Bartow, Florida · Tampa Bay
Bartow Golf Course
Locals call it the TOW. Nine holes in 1919, eighteen by 1926, and the routing still hops Idlewood Avenue: eight holes on the west side, ten on the east.
- BartowLocation
- 1919 as a 9-hole courseOpened
About Bartow Golf Course
Bartow's city course is old-school Florida golf: par 72, four sets of tees from 5,200 to 6,600 yards, oaks everywhere and not a house on the property. It isn't long, but the state's historic golf trail says the locals call it harder than it looks, and the city points to the greens, the easy doglegs and water scattered around the course. The par-5 9th was 595 yards at last report, the longest hole on the course.
The routing is the quirk. The first nine went in west of Idlewood Avenue in 1919 and the second nine east of it in 1926, but instead of keeping them separate the city mixed both nines across the road, so today eight holes are on the west side and ten on the east.
Tampa engineer Harry Knight built the first nine in 1919, when it was 3,130 yards and par 37 with fairways 60 to 90 yards wide. In January 1925, Cyril Walker, the reigning U.S. Open champion, played an exhibition here. Voters approved a $50,000 bond that year to buy the club and 100 more acres, and the full 18 opened on the morning of December 4, 1926, when city manager J.E. Childs hit the first tee shot nearly 200 yards. The state featured it on the Florida Historic Golf Trail in May 2017.
It's one of 2 courses in Bartow on Yoink, and the closest alternative is City of Bartow Golf Course, about 1 mile away — handy when your first choice is booked solid.
Booking a tee time at Bartow Golf Course
In season, book at least a week ahead, online or through the pro shop at 863-533-9183. Chris Reddoch gives one-hour lessons: $25 for under-18s and $40 for adults. Mulligans, the restaurant on site, is 863-533-1668.
How to get a tee time at Bartow Golf Course
Yoink
Prime tee times at Bartow Golf Course — weekend mornings, twilight in summer — tend to go fast, and the ones that open up later usually come from cancellations nobody announces.
Yoink watches Bartow Golf Course's online tee sheet around the clock. Tell it the day, the time window and how many players, and it sends you an alert the moment a matching time appears. You book direct with the course, so there's no markup and nothing to cancel with us.
- Pick Bartow Golf Course in Yoink.
- Choose your day, time window and number of players.
- Get an alert when a matching tee time opens — then book it directly with the course.
Golf courses near Bartow Golf Course
- City of Bartow Golf Course · Bartow · 1 mi
- The Club at Eaglebrooke · Lakeland · 8 mi
- Sanlan RV & Golf Resort · Lakeland · 8 mi
- Lake Ashton Golf Course - West Course · Winter Haven · 10 mi
- Lake Ashton Golf Course - East · Winter Haven · 10 mi
- Schalamar Creek Golf Club · 11 mi
- Cleveland Heights Golf Course · Lakeland · 11 mi
- Hamptons Golf Club · Auburndale · 11 mi
Bartow Golf Course FAQ
Where is Bartow Golf Course?
Bartow Golf Course is in Bartow, Florida, in the Tampa Bay area — about 1 miles from City of Bartow Golf Course.
When did Bartow Golf Course open?
Bartow Golf Course opened in 1919 as a 9-hole course.
Is Bartow Golf Course open to the public?
Bartow Golf Course is municipal (built by the City of Bartow).
How do I get a tee time at Bartow Golf Course when it's booked up?
Set a watch for Bartow Golf Course in Yoink with your date, time window and group size. Yoink monitors the course's tee sheet and alerts you the moment a matching time opens, including cancellations. You book directly with the course.
What golf courses are near Bartow Golf Course?
Nearby options include City of Bartow Golf Course, The Club at Eaglebrooke and Sanlan RV & Golf Resort. Yoink watches 116 courses in the Tampa Bay area.
Sources
Facts on this page come from these pages, checked 2026-09-29. Rates and booking rules change, so confirm with the course.
- floridahistoricgolftrail.com · government
- cityofbartow.net · government
- dos.fl.gov · government
Never miss a tee time at Bartow Golf Course
Yoink watches the tee sheet so you don't have to. When a time you want opens up, your phone buzzes — you book direct.