Innisbrook Copperhead Course
On rolling, pine clad ground near Tampa, the Copperhead Course breaks every Florida stereotype. Larry Packard routed it over genuine elevation change through towering pines, and since 2000 it has hosted the PGA Tour's Valspar Championship, with its three hole closing stretch, the Snake Pit, among the most feared finishes on tour. This is championship golf in a state better known for flat resort tracks.
Photo: Innisbrook via Google.
The verdict
Copperhead is the course that proves Florida can do drama. Larry Packard found rare elevation change in the rolling terrain north of Tampa and laced the holes through corridors of towering pine, producing a layout with movement, shot variety and a genuine sense of place. The PGA Tour has visited every year since 2000 for the Valspar Championship, and the closing three holes, known as the Snake Pit, regularly decide the title and torment the field.
For the travelling golfer it is the headline round of a Tampa golf trip and a chance to test yourself on a current tour venue. Innisbrook is a sprawling resort with four courses, lodging and practice facilities, so you can play Copperhead alongside its siblings without leaving the property, then branch out to Orlando's wealth of golf an easy drive east. It is accessible, championship caliber and a refreshing change from the flat Florida norm.
Innisbrook Copperhead Course at a glance
- Designer
- Larry Packard
- Host
- Valspar Championship, since 2000
- Type
- Pine lined parkland
- Par
- 72 resort, 71 tournament
- Yardage
- approx 7,352 yds
- Green fee
- Around 85 to 115 dollars
Designer, layout, par and length verified June 2026: the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort was designed by Larry Packard and plays around 7,352 yards, par 72 for resort play and par 71 for the PGA Tour's Valspar Championship, which it has hosted every year since 2000. Indicative 2026 green fees on resort stay and play packages run roughly 85 dollars midweek to 115 dollars at weekends as an upgrade, varying by season. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Copperhead plays bigger and bolder than its Florida address suggests. The rolling terrain gives Packard's routing real elevation change, and the holes run through tight corridors of mature pine, so accuracy off the tee is at a premium and the round demands a full bag of shots. At around 7,352 yards it has the length to test tour professionals, yet it stays fair and rewarding from the forward tees for the resort player.
The finish is the signature. The Snake Pit, the closing three holes, is one of the most respected stretches on the PGA Tour, a run of demanding par 4s and a long, exacting par 3 that has swung the Valspar Championship many times. Standing on the sixteenth tee with a card to protect, you feel exactly why the tour pros approach this finish with caution.
Beyond the closing holes the variety holds up throughout, with doglegs that ask you to shape the ball both ways, well bunkered greens and a routing that never lets you settle. Add the resort conditioning and the pine framed setting and Copperhead delivers a championship experience that anchors a Florida golf week.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort course at Innisbrook, played mainly through stay and play packages, with the Copperhead an upgrade option |
| Green fee | Roughly 85 dollars midweek to 115 dollars at weekends as a Copperhead upgrade on resort packages, varying by season (2026, indicative) |
| Booking | Book ahead in the winter and spring high season; staying at the resort is the standard route to a Copperhead tee time |
| On the day | Carts are standard; the resort has four courses, an extensive practice facility, lodging and dining on site |
| Getting there | In Palm Harbor, around 30 minutes northwest of Tampa and Tampa International airport |
| Best months | Late autumn through spring for the most comfortable golf, with the Valspar Championship played in the spring |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026; rates change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking with Innisbrook Resort or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is Innisbrook Resort itself, a sprawling property with lodges set among the four courses, so you can stay on site and walk to the practice ground, with Copperhead and its siblings a short shuttle away. The stay and play packages are the standard way to secure a Copperhead round and bundle the golf with lodging and dining.
For a wider trip, Tampa and the Gulf beaches at Clearwater and St Pete are close by for the off course days, and Orlando's deep roster of championship golf is an easy drive east. A base at Innisbrook puts a full Florida golf week, resort and city alike, within comfortable reach.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts at Innisbrook and around Tampa and Orlando.
Plan a Florida golf trip around Copperhead
We build the Tampa week around Innisbrook's Copperhead, add the resort's sister courses and the best of Orlando, and sort a base with stay and play golf. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Innisbrook Copperhead Course questions
Who designed the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook?
The Copperhead Course was designed by Larry Packard. It plays over rolling, pine lined terrain near Tampa that gives it more elevation change and movement than a typical Florida course.
What is the par and yardage of Copperhead?
Copperhead plays around 7,352 yards. It is par 72 for resort play and par 71 for the PGA Tour's Valspar Championship, with five sets of tees so it suits both tour professionals and resort golfers.
How much does it cost to play Copperhead?
Copperhead is played mainly through Innisbrook stay and play packages, where it is an upgrade option running roughly 85 dollars midweek to 115 dollars at weekends, varying by season. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
What is the Snake Pit at Copperhead?
The Snake Pit is the name for Copperhead's closing three holes, one of the most respected finishes on the PGA Tour. The demanding run of par 4s and a long par 3 has decided the Valspar Championship many times.
Has Copperhead hosted the PGA Tour?
Yes. The Copperhead Course has hosted the PGA Tour's Valspar Championship every year since the tournament began in 2000, making it a current and well known tour venue.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, layout, par and length verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.