With its unusual elevation changes, the natural setting of the Copperhead course will probably remind you of a Carolina layout rather than Florida's West Coast. The Copperhead, of course, is ranked in "America's Top Resort Courses" by Golf Digest and No. 4 in the state by Travel & Leisure Golf's Florida's 50 Finest.

From the tournament tees Copperhead presents a stern test of golf. At  7,300+ yards, this par-71 layout is designed to challenge the players of all ability levels. The Copperhead Practice Facility is located adjacent to the first hole and is complimentary to those with a tee time on the course. 

"The course is a daunting layout," says Chris Card, Director of Golf.  "Larry Packard put together a stunning design...he combines  narrow, tree-lined fairways with elevation change and very firm, fast greens. It's absolutely breath-taking from tee to green."

The course opens with a par-5 (560 yards from the back tees and 450 from the forward) that is a sweeping dogleg right with a tee box perched some 50 feet above the fairway. The placement of the second shot must be accurate to set up a birdie chance here.

One of the favorite holes here is the par-5 No. 5 (605 yards from the back tees and 465 from the forward). This is a hole that's challenging from tee to green. You'll be happy to walk away with a par on this hole. "It has a huge uphill elevation change from the tee to the landing area," says Tony Arielly, our director of group sales. "Then about 200 yards out from the green, it starts to drop dramatically back down. You have a blind shot for your second shot going over the hill. Then the green slopes away from you as you make your approach shot." Despite the difficulties, this is one of our most-photographed holes.

No. 14, a par-5 that measures 570 yards from the back tees and 510 from the forward, is another of Lawrence Packard's famous double doglegs - one that goes right, left and then right to the green. It's definitely a risk-reward par-5. "If you can carry water on the right and avoid a massive bunker on the left, you may get a birdie," says Arielly. "You don't want to make a mistake on your second shot. There's a two-tiered green so if you're short, your ball could roll back down off the green. If you're long, it could roll the other way."

The varying terrain, coupled with a variety of tee placements, can challenge both the professional player as well as the weekend golfer. The course has been a regional qualifier for the U.S. Open and is remembered as well for the NCAA championship that Phil Mickelson won here in 1990. 

One of Innisbrook's four championship courses, the Island Course, was the first to open for play in December of 1970. There are 18 truly unique holes here. "This is a long par-72 course with water in play on at least half the holes," says Brock Nicholas. 

The Island offers enchanting, picture-postcard scenery. "You'll find tall pines draped with Spanish moss," Nicholas says, "and lots of serene views. I love the Island Course. It's tighter off the tees and just as tough as the Copperhead. You need to be straight here."

The Island's first six holes are dominated by lateral water hazards and fairly level terrain which require pinpoint accuracy on both tee shots and approaches. The middle six holes feature rolling hills dominated by cypress and pine trees. The final third of this course boasts a mixture of holes designed to reward the bold yet penalize the errant golf shot. The golf course winds down to a finishing hole that will test the nerves of even the most steady player. 

Your first hole is a par-4 (372 yards from the back tees and 322 from the forward). It's dogleg right with a well-protected green. Water runs along the right side of the hole and there are bunkers on both sides of the green. But this opening hole is a birdie opportunity.

The signature hole on this course is No. 7, a par-5 dogleg-left that plays at 565 yards from the back tees and 467 from the forward. This could be the most treacherous test you'll face on the Island. "This is a very tight driving hole," says Nicholas, "with water and trees on the right. The second shot is tight as well with a lake on the right."

Keep in mind on No. 7 that from the fairway to the green, the ground rises uphill about 60 feet. There's a green here that's well-protected with multiple-lobed bunkers.

The No. 9 hole on the Island Course is another toughie. "It's a par-4 that plays 415 yards from the back tees (329 yards from the forward). It's a dogleg left, but it's easy here to run through the fairway and into the woods if you're too daring off the tee," says Tony Arielly.

Your approach shot on No. 9 requires a shot over water to a green that's surrounded by bunkers.

The finishing hole on this course is very similar to No. 9 in its layout. It's also one of the most photographed holes in the state of Florida if not in the nation. "It's a narrow dogleg-left par-4 (370 yards from the back and 290 from the forward tees) with trees on the right side and lots of water on the left," says Arielly. "There's also water in front of the green. You need to use a fairway wood or a long iron off the tee to try to hit around the corner. It's a make-or-break hole." On this hole the green also slopes toward the water.

This course is almost a links style, says Tony Arielly, both in its set-up and the way it plays with its fairway bunkers and rolling terrain. 

You'll get off to a moderately easy start with a straightaway par-4 that plays at 335 yards from the back tees and 250 from the forward. You do have to avoid a large bunker on the left and trees on the right.

There's a great par-3 on the third hole that measures 180 yards from the back tees and 100 from the front. This hole has a very narrow green that measures about 40 feet at its deepest point. There's plenty of water in front of the green. Accuracy and distance control is very important here. "If you're short, you'll end up in the water. If you're long, you'll be in the back bunker," says Arielly.

The No. 9 hole on this course is also a challenging par-3 that plays at 210 yards from the back tees and 160 yards from the forward. It's not a true island green, but it's surrounded on three sides by water on the sides and in the back. It's a peninsula surrounded by bulkheads. You have to hit a very straight shot to this large, two-tiered green that slopes back to front.

This hole is definitely affected by the wind in front of you or behind you. It's all carry here, although short of the green is a lay-up area.

Our No. 13 hole on the Highlands South is the longest par-5 in the state of Florida. The back tees are placed at 630 yards; the forward at 450. The back tees are only for the strong-willed player on this double dogleg. The difficulty here is mostly in the length and in the moguls that will bump your ball up and down the fairway. A nest of fairway bunkers guard the approach area on your second shot. There's not a flat lie anywhere. "It's a long shot into the green on your third shot," says Arielly. 

No. 18 is a picturesque par-3 finishing hole (185 yards from the back tees and 150 from the forward) that requires a medium to long iron shot over water to a deep green.

Also designed by Lawrence Packard, the Highlands North at Westin Innisbrook is similar in terrain to the Copperhead Course, but not in length. Rolling fairways and water throughout make club selection your most important strategy on this course. About 6,600 yards from the back tees, this course is known for its long par-3s and small greens. Ball placement becomes critical. 

Although it's our shortest course, it's one of our most challenging. In fact, 11 of the 18 holes here have water on them. The other seven have narrow fairways with lots of trees and bunkers.

The signature hole here, says Brock Nicholas, is No. 3, a 470-yard par-4 that is a tight driving hole (345 yards from the front). "It's straightaway, but there's water on the right and left and rough farther down on the right. Then you have a long carry to a partial island green." You will need a long and accurate drive to get started on this hole.

One of the most scenic holes here is No. 5, a dogleg-right par-4 (410 yards from the back tees and 300 from the forward) that curves around the water. Your second shot has to take you onto an island green. "Whenever you say the words 'island green,' it puts fear into the heart of golfers," says Arielly. "On top of it all, you can't see the island green from the tee because this is a pretty sharp dogleg. You have to hit down a chute of trees off the tee. If you go too far right, you're in the water."

No. 8 is an excellent par-5 (510 yards from the back tees and 425 from the forward). It's a 90-degree dogleg right uphill with a river running across the fairway. Golfers who like to gamble will love this hole, especially if they can hit the ball well. "The brave will use their driver off the tee to try to go over the river," says Arielly. "But most golfers will lay up in front of the water and then go uphill. On the second shot, you start all over again by trying to hit a cut shot over 50-foot trees."

No. 14 is one of Arielly's favorites. It's a par-4 dogleg left that measures 400 yards from the back tees and 320 from the forward. You hit off the tee to the landing area through a tunnel of trees. Your approach shot requires hitting over a river and lake combination that goes all the way across the fairway. "If you hit a bad drive, you may have to lay up short of the water and take a third shot over the water," he says.