By Jason & Dyan Pithers with The Pithers Group at Coldwell Banker Realty
Odessa is one of the most golf-friendly communities in the greater Tampa Bay area. With public daily-fee courses, a semi-private club, and two world-class resort layouts all within a short drive, residents here rarely have to go far to find a strong round. Whether you are a scratch golfer looking for a challenge or a weekender who wants a well-maintained course at a fair price, the best golf courses in Odessa, FL, deliver. Here is a guide to the options worth knowing about.
Key Takeaways
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The Eagles Golf Club is the most prominent public-access destination in Odessa, offering two distinct 18-hole courses within the prestigious Eagles community
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The Club at Cheval, located within a stone’s throw to Odessa in neighboring Lutz, is a semi-private Steve Smyers design playing over 860 acres of cypress-lined terrain with water in play on more than half the holes.
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Odessa's Northwest Tampa position puts golfers within 20 minutes of TPC Tampa Bay in Lutz and Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead Course in Palm Harbor
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The broader Odessa corridor is one of the most golf-accessible communities in Florida, with over 100 courses within reasonable driving distance
The Eagles Golf Club
The Eagles Golf Club is the anchor of golf in Odessa. Two full 18-hole courses — the Forest and the Lakes — give golfers meaningfully different challenges on the same property. The Forest Course plays 6,719 yards from the championship tees and rewards precise shot-making and course management. Its driveable par-four third is the signature risk-reward hole on the property, and a peninsula green on the par-three sixth demands a forced carry over water that tests players at every level.
The Lakes Course plays over 7,000 yards from the tips with a more traditional character. The opening par-five winds around a majestic oak in the center of the fairway, and the back nine settles into terrain that draws consistent comparisons to a nature preserve. Both layouts have been recognized among the top public-access courses in the Tampa Bay area and draw players from across Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
What to Know About The Eagles Golf Club
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Located at 16101 Nine Eagles Drive in Odessa with two 18-hole public courses open daily and tee times bookable online
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The Forest Course's driveable par-four third is one of the most discussed risk-reward holes on any Tampa Bay public course
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The Lakes Course stretches over 7,000 yards from the tips with a back nine set in surroundings that draw frequent comparisons to a nature preserve
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The club's social calendar includes trivia nights and private event hosting, making it a community gathering point well beyond the golf itself
The Club at Cheval
For golfers looking for a semi-private experience with a more secluded character, The Club at Cheval is the standout option near the Odessa area. Designed by Steve Smyers and playing over 860 acres lined with towering cypress trees, the course demands accuracy off the tee with water in play on more than half its holes. Several holes around the turn achieve a genuinely secluded feel that separates it from the more open wetland designs common throughout the Tampa Bay corridor.
Cheval operates as a semi-private club with membership as the primary access path, though outside tee times are periodically available. The course draws consistent praise for its conditioning and the visual character of its cypress-lined fairways, and its reputation among Tampa Bay golfers positions it as one of the more distinctive layouts in the northwest Tampa area.
What to Know About The Club at Cheval
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A Steve Smyers design playing over 860 acres with water in play on more than half the holes
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Towering cypress trees line the fairways, creating a visual and strategic character distinct from the open wetland designs of other area courses
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Several holes around the turn achieve a secluded woodland feel despite the course's proximity to surrounding residential development
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Semi-private access; confirm tee time availability in advance if visiting as a non-member
Beyond Odessa: Two Courses Worth the Short Drive
Odessa's northwest Tampa position puts golfers within 20 minutes of two of the most respected layouts in the state. TPC Tampa Bay in Lutz, a Bobby Weed and Chi Chi Rodriguez collaboration, is a former Champions Tour host venue offering public-access tee times on a tour-quality layout. Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor is home to the Copperhead Course, host of the PGA Tour's Valspar Championship and consistently regarded by tour professionals as one of the strongest tests of golf on the Florida swing schedule.
Both are practical options for residents looking to expand beyond Odessa's local courses without a significant commitment of time or distance. Innisbrook's three additional 18-hole layouts and resort amenities also make it a natural choice for a longer golf outing or a weekend stay.
What to Know About These Regional Courses
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TPC Tampa Bay in Lutz is approximately 15 minutes from central Odessa
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Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor hosts the Valspar Championship on its Copperhead Course, with three additional 18-hole layouts available for resort guests
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Both courses are within a 20-minute drive of Odessa, putting world-class golf within easy reach of everyday life in the community
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The broader Tampa Bay region has over 100 courses within reasonable driving distance, making Odessa one of the most golf-accessible communities in Florida
FAQs
Are the golf courses in Odessa public or private?
The Eagles Golf Club is a public daily-fee course open to all golfers without membership. The Club at Cheval operates as semi-private with membership as the primary access path, though outside tee times may be available on select dates. TPC Tampa Bay in nearby Lutz is also public-access.
Which golf course near Odessa is best for beginners?
The Eagles Golf Club is the most practical option for newer players, with two 18-hole layouts that allow golfers to choose based on length and comfort level. Both the Forest and Lakes courses have a range of tee options, and the club has practice facilities for warm-up before a round.
How far are the top golf courses from central Odessa?
The Eagles Golf Club and The Club at Cheval are both within the Odessa community. TPC Tampa Bay in Lutz is approximately 15 minutes away, and Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor is roughly 20 to 25 minutes.
Contact Jason & Dyan Pithers with The Pithers Group at Coldwell Banker Realty Today
Golf is one of the many reasons residents choose Odessa, and it is part of the lifestyle picture we walk every buyer through when they are exploring this community. We know Odessa in detail and can help you find the right home for the way you want to live.
Reach out to us at
Jason & Dyan Pithers with The Pithers Group at Coldwell Banker Realty to get started.
