Palmer at Saddlebrook Golf & Tennis Resort: #5
A view of green #5 at Palmer from Saddlebrook Golf & Tennis Resort.
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Rating Index Rating
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3.8
1625 Reviews (1625)
5 Stars
679
4 Stars
615
3 Stars
184
2 Stars
86
1 Stars
61
Conditions
3.8
Value
3.9
Layout
4.1
Friendliness
4.4
Pace
4.1
Amenities
3.9
76.8%
Recommend this course
1351 out of 1625 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.7
27 Reviews (27)
5 Stars
7
4 Stars
10
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
1
Conditions
3.8
Value
3.8
Layout
4.1
Pace
4.0
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.3
77.8%
Recommend this course
21 out of 27 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.8
54 Reviews (54)
5 Stars
17
4 Stars
19
3 Stars
10
2 Stars
5
1 Stars
3
Conditions
3.9
Value
3.9
Layout
4.0
Pace
4.0
Amenities
3.8
StaffFriendliness
4.4
75.9%
Recommend this course
41 out of 54 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Par 72
Length 6434 yards
Slope 141
Rating 72.2
Book a Tee Time at
Saddlebrook Resort Golf Course
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Course Details

Year Built 1982
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Tif-Eagle Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Arnold Palmer (1982) Ed Seay (1982) Robert Walker (1982) Rees Jones (2025)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes - "Saddlebrook Golf Academy"
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No

Food & Beverage

Snacks, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities, Spa

Available Activities

Swimming, Billiards

Available Sports

Fitness
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Reviews

3.8
1625 Reviews (1625)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 16
Patio Dining 13
Dinner 9
Course Challenges Include:
Water Hazards 54
Bunkers 45
Forced Carries 32
This course/club is great for:
A Weekend Splurge 33
Advanced Golfers 32
Locals 25
This Course's Location is:
At a Resort 53
Worth the Drive 28
Convenient to the City 27

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

Palmer Design

Like Palmer courses ---no well signed for Golf --no driving range near the course - no starter - no halfway house

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

Good, but expected more

For the price I happened to pay, which was half what the regular rate is, I was satisfied I got a reasonable value but the course has been in much better shape in previous years that I've played here. Fairways are in exceptional shape, as are the greens even though they had been aerated within the last 2 weeks but some tee boxes were in bad shape & I didn't expect to see that from Saddlebrook.

The golf carts are also the typical standard golf cart & are aging, mine could have used a brake job. The carts also don't have GPS like similar upper end courses do.

None of this would keep me from playing the Palmer Course in the future. It's a fun, beautiful layout with some of the fastest greens in the local area, which is nice since I live within 10 minutes of the course.

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Saddlebrook Palmer

The course itself was a good layout and enjoyable to play. However, finding your way around the property was absolutely frustrating. There is almost a total lack of signs directing you to the practice range and then back to the pro shop and the first tees on the two courses. Placing signs to direct you to keep points would make a great improvement to the experience.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Perfect weather
Used cart

Nice layout

Challenging from the whites. I’m an 11 index.

Nice layout. Good shape. Could use a little TLC. Greens were nice. Not fast but good for Fla this time of year.

Cart girl had no food just drinks and snack. Halfway house was closed.

Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser

I was really disappointed the courses and everything around it just seem so dated to me, tired and old

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
First Time Playing

Does not worth the price

Booked for a single at almos $100, next day same TT $56. Greens are not optimal for serious golfers.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Challenging

Amazing layout. Super fun. Will play again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Great layout

Really enjoyed this course. Layout was scenic with just the right mix of challenging and fun. Especially after Ian, course was surprisingly very dry, with no cart restrictions. I would have given it 5 stars except for several factors. Many of the greens were under repair and in spots had weeds. Aside from this, the actual greens rolled true with just the right amount of speed. Lack of a regular beverage cart service. I missed the cart on the 4th hole, and never saw it again. Warm day, and 18 holes with no water is tough. Layout is a little confusing. Got lost a couple times on the course finding the next hole, the driving range is not easily located and requires taking a golf cart on main roads. Parking is confusing and you can't actually drive to the bag drop. Your best option is use the free valet service and let them shuttle you and your clubs to the drop. Even with these short comings, I will definitely play the course again, next time I visit Tampa.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 22
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Previously Played

What happened?!

Had family in from out of town and couldn’t decide which amazing course to play. Never in six trips have I had a bad experience playing Saddlebrook so took my Dad there. Starter couldn’t keep up so theyre were four other groups on number one tee. Tee time 0830, didn’t tee off til 0900 am. Cart staff loaded clubs but left my cigar box and cooler full of water behind. Valet and cart girl were great as well as course conditions. BUT the overbooking and or starter’s incompetence really left a bad vibe over the entire round. Delays happen, but doing half the job or sending an on time group out 30 minutes late is unacceptable. Also 8 bucks for a beer is ridiculous!!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 28
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Keeper

Course is always in prime shape whenever I've played there. Friendly and courteous staff

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 28
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

4th time playing here & easily sits in my top 2 (out of 15 courses I've played here in Tampa area). T's can use some work, outside of that, very nice course!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 8
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice Layout

Enjoyed playing there. Staff was friendly. Greens putted extremely well. Great Palmer layout. The course was saturated but still playable. Would definitely come back!

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Very Pleased with Saddlebrook

Thoroughly enjoyed this round of golf. The Palmer course was restricted to a 90 degree rule with carts but the conditions were barely noticeable. There was no standing water anywhere. Some soft spots but if you paid attention and respected where you were driving, there was no damage from tire marks. The greens were lightly top-dressed and fertilized but had no effect on any putts, short or long, breaking or straight. Overall the course was well worth the cost of the green fees, staff from the front gate to the golf shop, on course maintenance, outside operations, and valet services were nothing short of courteous, professional and outstanding. I will be going back.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Saddlebrook Palmer

Terrific layout. Conditions were very good considering it’s the rainy season. Extremely challenging yet fair. Will return often.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 63
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Great fun!

Played with two of my Sunday group. The other 7 backed out due to recent rains and possible new showers. MEOW.... We had sunshine and a light breeze all day, The course was damp in some low spots and 3 bunkers had standing water. The rest of the course was great. Greens rolled true. Sand in bunkers was fluffy. It was great. The staff were terrific in every way. The Ranger and Cart Girl were the stars of the show. Lift clean and place and cart path only were the rule of the day. Our round, On a Sunday, was 3.5 hours. Started at 0900, ended at 1230. Amazing speed for weekend golf around here. Will play this again ,soon. My buddies missed a great round due to the Meow factor.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 45
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather

What can I say PERFACT

This was a lot of fun playing hard but fun .The staff went all out for everyone that played ,

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Needs Serious Work

You pay for 18 but can only play 15. First hole the green isn't usable. They just cut a hole and stuck a flag in the middle of the fairway. Come to find out there are multiple holes like this. Greens have giant spots missing grass. Felt like I was putting on carpet because the greens haven't been mowed in quite some time. Back 9 was in a little better shape than front.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Fairly Easy
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