Series of enhancements to be made to Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course
A series of enhancements will be made to the Copperhead Course at the Innisbrook Golf Resort near Tampa, Florida.
Work will get underway this May and will take approximately six months to complete.
The late Larry Packard, who passed away last year aged 101, originally designed the course.
The course’s fairways and rough will be replaced, and each green will be rebuilt. The bunkering will also be reshaped to stay true to Packard’s original design.
“Our vision is to respect and protect the vision of Larry Packard and his signature design, and continue to elevate the golf experience for our guests, members, partners and playing professionals,” said Sheila C. Johnson, founder and CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, and owner of Innisbrook. “Our exciting restoration will accomplish this goal in an environmentally sensitive fashion and help maintain Innisbrook’s reputation as one of America’s top golf destinations for years to come.”
The Copperhead Course has hosted a professional golf tournament every year for 25 years, and recently hosted the 2015 Valspar Championship, which was won by Jordan Spieth.
Packard lived at Innisbrook for 40 years, and designed the other three courses at the resort – the Island, North and South courses.
Wadsworth Golf Construction Company will oversee the work, with the firm returning to a course it originally helped construct back in the 1970s.
The greens will be rebuilt to United States Golf Association specifications with TifEagle Bermudagrass, and many will be restored to their original size to allow for additional pin placements.
The course’s tee boxes will be rebuilt and laser leveled, and several will be expanded. A new irrigation system will also be installed and is expected to save the club 11 million gallons of water each year.
“The Copperhead Course is a jewel on the schedule and this restoration will only enhance its standing among our players,” said Andy Pazder, executive vice president and chief of operations for the PGA Tour.