After a thrilling weekend at TPC Sawgrass, the PGA Tour is back at it! The stage is set for the top players on the Tour to compete in the last tournament in the Florida leg, the 2025 Valspar Championship. And oh what a field it is! Fans will be treated to the likes of Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas, Viktor Hovland, Jordan Spieth, and the defending champion, Peter Malnati.

The tournament is only a few hours away and players are already at Palm Harbor, Florida, for some action. But where will they be playing? The PGA Tour stars are in for some nail-biting moments as they head to the Copperhead Course in the Innisbrook Resort. Why do we say that? Well, let’s go through the history of this beautiful course that makes it one of the toughest challenges in the PGA Tour.

The Valspar Championship 2025 at the Copperhead Course

You better avoid the Snake Pit if you’re at the Copperhead Course. Many pros have fallen prey to the beast hissing on the back-9 at the Copperhead Course. Only 20 miles from the Tampa International Airport, the Innisbrook Resort was built in 1970 as per their official website. It started as a luxury resort, but within two years, turned into one of the worst nightmares for the PGA Tour pros. Simply put, the course is not for the ordinary Joe or the faint-hearted. Getting through it will require as much will and determination as you might need to face some of your life’s biggest obstacles.

The course stretches along 7352 yards for a par 71. It was originally designed by Larry Packard in 1971 and has since had some renovations and enhancements. But Packard’s spectacular vision for the playable part of the course has not been modified. That is because it presents the perfect challenge for anyone who takes it on. And only the brave have triumphed in it so far. Every hole is meticulously designed to either make or break a round. Especially the last three holes, famously known as the Snake Pit. No, there are no snakes up there, but the curves are venomous enough that even Tom Riddle would struggle to control them. Just ask John Daly. He tried to take the challenge too casually 11 years ago like he usually does. But that turned into his worst nightmare in the second round of the event.

In the 2014 Valspar Championship, Daly came off a 3-over par 74 on Thursday. Thinking that he could overcome the difficulties with ease and make the cut, he teed off for the second round. It was his second hole of the day when the horror show began, scoring a double bogey in the par 4. Before completing his first 9, he had made 3 more bogeys and another double bogey. Another couple of 1-overs on the 13th and 15th before Daly took on the Snake Pit.

The veteran golfer was welcomed to the 16th hole by the iconic Snake Pit Statue. Still not defeated even after a +12 on the board, Daly teed off at the par 4 hole. He landed the first right but took 11 more strokes, including 3 penalties to finally sink the ball. Overall, John Daly went 8-over on just the 16th hole. He had another double bogey on the 18th to end the two rounds with a +22. We doubt John Daly has ever been the same as he was before that. That was also the last time he played at the Copperhead Course.

Coming back to the course, it’s surrounded by the beautiful scenery and the rest of the features of the Innisbrook Resort. Let’s see what else the course has to offer.

A trip to the Innisbrook Resort

For fans planning to take the four-day trip, the Innisbrook Resort has a lot of accommodations to offer. They have a wide range of Suites and Deluxe Guest Rooms to choose from on their official website. There are also quite a few restaurants, cafes, and shops for you to enjoy over the weekend. You can also take a dip in the pool, play some pickleball or tennis, exercise at the fitness center, or get a spa treatment.

For dining, you have several options to choose from. There is the Packard’s Steakhouse; a tribute to the original designer, the Market Salamander Grille & Bar, the Turnberry Pub, and the Grill at Loch Ness Pool. There is also a cafe called Fairways, not to be confused with the green field on the course. Interestingly, a three-day stay in the resort comes with a Complimentary Fourth Night, as advertised on the website. You can inquire with Innisbrook Resort if the offer is still applicable during the PGA Tour event week.

That covers the golf and stay. Now tell us, are you planning to book a trip to the Copperhead Course to watch the 2025 Valspar Championship? Let us know in the comments section.