PALM HARBOR, FL., – Innisbrook, a Salamander Resort, has re-opened its popular South Course after a six-month renovation of the putting surfaces on all 18 greens.

One of four championship layouts at the Tampa Bay area resort, the South Course officially celebrated its milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the first tee. 

The renovation honored the original design of Course Architect Larry Packard and began in early summer. Using a no-till method of turf replacement, the work has resulted in a firmer, more consistent playing surface. The greens were planted with TifEagle Bermuda Grass – the same exceptional putting surface the PGA TOUR professionals rave about annually during the Valspar Championship on Innisbrook’s famed Copperhead Course.

“We couldn’t be more excited to stand here today, knowing we now offer four courses with the same top-tier putting experience that is preferred by the amazing players we watch all season long on the PGA TOUR,” said Innisbrook’s Managing Director Mike Williams. Last year we completed this same renovation on the North Course with great success. Now, with the completion of the South Course greens, golfers will enjoy a consistent putting surface on all 72 holes of golf at the resort. These improvements further underscore the investment and commitment to excellence we have from Owner Sheila Johnson and Salamander Hotels & Resorts.”

The renovation project also included conditioning of the bunkers, general maintenance, clearing of all storm canals, and trimming and pruning to reduce shading. Sizes of some greens were also expanded where shrinkage had occurred over the years, now allowing for additional pin placements. Innisbrook Resort is also in the process of completing an extensive room remodeling project that includes all guest rooms and suites, and which is expected to finish in early 2019. 

Innisbrook is part of the Salamander Golf Collection, which also includes Reunion Resort in Orlando and Hammock Beach near Palm Coast, FL. Collectively, the powerful trio of resorts offer nine golf courses stretching from the Gulf to the Atlantic.

Innisbrook is located at 36750 U.S. Highway 19 North, Palm Harbor, FL 34684. For more information, visit www.VisitInnisbrook.com or call (727) 942-2000.

About Innisbrook, a Salamander Golf & Spa Resort

Operated by Salamander Hotels & Resorts and owned by Sheila C. Johnson, Innisbrook is situated on 900 wooded acres of rolling hills in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area on Florida’s Gulf Coast, and is located just 30 minutes from Tampa International Airport. The resort features 72 holes of championship golf, spacious guest suites and rooms, four restaurants and three bars, the Innisbrook Golf Institute, 11 tennis courts, the luxury Salamander Spa with 12 treatment rooms and state-of-the-art Fitness Center, six heated swimming pool complexes, a nature preserve, and three conference halls with 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space. Part of Salamander’s Golf Collection, Innisbrook hosts the annual Valspar Championship at its famed Copperhead Course. For additional information call 727.942.2000 or visit www.innisbrookgolfresort.com.

About Salamander Hotels & Resorts

Salamander Hotels & Resorts is a privately owned and operated company based in Middleburg, VA, just outside Washington, D.C. Founded by entrepreneur Sheila Johnson in 2005, the company has a luxury portfolio featuring two distinct collections. The Signature Collection includes the stunning Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, a 340-acre equestrian-inspired property near Washington, D.C.; The Henderson, a 170-room grand beach resort in Destin, FL; and Hotel Bennett, a 179-room luxury hotel in Charleston, SC, opening soon. The Golf Collection includes the famed Innisbrook Resort in Tampa Bay, which hosts an annual PGA TOUR on its Copperhead Course; the elegant Reunion Resort in Orlando, which includes Signature Course designs from Nicklaus, Palmer and Watson; and the recently renovated oceanfront Hammock Beach Resort near St. Augustine, FL, home to layouts by Nicklaus and Watson. All Salamander properties are members of Preferred Hotels & Resorts. For additional information, visit www.SalamanderHotels.com or call 540-687-3710.