| The Cliff Stephens Disc Golf Course in Clearwater, FL | | | | water hazards go, look no further than hole #16 which |
| is located about 20 minutes away from the Tampa, FL | | | | features an island green. It can easily be reached with |
| airport, making it an ideal destination for fellow disc golf | | | | a medium distance drive. However, it will definitely test |
| travelers headed to the Sunshine State. This beautifully | | | | your mettle (I would not want to lose a brand new |
| maintained disc golf course features well-marked | | | | disc). |
| concrete tee boxes, a number of water hazards, and | | | | On a related note my Mom, Girlfriend, and I struck up a |
| some quirky surprises along the way. While this may | | | | conversation with a young man who was snorkeling |
| not be the most challenging course in the country, it is | | | | for lost discs in the various ponds. He did not seem to |
| certainly one of the best experiences I have had in my | | | | mind the posted "DANGER: ALLIGATOR" signs. I can |
| travels so far...just watch out for the lightning! | | | | only hope he was getting hazard pay on his eBay |
| At first glance you will realize that this is an extremely | | | | postings. |
| tight course. Holes are placed very close to one | | | | As previously mentioned, the course ends on a high |
| another. As a result there is not a whole lot of walking | | | | note, allowing you to let loose a cannon of a drive on |
| during your round. Depending on your perspective this | | | | #18. The fairway is WIDE OPEN and forgiving. You will |
| could be a positive or a negative (if you spend as | | | | definitely have fun letting loose and pulling out your |
| much time online as I do maybe its the latter). Each | | | | longest, least accurate driver. It might even take you a |
| hole has two concrete tee boxes with excellent | | | | couple long drives to get within putting range. |
| signage pointing out the general hole location. Most | | | | Throughout your experience at Cliff Stephens Disc |
| holes as Cliff Stephens Disc Golf Course are straight | | | | Golf Course the one feature you will probably notice |
| shots that should be an easy 3 for experiences | | | | most is the diversity that is found from hole to hole. No |
| players. Distances are mostly short...in the 300′ - | | | | two holes are exactly the same. Each features a |
| 350′ range (except for the long 18th). A good | | | | memorable hole location, hazard, or quirk. Hole #9 for |
| stable driver (such as my newly purchased Discraft | | | | example has you drive over a wooded retaining wall |
| XL) could be your best friend here. | | | | that is about waist high. My girlfriend Sherri had the |
| Naturally, the Cliff Stephens Disc Golf Course is not a | | | | shot of the day on this hole, bouncing her Discraft |
| breeze to play. Just about every hole features either a | | | | Avenger SS driver right off the top of the wall and |
| thick grouping of trees or a water hazard. A bad drive | | | | inches away from the basket. |
| could leave you making the decision to lay up onto the | | | | To sum things up...if you are ever in the Tampa |
| fairway, or try to cut through several hazards. Hole | | | | Clearwater area you should to check out the Cliff |
| number 5 is a good example of how important the | | | | Stephens Disc Golf Course. Check that...you NEED to |
| placement of your drive can be. You could easily | | | | visit the Tampa/Clearwater area to come play this |
| waste two strokes trying to cut through trees if you | | | | course. It is absolutely beautifully maintained, expertly |
| don't land in a favorable spot. As far as challenging | | | | designed, and a whole lot of fun. |