headquarters of the PGA of America from 1945 to 1962. Also check out www.golfgulfshores.com for area golf info.
See also: Fat Guy's Tampa FL Golf Weekend