2025 Play With Pete Invitational from the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort - How to Sign Up and All the Details

Play With Pete Invitational is always held at clubs and courses with prestigious championship histories like Oakland Hills CC, Scioto CC, Inverness Club, and The Olympic Club Lake Course.  The PWPI venues also feature distinctive course architecture like Pasatiempo Golf Club and The Ocean Course at Kiawah.  But PWPI has never been played on an annual PGA Tour stop track.  Until now.

This March for the first time ever, the renowned and notorious Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort will host the Play With Pete Invitational.  And it gets better.  PWPICopperhead will take place exactly one week before the Valspar Championship.  So you’ll be getting Tour conditions, Tour challenges, and really a true PGA Tour experience.  Even the tournament grandstands will be up.  And the players will arrive one day prior for an overnight stay at the luxurious Innisbrook Resort Hotel.

The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook encapsulates and showcases what a great test of golf can and should be all about.  It's a true shotmakers course with risk-reward dilemmas that demand attention on every swing and every decision.

 

Rolling terrain, Cypress-lined Bermuda fairways, and a fistful of water hazards mandate you hit certain spots and landing areas to position yourself for the best angles on approach.  Double-doglegs, startling elevation changes, and quick, undulating greens identify the best ball-strikers and expose the weakest.

 

The Valspar Championship is one of the most respected and popular stops on the PGA Tour.  The telecast is broadcast to viewers in more than 220 countries and translated into more than 30 different languages.  And players have consistently voted the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook a Top-10 favorite venue on Tour because of its exceptional conditioning and demanding layout.  There are pitfalls lurking around every corner at Copperhead but also the most satisfying rewards if you maneuver around with skill and poise.

 

To ensure Copperhead remains a great test of golf for years to come the course was restored in 2015 to honor the guiding principles of famed course architect Larry Packard and his masterful design.  Each green was rebuilt to USGA specifications and several were restored to their original larger sizes to allow for more pin placements.  Putting surfaces feature a new strain of TifEagle Bermuda-grass, while the fairways are seeded with Celebration Bermuda-grass for greater shade and drought tolerance and recovery.  A new state-of-the-art irrigation system saves 11 million gallons of water per year.

 

Standing on the Copperhead first tee with a breathtaking view of this vast and dazzling property it may be difficult to imagine misfortune lies just ahead.  But when you play Copperhead beware any shot that's not exact.  Meandering fairways, close-set trees, massive bunkers, and menacing water hazards squeeze landing areas and provoke formidable risk-reward choices and options.  Large greens can be shallow or narrow with sharp falloffs, and heavily protected bunkering requires absolute precision and control.

 

I'll try to have a mini hole-by-hole course review on X and Instagram for the players and livestream viewers leading up to PWPICopperhead detailing Copperhead's wicked fairway movement, combative green complexes, and premium on strategic play.  I can tell you right now however that Copperhead is also an unusual layout featuring four par-5 holes and five par-3 holes.

 

From the tips Copperhead plays at over 7,300 yards and the four par-5s at the Valspar Championship are historically some of the most difficult par-5s to score on outside of major championships.  Taking that a step further, in the 25 year history of Valspar a player has shot all four rounds in the 60s only 22 times.  And between 2012 and 2021 there wasn't even a single player to do so.  Being so close to the Valspar this will be a cart-path only PWPI and I hope there's at least one player crazy enough to play from the tips.  But don't say I didn't warn you.  Copperhead is a damn brute.

 

There's a 44 yard difference between the longest and shortest par-3s on Copperhead and the variety of green shapes, protections, and elevation changes make each uniquely demanding.  As an example, the 4th green is wide but extremely shallow, while the 8th green is narrow but very deep.  The 13th green features the only forced carry over water, while the 17th green is protected by bunkers and trees perching over both sides.  Sinister high winds are almost always a factor.

 

And of course there's The Snake Pit.  Hole Nos. 16, 17, and 18 collectively rank inside the Top-5 toughest group of finishing holes on the PGA Tour.  You can bank on stirring theater and high drama coming down the stretch at PWPICopperhead.  The entire right side of the par-4, 458-yard 16th hole is a watery grave and for those who manage to stay dry the approach is even tighter.

 

Club selection is crucial to finding the right spot on the par-3, 206-yard 17th hole's enormous putting surface.  While the green itself is large, it's also very narrow with a sharp falloff in the front.  No. 17 is the most heavily protected green on Copperhead with bunkers guarding the left, right, and back.

And the defiant, uphill, par-4, 443 yard No. 18 has a narrow, tree-lined fairway flanked with enormous bunkers on both sides and a severely undulating green that's the most treacherous on Copperhead.

 

The inaugural Play with Pete Invitational was at Oakland Hills Country Club in 2018 and it's grown astronomically ever since.  So much so that we're looking at something like a PGAPappas Tour much sooner than later, with Play With Pete Invitationals multiple times a year from historic courses all around the country.

What is the Play With Pete Invitational all about?

Allow @xai Grok to explain. 💯🔥😁 pic.twitter.com/zAVR9eMNhB

— Pete Pappas (@PGAPappas) April 3, 2024

And interest keeps growing from courses, sponsors, partners, and of course the stars - you, to be part of PWPI.

Thank you to The Olympic Club for your incredible reception and hospitality. The restored Lake Course is extraordinary.

Callaway and TravisMathew your partnership is cherished and held in the highest regard, thank you.

To the eight players competing in #PWPITheOC you’re… pic.twitter.com/Au47PWsxXv

— Pete Pappas (@PGAPappas) June 28, 2024

The last few years alone, I've received over 1,000 emails and DMs on X/Twitter and Instagram to participate in each Play With Pete Invitational and I'm especially excited about this year's edition from Copperhead.  By any measure the Copperhead Course is one of the PGA Tour's greatest venues.

Play With Pete Invitational from Scioto CC was the stuff dreams are made of and altogether magical.

Scioto fam your hospitality was 💯 extraordinary, something all of us will cherish forever. You captivated, you took our breath away. It was a full day of Scioto wanderlust.… pic.twitter.com/ITNfpsQ5k3

— Pete Pappas (@PGAPappas) August 4, 2023

Play With Pete Invitational at the Copperhead Course will take place on Thursday March 13th, 2025.  And as mentioned above all four players will arrive the day prior on Wednesday March 12th, 2025 for an overnight stay at the Innisbrook Resort hotel.  When the players arrive they'll meet and greet and I'll start handing out some of the swag they'll be receiving (more on that in a bit).  And hopefully we can all get together for a pre-round early dinner that evening before play the next morning.

 

In addition to playing the Copperhead Course in full blown Valspar Championship conditions for a true PGA Tour experience, the players will also know what it's like to be a pro golfer for a day, because they're going to be sponsored by some of the biggest names in golf.  And you want to buckle up for this one.

Duca del Cosma with a glorious explosion of new styles, designs, and colors for 2025.

Many of you have told me Duca are the most comfortable golf shoes you’re ever worn and good news? New tech has made them even more comfortable and stable. 💯👍

Interview with Duca later… pic.twitter.com/yodaHb24pS

— Pete Pappas (@PGAPappas) January 24, 2025

Duca del Cosma will provide shoes for all the players.  And if you follow me on social and here on my blog you already know about the genius of this Italian golf shoe designer.  Duca comfort is luscious.  Traction is outstanding.  Quality, materials, and workmanship are flat-out exceptional.  You'll be able to choose any styles you want.

A lot of PWPI players/alum have told me they would have loved my logo on the apparel.

Mentioned this to Galvin Green and they think it’s absolutely fantastic. Should we do it for #PWPICopperhead?

And do we go sleeve, chest, back collar, subtle or massive? 😁👍 pic.twitter.com/SGRlPNGO6G

— Pete Pappas (@PGAPappas) January 31, 2025

Galvin Green is our PWPICopperhead apparel partner and all the players will be able to choose any polo they want from Galvin Green's entire collection.  If time permits we'll also have the PGAPappas logo somewhere on the shirts.  I know it's something many of you have asked for.  You can expect the absolute highest levels of comfort, breathability, and total swing movement when you're wearing a Galvin Green polo.  And your style game will be off the charts sensational.

Shot 1…
Thunder!

Shot 2…
THUNDER!

Shot 3…
THUNDER!!!

Someone should have fired up the song Thunderstruck while I was hitting the new Callaway Elyte drivers. More than any other drivers I hit today the standard model and low spin Triple Diamond both had all over the face… pic.twitter.com/OsXkoJ3pRD

— Pete Pappas (@PGAPappas) January 22, 2025

You really need to find fairways on the Copperhead Course and accurate distance is a tremendous advantage.  So we have Callaway Golf providing every player with their brand new, custom fit Elyte drivers.  Yeah... I just said brand new custom fit Callaway Elyte drivers for everyone baby!  After the four players are selected I'll have them get fit near their homes for the Elyte driver that's best for their game.  And when they arrive at Innisbrook Resort I'll hand out their new custom fit clubs.   Stand on a tee box with an Elyte driver in your hands and you breathe in courage and exhale fear.   Callaway is making sure you're not just ready to take on Copperhead, you're ready to make it bend to your will.

It's about armament and ammunition for Callaway so players will also get to choose from the new Chrome Tour, Chrome Tour X, Chrome Tour Triple Diamond, or Chrome Soft golf balls, whatever model you play.  And for PWPICopperhead these new Callaway balls will once again have the PGAPappas logo as you all loved these the last few times.

The Lake Course @TheOlympicClub Hole 18 #PWPITheOC https://t.co/MOkaSdGmRR

— Pete Pappas (@PGAPappas) June 28, 2024

Like always I'm going to capture all the action not only for the players but also for everyone following along on X/Twitter and Instagram.  The entire #PWPICopperhead event will be live-streamed on X/Twitter and I'll also have pics, videos, player interviews, jubilant triumphs, crushing defeats, and some incredible insight into Copperhead's championship personality throughout the day.

 

We'll even have chances for all of you following along to win prizes, as well as surprise contests for the players competing.  Callaway clubs and balls, Galvin Green polos, Duca del Cosma shoes, and more.  It's going to be an absolutely unforgettable day and insanely amazing experience for all.

 

After the round is finished, we'll all regroup to have lunch, drinks, share stories about the day and no doubt have memories and new friendships that will last a lifetime.

 

So how do you enter to join the Play with Pete Invitational at the Copperhead Course?  Same as it's always been.  Just leave a comment here on my blog or on X/Twitter or Instagram, or DM me, or email me and tell me why you want to be one of the four players to join this event and play the Copperhead Course.  (NOTE: Because of the volume of entries coming in and wanting to read and reply to all of you I'll only be able to accept entries through this Saturday February 8th).

Over the last five years I've read messages from people in every state in the U.S., even from other countries wanting to participate in the Play With Pete Invitational.  And again for this one I welcome everyone from all over the world.  You'll have to make your own transportation to get here but once you step on Innisbrook Resort grounds it's all taken care of and just get ready for the time of your life.  It's that simple.  I'll read every single comment, DM, and email, and announce the four players on Monday, February 10th.

 

The Copperhead Course is one of the PGA Tour's most iconic venues, a thrilling challenge where the line between difficult and torturous can be razor thin.  With an intimidating combination of slender landing areas, grueling rough, and merciless greens Copperhead will test your skill, adaptability, and resilience.  And no matter how good a shot you hit at Copperhead your very next shot can ruin it all.  PWPICopperhead is going to be an instant classic.