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Jeff Zito

Tampa Bay’s Top 5 Golf Courses

Author Zito

Now that college football season is over and the NFL is winding down, your weekends just got a lot less busy.  Not a bad time to start playing some golf.  Let’s face it, if you live in the Bay area and you don’t play golf, you aren’t taking full advantage of the area’s amenities.  Not only is the weather perfect for golf in the winter, but Florida is also home to some of the best golf courses in the country. Plus, the Tampa Bay area has some of Florida’s finest tracks.

Just an FYI, these courses are all private, so don’t expect to get a tee time in the near future. If you want to become a member at some of these courses, you have to be invited.  If anyone reading this happens to belong to one of these fine establishments and needs a 4th, hit me up at [email protected].  I play fast and I’m a 10 handicap.

  1. Avila Golf and Country Club- Designed by Jack Nicklaus and located in Tampa. Avila is one of America’s most exclusive and beautiful country clubs.
  2. Old Memorial Golf Club- The Tampa course is ranked 16th best in Florida by Golf Digest. It doesn’t allow golf carts so you need to walk with the help of a caddie.
  3. Pelican Golf Club– Located in Bellaire, hosted “The Match”, nationally televised on ESPN. Some competitors include Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy took on Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas.
  4. Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club– Founded in 1916, one of Tampa’s premier courses. Since 1956 Palma Ceia has played host to the Gasparilla Invitational, one of the most prestigious national amateur golf tournaments in the country.
  5. Bellaire Country Club– A historical landmark, perched on one of the highest points of Clearwater Bay. Belleair Country Club proclaims the first golf course in Florida. Donald Ross, the world-renowned golf course architect, designed both 18-hole courses.

Jeff Zito or just "Zito" as he is known to his friends, was born in Summit, NJ. Zito is the afternoon personality and program director of 987 the Shark. He has been with Beasley Media Group since 1999. Zito aspired to be a professional golfer and attended Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI majoring in PGM (pro golf management). Yes, that is a real major! After college, Zito was an assistant golf professional at the Meadows Country Club in Sarasota. Zito is an avid Bucs fan who likes to paddle board and can sometimes be spotted around the Bay area drinking a margarita. You can read his content about Tampa Bay sports, lifestyle, and celebrities’ first jobs.

Tampa: 3 Things To Know About Birdie Club Indoor Golf

Starting today, you can officially begin making reservations at the Birdie Club. The premier indoor golf facility in Tampa will open its doors on Thursday (August 31), and here we will look at three additional things to know.

“The Birdie Club is South Tampa’s first indoor golf lounge, offering three Trackman simulators and a place for all lovers of the game to practice in the comfort of air conditioning,” That’s So Tampa says.

The address of Birdie Club is 3409 S. Dale Mabry Highway in South Tampa. They will be open seven days per week. Monday through Thursday from 10 am – 10 pm. Friday and Saturday, get an extra hour at 10 am – 11 pm. Finally, Sunday will be the day with the least availability, opening at 10 am and closing at 6 pm. The club is all-ages but does require that a waiver be signed by a legal guardian for anyone under 18 years old.

Golf But Cooler

On Birdie Club’s social media pages, they have been teasing the slogan, “Golf, but cool(er).” This is a creative nod to the game being played indoors with air conditioning and their clever logo design. It appears from their posts promoting the grand opening that swag and merchandise items sporting the Birde Club logo will be part of their mission to spread the word.

The Birdie Club has been in the works for a few years now. In fact, they first created their social media pages back in 2021. Then, in April of 2023, they started to build the excitement that the club was opening soon. Videos explaining the technology, in addition to photos that gave viewers a behind-the-scenes peek at the construction began to be shared. Finally, by May, details around the membership offering format began to emerge.

Ready Set Swing

The first indoor golf lounge in Tampa will be available to book for private events as well. To further build the anticipation of this premier space, let’s take a look at three important facts to know.

  • There Are 171 Virtual Courses

    The space contains three Trackman simulators and a 280-square-foot putting green. They recommend having no more than four players per bay. “Prices will range from $35/hour during non-peak hours and $50/hour during peak hours. “We believe golf should be easily accessible to all, along with access to the latest technology and analytics, “The Birdie Club states.

     

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    A post shared by Birdie Club (@birdieclubtampa)

  • Becoming A Member

    You can actually call the Birdie Club, “your club.” There are two options to join. You can pay a monthly fee of $150, or you can pay an annual fee of $1,500. Both membership options provide the benefits of five simulator hours per month, discounted additional hourly rates for both peak hours and non-peak hours, and special pricing on merchandise and concessions.

     

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    A post shared by Birdie Club (@birdieclubtampa)

  • There Will Be Drinks (And Clubs)

    The Birdie Club will have beer, wine, hard seltzers, and soft drinks available to purchase onsite. Currently, the do not sell food, but will have plenty of recommendations to offer regarding restaurants in their South Tampa area. You can bring your own golf clubs, but if you prefer to use theirs, or are in need, there will be clubs available to use at no cost, including children’s and left-handed sets.

     

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    A post shared by Birdie Club (@birdieclubtampa)

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