Over the past eight months, Carrollwood Country Club in Tampa, Fla., has undergone a remarkable recovery following the back-to-back impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which struck the Tampa area last fall.
The storms inflicted extensive damage, the most notable loss being the entire fleet of golf carts. Meanwhile, catfish were found swimming in the flooded cart barn.
A temporary replacement fleet of carts was arranged within days. And within five weeks, 90 brand new E-Z-GO carts were delivered to the club.
Despite heavy rain and ferocious winds, Carrollwood’s three nine-hole golf courses were fully restored by early 2025. A brand-new bunker complex installed at Carrollwood under the leadership of Superintendent Sam Cooper held firm. Vast improvements were made by lifting, shaping, and re-contouring the bunkers for the best possible playability and conditions year-round. Incredibly, the greens were not affected by the weather events.
“We were prepared to recover fast,” explained Carrollwood General Manager, Brian Thornbury. “We now have the best course conditions in many years.”
Tree crews who had helped West Lake Country Club in Augusta, Ga., recover from Helene, were strategically sent to Florida a few weeks later to help Carrollwood quickly recover from Hurricane Milton. Storm-damaged mature oaks, cypress trees, and towering palms were swiftly cleared from the property, along with other hazardous trees, ensuring golfers could safely resume their enjoyment of the course.
“It was really impressive to see how fast we got back open,” said Membership Director Grace Swanick. “No one else could get tree crews, but we had them ready to go. We reopened within days of the storms.”
The club has now returned to full operational excellence, making it difficult to detect that any severe weather events occurred last year.
Centrally located in the heart of Carrollwood Village, Carrollwood Country Club offers 27 holes of golf, as well as a Tour-quality, double-sided practice facility, which offers multiple tees and practice greens. Carrollwood features seven Har Tru tennis courts with stadium lighting, four pickleball courts soon to open, a fitness center and a Junior Olympic-sized cooled and heated swimming pool.
Located just 20 minutes from Tampa International Airport and 15 minutes from downtown, the sprawling property includes a 25,000-ft. clubhouse and terrace, with both casual and fine dining options. Carrollwood Country Club also has banquet facilities for weddings and special events.
While known for having several multi-generational members, where sons, daughters, granddaughters and grandsons follow in their family’s footsteps to join, Carrollwood offers several memberships to all, including golf, social, tennis and a junior membership for 40 and under. There are no waiting lists.
“There are a lot of young families in this area, and it’s the best place to live,” explained Carrollwood Membership Director Grace Swanick. “It’s a testament to our community, which gives Carrollwood Country Club so much love and support.”
Both Carrollwood and West Lake are part of the Concert Golf Partners family of 38 upscale private clubs nationwide, including nine in Florida. Based near Orlando, Concert Golf makes consistent annual capital investment in its clubs. These upgrades are aimed at enhancing amenities, service levels and the overall member experience, while building and maintaining a thriving club environment.
As part of the Concert Golf Partners network, Carrollwood members also enjoy the opportunity for reciprocal privileges, enhancing their golfing and social experiences. Other nearby clubs include Heathrow Legacy Country Club in Orlando; Plantation Golf & Country Club in Venice; The Club at Renaissance in Fort Myers; and Golf Club of the Everglades in Naples.
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