Representative image Photo: Phillip Capper from Wellington, New Zealand · CC BY 2.0
Old Memorial Golf Club
Tampa, Florida, United States
18 Holes · Par 72 · Private club — no published green fee; play is by member invitation · Links
— About
About Old Memorial Golf Club
Old Memorial Golf Club is an 18-hole, par 72 course in northwest Tampa, Florida. Steve Smyers designed it on a 312-acre site and it opened in 1997. Smyers looked to Scottish links and Australian sandbelt courses for ideas, so the course plays firm and fast, with large bunkers as its main design feature. Their sand faces are broken up by long fingers of grass, which makes each one look like a cluster of smaller bunkers. The design gives golfers choices off the tee rather than a single line to follow.
- Bunker edges are sharp, but fairways and greens flow into them without a hard line, a look Smyers borrowed from the sandbelt tradition.
- The ground game matters here: firm, fast turf lets a ball run out, and the course rewards golfers who can play along the ground.
- The property is a rolling, sandy site, and expansive swaths of sand give the course much of its character.
- A caddie program runs through the club, and walking is the way to play the course.
History of Old Memorial Golf Club
Old Memorial grew out of an idea from the three founders of Outback Steakhouse, Chris Sullivan, Bob Basham and Bob Merritt. They set up the club in 1994 as a private course in Tampa and hired Steve Smyers to design and build it. Play began in 1997. The club describes itself as a sanctuary of golf, built around friendly competition and camaraderie among members and their guests.
Signature holes at Old Memorial Golf Club
The 12th is a split-fairway par 5 with a risk-reward decision off the tee: the shorter line is the riskier one. The 8th is a short par 4 with two separate greens set among extensive sand, so the approach changes with the green in play. Both holes show how Smyers tests decisions as much as distance.
When to play Old Memorial Golf Club
Old Memorial is private, so the date depends on your host's invitation. Tampa's golf season runs through the cooler, drier months from late autumn to spring, while summers are hot and humid with afternoon storms. The firm turf plays fastest in dry weather.
Playing Old Memorial Golf Club: tips
Old Memorial is private, with play limited to members and their invited guests; there is no published green fee and no public tee sheet. The club is at 13600 National Golf Drive in Tampa. Arrive early enough to use the driving range, putting green and practice bunker, and ask your host about the caddie arrangements, since the course is walking-only.
Visit Old Memorial Golf Club
13600 National Golf Drive, Tampa, FL 33626
Tampa, Florida, United States
— FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Old Memorial Golf Club
Can I ride a cart at Old Memorial?
No. The course is walking-only, and carts are not rented except for medical reasons. A caddie is the usual way to get around and read the large bunkers.
What practice facilities does the club have?
Old Memorial has a driving range, a putting green and a practice bunker. They sit close to the clubhouse, so it is easy to warm up before your round.
Is Old Memorial a links course?
It is inland, but it plays in a similar spirit. Sandy ground, firm turf and large sand bunkers reflect its Scottish and Australian influences.