World Woods in my opinion is the best place to play golf in the Tampa area. Both courses are always in great shape and each one offers a very different experience. Rolling Oaks is a more traditional track, while Pine Barrens has dramatic sand waste areas carved out of the hillsides throughout the course. Pictures and words don't do Pine Barrens justice...you have to see and play it. The terrain north of Tampa becomes very hilly and very much unFlorida-like. WW is all rolling hills through forest...every hole has elevation change. The greens on both courses are challenging but fair. You will have to earn every putt...2-putts can easily become 3-putts if you aren't careful. Downsides for some people...the clubhouse can best be described as "sufficient." Given that these are high-end courses some will expect a palatial clubhouse, but it's very basic. Similarly, you won't get the "resort" treatment here...there really isn't any pampering or "made to feel special" vibe at WW. The rangers will also push you a bit if you're falling behind time-wise. I don't care for this at resort courses...they should allow for a more relaxed pace (unless you're obnoxiously slow.) The old guys w/clipboards need to dial it back a bit. Finally, the longtime rumor around Tampa is that Tiger Woods and Mark O'Meara periodically play WW (maybe not so much over the past few years??). I've heard this from people outside of the Tampa golf community as well, and I believe it. I've played various courses around the U.S. and WW is the perfect combo of fun and challenge in a beautiful setting.

World Woods Golf Club Review
Tampa Florida Golf Course Reviews

Westchase plays a little tougher than the slope/rating suggests. The surrounding woods are thick with brush and swamp and are mostly marked as a hazard, so a round can be pretty long and tiresome with penalty strokes and lost balls. You can play driver on the 4s & 5s, but due to the difficulty of the woods and some deceptively narrow fairways a 3-wood is usually the safer choice. The course is lush with plenty of wildlife and is always in good shape. It runs through a neighborhood but the houses are pushed back away from the course or obscured by trees, which is nice. The course is near the airport and is a good choice to play the same day flying in/out.

Westchase Golf Club Review
Tampa Florida Golf Course Reviews