Best Golf Courses Near Safety Harbor

by Hunt Brothers Realty

Some of the best golf courses near Safety Harbor, Florida include public Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club and Dunedin Golf Club, private Countryside Country Club, and the championship courses at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor. Golfers willing to travel farther through Pinellas County can also consider private Belleair Country Club and The Bayou Club. Safety Harbor is not primarily a golf-course destination itself, but its location on the eastern side of Pinellas County gives residents access to public, private and resort golf in Clearwater, Dunedin, Palm Harbor and surrounding Tampa Bay communities.

Quick Answers About the Best Golf Courses Near Safety Harbor

What Are Some of the Best Golf Courses Near Safety Harbor?

Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club, Dunedin Golf Club, Countryside Country Club and Innisbrook Resort are among the most relevant choices for Safety Harbor golfers. The best course depends on whether you want easy public access, private-club membership, historic architecture or a championship resort experience.

What Is a Good Public Golf Course Near Safety Harbor?

Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club in Clearwater is one of the most practical public choices near Safety Harbor. The par-69 course is open to the public and emphasizes accuracy with more than 70 bunkers, water hazards on 12 holes and two-tiered greens.

Can the Public Play Dunedin Golf Club?

Yes. Dunedin Golf Club identifies itself as a municipal course where the public is welcome. The Donald Ross design opened in 1927 and underwent a major restoration completed in 2024.

Is Countryside Country Club Public?

No. Countryside Country Club in Clearwater is a private club. Golf members have access to three Gary Player-designed nine-hole courses, providing 27 holes and several possible 18-hole combinations.

Can Anyone Play the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook?

Not through ordinary unrestricted public tee times. Innisbrook currently states that its golf courses are available to overnight resort guests and members. Copperhead is the resort's best-known course and hosts the PGA TOUR's Valspar Championship.

Are There Private Golf Clubs Near Safety Harbor?

Yes. Countryside Country Club is one of the closest major private golf options. Golfers willing to travel farther through Pinellas County can also investigate Belleair Country Club and The Bayou Club.

Do You Need to Live in a Golf Community to Play Regularly Near Safety Harbor?

No. Public courses in Clearwater and Dunedin allow Safety Harbor residents to play without purchasing inside a golf community. That can make Safety Harbor an interesting home base for golfers who want access to several courses rather than tying their housing choice to one club.

Which Golf Courses Should Safety Harbor Golfers Consider?

The useful way to compare golf near Safety Harbor is by access and experience rather than attempting to declare one course universally best.

Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club: Public golf and a shot-making layout in Clearwater.
Dunedin Golf Club: Public Donald Ross architecture with significant golf history.
Countryside Country Club: Private golf with 27 holes in Clearwater.
Innisbrook Resort: Championship resort golf in Palm Harbor, including Copperhead.
Belleair Country Club: Private Donald Ross golf in a historic club setting.
The Bayou Club: Private Tom Fazio golf in Largo.

Golfers should verify current rates, tee-time availability, membership requirements, maintenance schedules and access directly with the course before planning a round.

1. Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club: Convenient Public Golf in Clearwater

Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club is one of the most practical choices for a Safety Harbor resident looking for public golf without joining a private club.

The Denis Griffiths-designed course is a par-69 layout. According to the club, golfers encounter more than 70 sand traps, water hazards on 12 holes, two-tiered greens and Bermuda-grass fairways.

Those characteristics make Chi Chi less about overpowering the course with distance and more about placement, approach shots and avoiding trouble. That can create an interesting test for experienced players while remaining a public-access option for golfers who simply want a regular place to play.

Can Anyone Book a Tee Time at Chi Chi Rodriguez?

Yes. The course currently welcomes public play and allows tee times to be reserved up to seven days in advance. Rates vary by season, day and time, so checking the current booking system is more useful than relying on a fixed green-fee figure.

A portion of golf fees supports the Chi Chi Rodriguez Academy and First Tee Clearwater, connecting the golf operation with youth education and development programs.

Best for: Safety Harbor residents seeking accessible public golf and a course that rewards shot placement.

2. Dunedin Golf Club: Restored Donald Ross Golf Open to the Public

Dunedin Golf Club is one of the area's most distinctive public courses for golfers who appreciate classic architecture and golf history.

Donald Ross designed the course, which opened January 1, 1927. From 1945 through 1962, Dunedin Golf Club served as the home of the PGA of America and hosted 18 Senior Tour Championships.

The course received a comprehensive restoration in 2024 under architect Kris Spence, with the project intended to return important features closer to Ross's original design. The current course has 18 holes, plays to par 72 and measures 6,745 yards from its longest listed tees.

Why Is Dunedin Golf Club Worth the Drive From Safety Harbor?

The combination of public access, restored Donald Ross architecture and PGA history makes Dunedin different from a typical daily-fee Florida course. Golfers can experience historically significant architecture without needing private-club membership.

For a broader look at the area's options, see Hunt Brothers Realty's guide to the best golf courses in Dunedin.

Best for: Public golf, Donald Ross fans and golfers interested in Tampa Bay golf history.

3. Countryside Country Club: Private 27-Hole Golf Near Safety Harbor

Countryside Country Club in Clearwater is one of the most relevant private-club options for golfers living in or considering Safety Harbor.

The club offers 27 holes divided among three Gary Player-designed nines: Bayhead, Lake and Pine. The different combinations allow members to vary their rounds rather than playing the same 18-hole routing every time.

Course	Holes	Par	Listed Yardage
Bayhead	9	36	3,257
Lake	9	36	3,357
Pine	9	36	3,398

The club also provides a driving range, short-game practice facilities, instruction and broader country-club amenities that include racquet sports, fitness, swimming, dining and social programming.

Do You Have to Join Countryside to Play Golf?

Countryside operates as a private club, so golfers should evaluate current membership options directly with the club rather than treating it as a public daily-fee course. Membership categories, initiation charges, dues and playing privileges can change.

Best for: Frequent golfers who want a private club, multiple course combinations and broader recreational amenities.

4. Innisbrook Resort: Championship Golf in Palm Harbor

Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor is the area's major destination for golfers seeking a championship and resort experience.

Copperhead is the best-known course at the resort because it hosts the PGA TOUR's Valspar Championship. Its pine-lined corridors, elevation changes and demanding closing stretch create an environment that feels distinctly different from many flatter coastal Florida layouts.

Is Copperhead a Public Golf Course?

Not in the ordinary daily-fee sense. Innisbrook currently states that its courses are available to overnight resort guests and members. Golfers interested in Copperhead should therefore investigate a qualifying resort stay or current membership arrangements rather than expecting unrestricted public tee times.

Is Copperhead the Only Course at Innisbrook?

No. Innisbrook offers multiple golf experiences. The Island Course is another substantial championship layout, while the resort's additional golf facilities give qualifying guests and members opportunities to play different styles of golf during a stay.

Best for: Golf trips, championship-course enthusiasts and golfers who want a resort experience.

5. Belleair Country Club: Historic Private Donald Ross Golf

Belleair Country Club is farther from Safety Harbor than the Clearwater options, but it belongs on the list for golfers considering private-club membership and historic golf architecture.

The private club offers two 18-hole courses associated with Donald Ross design. Its West Course underwent an extensive modern restoration while retaining its historic architectural identity. The club says 17 of the West Course's 18 holes provide views of Clearwater Bay.

Practice facilities include a driving range, putting and chipping areas, professional instruction and a golf shop. The broader private-club environment includes fitness, swimming, racquet sports, dining and social amenities.

Best for: Private-club golfers who value Donald Ross architecture, historic golf and Clearwater Bay scenery.

6. The Bayou Club: Private Tom Fazio Golf in Largo

The Bayou Club provides another private-club alternative for golfers willing to travel farther south from Safety Harbor.

The club identifies its course as the only Tom Fazio Signature course in Pinellas County. Founded in 1991, the private layout moves through oaks, pines, marshes and bayous, with water affecting play on 16 holes.

The longest currently listed tees measure 7,009 yards. The club also provides practice facilities, professional instruction and a broader recreational environment with tennis, pickleball, fitness, swimming and dining.

Best for: Private-club golfers interested in Tom Fazio design and a longer championship layout.

How Do Golf Courses Near Safety Harbor Compare?

Golf Facility	Area	Access	Standout Feature
Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club	Clearwater	Public	Shot-making par-69 layout
Dunedin Golf Club	Dunedin	Public	Restored Donald Ross design
Countryside Country Club	Clearwater	Private	27 Gary Player-designed holes
Innisbrook Resort	Palm Harbor	Members and overnight resort guests	PGA TOUR-tested Copperhead
Belleair Country Club	Belleair	Private	Two Donald Ross courses
The Bayou Club	Largo	Private	Tom Fazio Signature course

Which Course Is Best for Public Golf Near Safety Harbor?

Chi Chi Rodriguez and Dunedin Golf Club are two particularly useful starting points because both welcome public play and offer distinctly different rounds.

Choose Chi Chi Rodriguez if convenience from Safety Harbor and a strategic, hazard-filled public layout are priorities. Choose Dunedin if historic architecture and the opportunity to play a restored Donald Ross course matter more.

Golfers looking for even more public and semi-private choices can use Hunt Brothers Realty's guide to golf courses near Clearwater Beach, which includes additional Pinellas County options.

Is Safety Harbor a Good Place to Live if You Play Golf?

Safety Harbor can make sense for golfers who value access to several courses more than living directly inside a golf community. Its eastern Pinellas County location places Clearwater-area golf to the west and northwest, while Palm Harbor and Innisbrook expand the choices farther north.

The tradeoff is that a Safety Harbor resident will generally drive to play rather than step directly from a golf-course neighborhood onto a club property.

That can actually provide more flexibility for a golfer who enjoys variety. Public golfers can rotate among courses, while someone who later decides private membership is worthwhile can investigate clubs such as Countryside without necessarily choosing a home solely because it borders the course.

For more context on the community itself, read Hunt Brothers Realty's Safety Harbor vs. Clearwater comparison.

Should Golfers Buy in Safety Harbor or a Golf Community?

The answer depends on whether golf should shape the home purchase or simply be one part of the lifestyle.

A Safety Harbor home can allow a buyer to prioritize the city's Main Street, Tampa Bay waterfront setting, neighborhood, home design and regional location while driving to different courses. A golf-community purchase can place the course much closer to home but may introduce separate club membership considerations, association obligations and additional ownership costs.

Buyers interested in course-oriented housing can compare Hunt Brothers Realty's best golf communities near Clearwater Beach and broader Florida Gulf Coast golf community guide.

What Should Homebuyers Check Before Buying Near a Golf Course?

A golf-course view and golf-course access are not the same thing. Buying a home beside or near a course does not automatically provide membership or playing privileges.

Before purchasing primarily because of golf, investigate:

Whether the golf course is public, private, semi-private or resort-restricted
Current membership availability and eligibility
Initiation charges and recurring dues
Whether club membership is separate from homeownership
HOA or condominium assessments
Special assessments and association finances
The home's location relative to tees, fairways, greens and cart paths
Potential exposure to errant golf balls
Morning maintenance activity and course traffic
Drainage, ponds and property-specific flood considerations
Property-specific homeowners and flood insurance costs

Membership structures, club charges and golf access can change independently from residential ownership. Buyers should obtain current written information directly from the club and review applicable association documents before making a purchasing decision based on anticipated golf privileges.

Insurance availability, coverage and premiums can also vary substantially by property. Buyers should obtain property-specific quotes and discuss coverage with a qualified insurance professional before purchasing. Association finances and obligations should be reviewed with the appropriate association, real estate, legal and financial professionals when those matters materially affect the decision.

Which Golf Course Near Safety Harbor Is the Best Fit?

There is no single best course for every Safety Harbor golfer. The area's strength is the variety available within the broader northern Pinellas County golf market.

For convenient public golf: Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club
For historic public golf: Dunedin Golf Club
For private golf close to Safety Harbor: Countryside Country Club
For a PGA TOUR-tested experience: Copperhead at Innisbrook, subject to resort or membership access
For private Donald Ross golf: Belleair Country Club
For private Tom Fazio golf: The Bayou Club

For golfers considering a move, that variety means the real estate decision does not necessarily have to revolve around a single course. Safety Harbor can provide a residential base with access to several different golf experiences throughout Pinellas County.

Explore Safety Harbor and Tampa Bay Real Estate With Hunt Brothers Realty

Hunt Brothers Realty helps Florida buyers compare homes, communities and lifestyle considerations throughout the Gulf Coast and Tampa Bay region.

Buyers can explore Florida communities, compare Safety Harbor and Clearwater, or contact Hunt Brothers Realty to discuss a Florida property search.

This article provides general real estate and recreational information only and is not individualized legal, financial, tax, insurance, lending, inspection, engineering, title, association or other professional advice. Golf access, rates, membership availability, initiation charges, dues, course conditions and policies can change. Real estate ownership near a golf course does not necessarily provide membership or playing privileges. Buyers should verify current club information directly with the applicable golf facility, review property and association obligations with the appropriate qualified professionals, obtain property-specific insurance information from a qualified insurance professional, and seek appropriate legal or financial guidance when individualized advice is required.