Palmer at Saddlebrook Golf & Tennis Resort: #5
A view of green #5 at Palmer from Saddlebrook Golf & Tennis Resort.
GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
3.8
1626 Reviews (1626)
5 Stars
680
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
77.1%
Recommend this course
1352 out of 1626 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.8
28 Reviews (28)
5 Stars
8
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
78.6%
Recommend this course
22 out of 28 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.8
55 Reviews (55)
5 Stars
18
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
76.4%
Recommend this course
42 out of 55 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
Powered by GolfNow.com

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
The Best Way To Book Is With GolfPass+
waivedfees
10 rounds of waived fees
golf ball.svg
$120 in tee time credits
teetime protection.svg
Tee Time Protection
redeemtrophy
Redeem GolfPass points

Reviews

3.8
1626 Reviews (1626)

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

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
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
Played On
Reviews 16
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

On course bathrooms are not cleaned and attended to enough. Dirty and no toilet paper.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

I'd play it again

Run short course.

Needs better grass mowing and trimming.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Keep a Close Eye on your Belongings

Overview: Green fee cost was good. The valet staff and the guys in the clubhouse were friendly. The course was in decent shape--75% of the holes were in really good shape. But it's critical that you keep an eye on your belongings.

Pros: Great rate for a decent, albeit dated resort course (look at all of the facilities and you'll suddenly feel like your back in the late 1970s).

Cons: The drink cart that they said would be on the course never once came by us.... Getting a ride from a valet to the clubhouse is a delay (and a tip expense) you should plan for... Getting a hold of anyone at this resort through their phone system is really a pain and they don't return phone messages.

Really Big Con: My laser rangefinder was magnetically attached to the golf cart. It was there when we finished our round (we used it on the last hole). I ran inside the clubhouse as we finished our round and when I came out someone else had taken my clubs off of the cart and loaded them onto the valet cart for the ride to our car. Unfortunately, they didn't grab my rangefinder and I didn't notice. When I noticed it was missing the next day, it took forever to get through to someone who made an attempt to go look for my rangefinder. He didn't find it and transferred me to security so I could file a lost and found report. What bothers me is there's no way anyone but an employee of Saddlebrook could've "found" the rangefinder. The cart was in their hands from the moment we got back to the clubhouse until we left and there weren't any other people around. So I'm out an additional $250 thanks to no one being able to "find" it. I'm sure I'll see it on EBay if I keep an eye out there, though...

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Saddlebrook course

Some of the fairways were just dirt. Some of the greens not very good. 4 were temporary. Should have lowered the cost $20.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 46
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

My favorite course in Tampa

The course has the look and feel of an Arnie golf course. Playable, fair and a lot of fun.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 10
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Love the course and staff but the conditions were awful and undisclosed

3 temporary greens an average of 50 yards prior to the greens under repair. I would not have played it had that been the case. The temporary greens were cut out of fairway and about 10 yards wide. That said, staff are friendly and the course design is solid under normal conditions.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 36
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Good price and good condition

Some debris from a storm earlier in the week in some of the fairways but nothing really effecting play. Good time.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 82
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Super Great day Except For The Heat

I actually booked the Saddlebrook course because I had not played it yet but the pro shop advised me to play the palmer course again because there were 3 temp greens on the Saddlebrook. Nice of them to advise me and I will go back TO PLAY THE SADDLEBROOK in the future. Everybody is always nice at this beautiful resort and conditions are always perfect. Play it while the prices are low. It is the same course in the winter !!!.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 58
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Value & Enjoyable Layout

Incredible value for a Saturday morning at just $35. However, this was due to 3 temporary greens which is understandable. Course conditions were great but not quite impeccable. Only real downside was trying to get food and beverages at the turn. It was a slow week at the resort but it was difficult the flag down an employee for bar service. Overall a good experience at a great price.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

So much has changed.

Recently played Saddlebrook, the Saddle side and was unusually disappointed. I remember pre covid playing at it- was a luxury (no outside beverages, valet, plush greens and landscaping, truly a nice course considering) played yesterday 8-13 and will probably not be back for some time. The overall scenery just wasn’t what I remembered. Apparently there is a new owner…and in my opinion, there needs to be another new owner. Greens were not great, grass was half dead, landscaping looked like it hadn’t been touched in months. 3 holes that I can remember there was a flag posted in the middle of the fairway with grass trimmed way down to mimic a green with a hole in the middle, I was SHOCKED. If a green is under repair that’s one thing, this looked like it was the new norm for some previous months and you had to somehow maintain your score while putting on fairway grass. Bunkers were weeded, tee boxes had seen better days. In my best overall conclusion it looked as if it was headed for a course that you rough up and learn to play on, not one you go to when your game is top notch like it used to be. I wouldn’t pay over $30 to go there again.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Temporary greens were disappointing

There were 3 temporary greens that we had to play- which essentially made the short game on those holes useless. Rest of course was in great shape- looking forward to coming back soon!

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 47
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

4.5 stars, Will be back

Living in this area I don’t know how I never played this course but I will be back to make up for it

Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice place

Great value but a little wet but very well maintained. My wife and I played and other than a couple singles that had to play through us it was good.

I would go back.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Default User Avatar
Anonymous
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Disappointed

First time here and will never play here again. Impossible trying to find the course inside the resort, no signs anywhere. You leave your clubs at resort entrance and walk 10 minutes through pool area to get to the clubhouse, it was bizarre. Get there early, you will need the extra time. The course was a mess, it looked like the grass wasn’t cut for a month then they mowed it. Clumps of grass clippings everywhere. Tee boxes and greens are totally neglected. The course has a nice layout but needs some TLC. Green fees were not expensive and the staff was great, but this was my first and last visit.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Request A Vacation Quote From Saddlebrook Resort
Please provide your information below and a staff member at Saddlebrook Resort will be in contact to help you start planning your travel.
Nearby Courses
Wesley Chapel, Florida
Resort
3.8254593038
1625
Wesley Chapel, Florida
Resort
3.8254593038
1625
Wesley Chapel, Florida
Public
4.1322252962
1191
San Antonio, Florida
Public
4.5341736695
193
Zephyrhills, Florida
Semi-Private
3.4623422651
1723
Zephyrhills, Florida
Public
3.3466167406
575
Tampa, Florida
Semi-Private
4.3913513106
1875
Tampa, Florida
Private
4.0
3
Land O Lakes, Florida
Public
4.1543856345
923
Zephyrhills, Florida
Semi-Private
4.0493432396
1263
Zephyrhills, Florida
Private
0.0
0
Golf Packages

The Copperhead Cup Package

Click Below
PALM HARBOR, FL | Feel the thrill of a true PGA TOUR experience in our Inaugural Copperhead Cup, playing the famed Copperhead Course, home of the PGA TOUR's Valspar Championship, just two weeks before the pros take the stage. Be part of a world-class tournament with two unforgettable rounds of competition on this prestigious championship course favored by the pros.

Innisbrook Golf Resort Stay & Play Package

FROM $237 (USD)
PALM HARBOR, FL | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at Innisbrook Golf Resort and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Innisbrook – Copperhead Course, Innisbrook – Island Course, and Innisbrook – South Course.

Encore Resort At Reunion Stay & Play Package

FROM $187 (USD)
REUNION, FL | Enjoy up to 7 nights’ accommodations at the Encore Resort at Reunion and up to 5 rounds of golf at your choice of ChampionsGate - International Course, ChampionsGate - National Course, Hawk's Landing Golf Course, Celebration Golf Course, and Southern Dunes Golf Course.

Orlando Member for a Day Golf Package

FROM $147 (USD)
ORLANDO, FL | Enjoy 2 nights' accommodation at Tuscana Resort Orlando and 3 rounds of golf at Bella Collina Country Club, Southern Dunes Golf and Country Club and The Country Club of Winterhaven.

Best of Disney Golf Package

FROM $107 (USD)
ORLANDO, FL | Enjoy 2 nights' accommodation at Tuscana Resort Orlando and 3 rounds of golf at Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course, Palm Golf Course and Lake Buena Vista Golf Course.
Now Reading
  • Home

  • Memberships

  • Library

  • Account