Silverthorn Country Club

Play 18 holes on a perfect mixture of links-style and tree-lined fairways with today’s feature: $22 for 18 Holes with Cart, Range Balls and a 2-for-1 Draft Beer or Fountain Drink at Silverthorn Country Club near Tampa ($59 Value. Includes Tax. Good Any Time until January 1, 2020!)

Renowned golf course designer Joseph Lee’s philosophy is golf should be enjoyable to play, not a chore. Silverthorn Country Club, one of 250 golf courses to Mr. Lee's credit, is no exception. Opened in 1994, this par-72 beauty spans over 6,933 yards from the tips and combines a blend of wide open links-style playability with tight knit tree-lined fairways to create a mixed bag of holes that will surely force you to utilize nearly every club in your bag. Silverthorn Country Club earns its tough 136 slope rating through a combination of lengthy holes, unpredictable Florida Gulf Coast winds, and roughly 96 strategically placed bunkers.

"Tour Players always love playing Joe Lee-designed golf courses, and that was my inspiration to purchase Silverthorn."
—Jerry Heard, 5-time PGA TOUR winner, Owner/Operator Silverthorn Country Club.

Hole by hole, you'll realize the uniqueness inherent in Lee's design — every hole shows off a different look. The front nine opens up with a modest par-4 at 402 yards, doglegging to the right and ridden with fairway bunkers – be sure to place your shot to the left of the fairway bunkers if possible. You’ll find the first of Silverthorn’s four par-5s in No. 3 which like the others demand accuracy, as well as length. The green is front-facing and slopes toward the water you’ll have to carry over from the fairway, so be sure to stick that shot where you can’t get hurt.

On the back nine, you’ll kick off with another favorable par-4 in No. 10 which should give you a chance to get back a stroke or two depending on your placement on your 2nd shot, this green is guarded from the front and the sides with large bunkers. On to the par-4 No. 14, it’s all about the sand, depending on where you tee off; from the tips you’ll have to carry over a large bunker only to navigate around another six, three of which will be guarding the decent-sized green. Where some courses go easy on you and let you finish with a picturesque par-3, Silverthorn will make you work for your score in its par-5 No. 18, the last of the par-5s. You’ll have to navigate sand and water but this hole is known for its ability to give you a shot or two back if you play your cards right.

Each hole will test your decision making and shot making abilities. Good shots will be rewarded and bad shots can leave you shaking your head. The natural topography is used to enhance Silverthorn’s aesthetics, not to trick up the course. You’ll have five different tee locations to choose from at Silverthorn, which will appeal to the wife, the scratch golfer at your office, and the weekend warrior alike.

Be sure to dust off the clubs at Silverthorn’s range, or choose to putt on the considerably large practice green. The only thing better than playing a beautiful course is playing well on a beautiful course. While you’re improving your game, swing into the pro shop for some of the biggest and best names in golf, all serviced from Silverthorn’s knowledgeable staff.

A quick and simple drive north from Tampa, you will find this gem of a course — twice a host of the Canadian Professional Golf Tour’s Florida Q-School. Local residents of the area also regard the course as a favorite, earning Silverthorn Country Club the honor of being the “Best of Hernando” award for golf courses.