1970s, the comprehensive project was focused on nearly every aspect of the course. In particular, each fairway was replaced with Celebration Bermudagrass, thereby improving its surface, whereas every green was rebuilt with TifEagle Bermudagrass. All tee boxes and bunkers were also rebuilt; in fact, 15 new forward tees were added, while a set of staircase bunkers were built on the 18th hole.
attract patrons both within and outside of the Sunshine State.
“The enhancements made to the golf course have turned out so well, it’s hard to believe the new turf is just one year old,” says Bobby Barnes, PGA, director of golf, Innisbrook. “If you haven’t seen or experienced the newly restored Copperhead yet, I highly recommend coming and seeing why this course continues to be a favorite stop on the PGA Tour.”
“The course not only is a challenging test of golf, it is a terrific venue for our fans,” explains Tracy West, tournament director, Valspar Championship presented by BB&T. “It offers a very scenic walk with a compact layout, enabling fans to see many holes, have close parking and enjoy the tournament’s fan amenities, such as the post-round Valspar LIVE! Concert.”
Due to its popularity among PGA Tour players and fans, Valspar has actually committed to maintaining its status as title sponsor through 2020, so the nearly 30-year relationship between the PGA Tour and the Copperhead Course will continue to
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Photo by Kevin Murray / kevinmurraygolfphotography.com
At the same time, the course’s irrigation system was also improved so that it not only includes 500 new sprinkler heads, but also saves 15 million gallons of water on an annual basis. The entire project was completed in six months, as the course reopened on December 8, 2015, approximately four months before
the PGA Tour’s 2016 Valspar Championship presented by BB&T.
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Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course
FALL 2016 • MICHIGAN GOLFER MAGAZINE
After finishing their rounds at Copperhead or witnessing the action of the Valspar Championship pre-