Innisbrook Copperhead
The Copperhead at Innisbrook Resort near Tampa is the rare Florida course with genuine elevation and pine framed fairways, and it hosts the PGA Tour's Valspar Championship every spring. A 1972 Larry Packard design playing as a par 71 of about 7,352 yards, it is fully open to resort guests and is one of the most enjoyable championship tests a visitor can book in the state.
Photo via Google, contributed by GP.
The verdict
Copperhead does not feel like Florida, and that is the point. Larry Packard routed it across rolling, sandy terrain north of Tampa with real changes in elevation and corridors of pine and oak, so the eye sees movement and shape that the state's flatter resort courses cannot offer. Opened in 1972, it has matured into a serious tournament course that the PGA Tour visits each spring for the Valspar Championship.
Our verdict: Copperhead is the best championship round most visitors can actually book in Florida, a fair but demanding par 71 with a famous finish and resort conditioning to match. As the centerpiece of the Innisbrook resort it slots cleanly into a Gulf coast trip, and it pairs well with the marquee names elsewhere in the state. For the wider region, see our guide to golf in Florida and the best courses in Florida.
Innisbrook Copperhead Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1972
- Designer
- Larry Packard
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 7,352 yds
- Host
- Valspar Championship
- Access
- Resort, public
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Innisbrook and PGA Tour records: a Larry Packard design that opened in 1972, playing as a par 71 of about 7,352 yards and hosting the Valspar Championship. Copperhead is a resort course open to Innisbrook guests and visitors; green fees are seasonal and often bundled into resort packages, so they are indicative for 2026 high season and you should always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Copperhead asks for driving that respects the tree lines and approach play that holds firm, sloping greens. The terrain does much of the work, with tee shots that climb and fall and doglegs that punish the wrong angle, so a visitor who plots a way around is rewarded far more than one who simply swings hard.
The closing three holes are known as the Snake Pit, and they decide the Valspar most years. The par 4 16th bends along water and trees, the par 3 17th is an exacting one shotter, and the long par 4 18th plays uphill to a green that has settled many a Sunday. Playing that stretch with the resort in firm spring condition is the heart of a Copperhead day.
On a Gulf coast and central Florida trip the Copperhead pairs with the Orlando championship of Bay Hill and the First Coast Pete Dye test at TPC Sawgrass Dye's Valley, giving a group three Tour caliber courses in a single week.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort course open to Innisbrook guests and visitors, often as part of a stay and play package |
| Green fee | Seasonal resort rate, frequently bundled with lodging; indicative for 2026 high season, always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking window | Reserve through Innisbrook Resort; book early for the spring Valspar season and peak winter months |
| Handicap and dress | No formal handicap requirement; a standard resort dress code applies |
| Getting there | In Palm Harbor, about 35 minutes northwest of Tampa International Airport |
| Best months | Fall through spring are ideal on the Gulf coast; summers are hot and stormy |
Access and fee details verified June 2026 from Innisbrook information. Resort green fees are seasonal and change with packages and demand; treat all figures as indicative for 2026 high season and always confirm directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is Innisbrook Resort itself, the on site property that packages stays with rounds on the Copperhead and the resort's other courses. Staying there is the simplest way to secure prime Copperhead tee times and to play the whole complex.
Nearby Palm Harbor, Clearwater and Tampa add a wide range of beach resorts and hotels within a short drive, with the Gulf beaches close at hand for a trip that mixes golf with the coast.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Palm Harbor.
Build a Florida golf trip
Copperhead is the bookable championship round we love to anchor a Gulf coast trip on, with a stay at Innisbrook and the tee times handled. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Innisbrook Copperhead Course questions
Who designed the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook?
Copperhead is a Larry Packard design that opened in 1972, routed across rolling, pine framed terrain north of Tampa.
What is the par and length of the Copperhead Course?
Copperhead plays as a par 71 of about 7,352 yards, a demanding but fair championship test with real elevation for Florida.
Can the public play the Copperhead Course?
Yes. Copperhead is a resort course open to Innisbrook guests and visitors, most easily booked as part of a stay and play package.
What tournament does the Copperhead Course host?
Copperhead hosts the PGA Tour's Valspar Championship each spring, decided most years on the closing three holes known as the Snake Pit.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par, yardage and tournament host verified June 2026; resort green fees are seasonal and bundled into packages, so confirm directly before booking. Last reviewed June 2026.