The Pro-Am Legend
Hosting the Eckerd Pro-Am drew 20 PGA Tour pros including Gary Player and Ian Baker-Finch for a day of competitive fun and community buzz. The event’s lore still ripples among longtime members.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
Bayou Club
Largo, Florida
Established
1991
Architect
Tom Fazio
Access
Private
Par
Par 72
Length
5,210 – 7,009 yds
The verdict
A Fazio Florida Private Favorite
Bayou Club blends Tom Fazio's strategic flair with the classic beauty of Florida's wetlands, routing holes through oaks, pines, and water at nearly every turn. While course conditions have at times been inconsistent, the layout rewards well-planned, thoughtful play and offers a strong membership golf experience.
Course DNA
Difficulty
77
Scenery72
Conditioning56
Shot Variety75
Walkability61
Green Complexity72
Wow Factor63
Design Quality72
Don't miss
Ask a member to tell you a story from the club’s pro-am days—especially about Gary Player’s legendary short game exhibitions on the chipping green.
At a glance
Quick facts
Course architect
Tom Fazio
Water in play
On at least half the holes
Club founded
1991
Signature pro-am history
Eckerd Pro-Am with notable PGA stars
Practice facilities
Renovated range and short game
Greens style
Original Fazio contours restored
Member access
Private, guests with members only
The design
The architecture
Bayou Club’s Fazio design leverages the natural marshes and wooded corridors of Largo, delivering a course that is both visually inviting and tactically demanding. Water is an ever-present partner—sometimes a foe—on many holes, emphasizing the importance of precise tee shots, shaped approaches, and well-chosen lines of play. While classic Fazio fairway bunkering frames the driving zones, the greens are nuanced and reborn in their original contouring thanks to the recent amenity refresh, creating a layout that both rewards disciplined strategy and offers just enough bailout to tempt the gambler. The overall experience is a blend of subtropical beauty and private-club luxury, with just enough local lore to keep regulars invested.
A classic early-’90s Fazio, balancing penal risk with forgiveness for the smart player and showcasing the site’s natural Florida wetlands.
Defining features
- Mature oaks and pines bracket numerous holes
- Extensive marsh and water features defending driving lines
- Contoured, mid-sized greens with restored Fazio shaping
- Subtle doglegs demanding thoughtful tee strategy
- Polished, renovated practice facilities, especially short game
- Member-friendly routing with accessible start/finish
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 1
Big-League Opener
PAR
4
YARDAGE
467
This long, demanding par 4 invites you to launch your round with a nerve-testing tee shot over a gentle dogleg and past tree-framed fairway edges. The approach calls for both distance and touch, as missing long or wide brings bunkers or water quickly into play.
Play it smart
Favor the left-center off the tee for an open angle, but resist the urge to bite off too much and flirt with marshes. Approach needs to stay below the hole to maximize birdie looks.
Where it bites
Push drives or pulled approaches are penalized by marsh or trees, making double a real opener for the tentative.
Course management
Shots to think about
First tee shot, Hole 1
Err on the side of control over power—center cut is better than bold and wild early.
Second shot on par 5s (6, 10, or 17)
Double-check carry distances and assess the benefit of a full layup vs. tempting water and bunkers for eagle chances.
Approach into water-guarded greens
Favor the safe side when in doubt; Fazio often rewards smart misses over forced heroics.
Short-sided in bunkers
Accept a safe pitch to the fat part of the green—these aren’t pushovers if you’re out of position.
Windy afternoon cross-breezes
Lower ball flights are often the smart play as open holes near the marsh get gusty.
Pins tucked behind water
Don’t let a back pin lure you into a watery mistake; take your par and win the day.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Greens often run true and quick, but fairway and bunker quality may be variable, especially after heavy weather.
Pace
Member pace governs; most rounds unhurried except during events.
Vibe
Classic private-club: friendly, Florida-casual, but with a sense of occasion for member events.
Dress code
Country club casual—collared shirts required, denim discouraged.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Dial in Carry Distances
Several key holes demand carries over water or marsh—know your reliable numbers, not just your best ones.
02
Bring a Ballmark Repair Tool
Greens are firm and reward clean approaches, but member tradition expects prompt repair and course care from all.
03
Arrive Early for Range Warmup
The renovated practice range is a member favorite and gets busy before weekends—budget extra time to loosen up.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1991
The Bayou Club opens as a new Tom Fazio design, one of the first exclusive private clubs in the Largo area.
- 2020
Completes $1 million renovation focused on clubhouse, fitness, and practice facilities, including greens returned to Fazio's original design.
Stories & legends
What makes it special
Fazio’s Personal Touch
Tom Fazio was hands-on in routing Bayou Club, weaving holes through watery corridors and groves of oaks and pines. His design puts a premium on landing zones and risk-reward calculus, especially for those who flirt with the water.
The Double Trouble Finish
The closing two holes—17 and 18—demand every ounce of nerve and precision, with the par-5 17th offering a last shot at birdie and the brutish par-4 18th often deciding club events and games among friends.
Club Life, Florida Style
The clubhouse is a hub of social activity, refreshed and lively after its million-dollar upgrade, with a member culture rooted just as much in camaraderie, tennis, and family as it is in scratch golf.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
Hosted the Eckerd Pro-Am with major championship winners as guests.
2
Water is in play on over half the holes, a true test for shot makers.
3
Greens have been restored to Fazio’s original slopes after recent renovations.
4
Clubhouse underwent a million-dollar refresh in the early 2020s.
5
The closing hole is one of the region’s toughest par 4s.
Build the trip
If you're making a Tampa Bay golf trip out of it
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Streamsong Resort
Resort
Nationally renowned modern destination—three different architect courses, unforgettable setting.
Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead)
Resort
PGA Tour-proven, fun-and-fast for public play with a championship pedigree.
TPC Tampa Bay
Public
Tour-quality daily-fee challenge with true Florida flavor and solid conditioning.
Westchase Golf Club
Public
Top local daily-fee option: playable, walkable, and close to Largo.
Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club
Semi-Private
Convenient to downtown Tampa with a classic Florida layout.
Stay in Clearwater or south Pinellas County for the best access to both Bayou Club and a slew of top public and resort options in the Tampa Bay area.
Course DNA
If You Like Bayou Club
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match6.9
Pleasant Valley Country Club
Little Rock, ArkansasDifficulty
Why it matches: If Bayou Club is your kind of course, Pleasant Valley Country Club is worth a look because it brings a comparable level of challenge.
Strong DNA Match7.4
Widow's Walk Golf Course
Scituate, MassachusettsWhy it matches: Widow's Walk Golf Course is a natural next stop after Bayou Club: it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Strong DNA Match8.1
High Grove Golf Club
Venice, FloridaWhy it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in High Grove Golf Club's own setting.
Community Sentiment
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