Saddlebrook Resort

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.

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!!!

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

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!

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

Run short course.

Needs better grass mowing and trimming.

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...

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

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