What Is The Eagles Like?
The Eagles is one of the more established gated communities in Odessa, built around 36 holes of golf on Gunn Highway near the intersection with Ehrlich Road. The community is divided into several villages, each with its own character, but all sharing the same tree-lined streets, the two golf courses winding through the neighborhood, and the lake views that make western Hillsborough County genuinely pretty country.
Homes were built primarily from the mid-1990s through the early 2000s by multiple builders, which means you get variation in floor plans and architectural styles rather than a cookie-cutter look. Square footage ranges from roughly 2,000 square feet in the smaller village sections to over 5,000 square feet in the larger custom homes along the fairways. Most homes have tile roofs, screened lanais, and two to three-car garages. Lot sizes are generous compared to newer Odessa developments, typically a quarter acre or larger.
What Are the Golf Courses?
The Eagles Golf Club features two 18-hole courses: the Lakes Course and the Forest Course. Both are par-72 layouts with water features, mature trees, and the kind of topography that is relatively dramatic for Florida. The courses are open to the public, which means non-residents can play without being members. This is worth knowing for buyers who golf but want the option without a mandatory membership fee built into their HOA costs.
The golf club has a full-service clubhouse, pro shop, restaurant, and practice facility. Tee times can be booked online through the club's website. The golf courses are the central amenity that defines the community's identity and supports long-term property values in a way that amenity centers alone do not.
What Are the HOA Fees?
The Eagles has a homeowners association with fees that vary by village within the community. Most homes pay in the range of $150 to $250 per month, which covers gated entry, common area maintenance, and community management. There is no CDD on most of the community. Golf club membership is separate from HOA dues and is optional for residents.
Compared to newer master-planned communities like Starkey Ranch where HOA plus CDD can combine to $3,000-$5,000+ per year, The Eagles offers a gated golf community experience at a more moderate ongoing cost.
How Far Is The Eagles From Tampa?
- Veterans Expressway (SR-589) Gunn Hwy entrance: About 1.5 miles from the community entrance
- Tampa International Airport: 17 miles (22-28 minutes via Veterans Expressway)
- Downtown Tampa: 20 miles (28-35 minutes via Veterans to I-275)
- Citrus Park Town Center: 7 miles south on Gunn Highway
- Publix at Gunn Highway: 1-2 miles from the front gate
- Westchase area restaurants and shops: 6-7 miles south
- Hyde Park and South Tampa: 25 miles (35-40 minutes)
The Veterans Expressway is the reason The Eagles' location works for Tampa commuters. Without it, the distance would be painful. With it, you are at TIA in under 30 minutes on most mornings.
Which Schools Serve The Eagles?
The Eagles is in Hillsborough County, zoned for Hammond Elementary, Martinez Middle School, and Steinbrenner High School. Steinbrenner is one of the higher-rated comprehensive high schools in Hillsborough County, which helps maintain demand for homes in this school zone. Verify your specific address at the Hillsborough County Schools school locator, as zone lines can shift and some properties near the community's edges may be in different zones.
What Is the Flood Risk?
Most of The Eagles is in FEMA Flood Zone X (minimal flood risk). Some lots adjacent to the golf course ponds and retention areas may carry different designations. The golf course itself manages water through designed retention systems. Review the specific parcel on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center. Flood insurance is not typically required here for conventional financing, though some buyers with lakefront lots choose to carry it anyway.
How Does The Eagles Compare to Other Odessa Communities?
- Keystone (2 miles west): Large lots, no HOA, rural, less maintained infrastructure. Lower price per square foot but more work on the buyer.
- Starkey Ranch (4 miles north): Brand-new construction, master-planned, high CDD fees, extensive trail systems and amenity centers. A completely different product for a different buyer.
- Lake Bernadette (5 miles east): Smaller established community, lakefront lots, different price point, no golf.
- Westchase (8 miles south): Larger master-planned community with golf, tennis, and multiple pools. Higher density, more activity, different commute patterns.
What Should Buyers Know?
- Roof age matters: 1990s-era tile roofs are 25-30 years old. Many will need the underlayment replaced even if the tiles look fine. Get a roof inspection from a tile specialist, not a general home inspector.
- Golf course lots: Homes on the fairway have great views but get the occasional errant ball. Homes behind the fourth fairway tree line get the views without the noise from the driving range.
- Community gates: The Eagles has staffed and unstaffed gate entry points. Understand which gate your address uses before you fall in love with a home.
- Rentals: The Eagles has historically attracted long-term renters and retirees. Annual rental demand is steady. ViVi Property Management operates in the Odessa area.
- Golf membership: Not mandatory but many residents find it worth the cost given the courses are literally out their back door.
Barrett Henry is a Broker Associate at REMAX Collective with 23+ years of real estate experience in Odessa and western Hillsborough County. Call (813) 733-7907 or get a free home valuation.
Also explore: Odessa homes for sale | Odessa neighborhood guide | Odessa new construction