Course Review: Cliff Stephens Park
If you are a resident of the Tampa area, chances are you have played the Cliff Stephens disc golf course. If you have not, you are missing out! I had the privelage to play it a few times this past week, and it has very quickly become one of my favorite courses. And believe me, I’ve played quite a few.
The course is very well kept, and obviously is maintained quite well. Professional tees challenge those with big arms, and amateur tees are friendly to those new to the sport. You will need every driver in your bag to be successful here!
The front nine plays on one side of the road, and only flirts with water a few times. The labeled pars are fairly accurate, only questioning a few par 4s that perhaps could have been 3s.
I believe the back nine is where this course really shines. Gorgeous shots over the water, and very challenging holes. If you can manage a birdie on a few holes on the back nine, they will be some of the most gratifying birdies you’ve thrown.
Pros:
-Beautiful Florida landscape
-Bird and animal life
-Challenging water hazards
-Fair professional tees
-Long holes where you can really rip it, and shorter holes to test your midrange.
Cons:
-Not a whole lot of elevation change
-27 hours driving from where I live!
Signature Holes:
-#10 A 350ft drive right over a huge pond. Huge birdie potential here!
-#16 A 450 - 500ft shot over an even bigger pond! Birdie this hole, and you’re doing something right.
Conclusion:
If you are able to get out and play this beautiful course, then by all means do it. It has the potential to be one of the best outings you’ve ever had. Oh, and did I mention that Clearwater Disc Golf Store, the largest disc golf store in the Country is ten minutes away? And there is always the chance that you’ll get to play with one of the best players in the game today, Ken Climo.
Final Rating:
4/5
