Sarasota Public Options

[StudentGolfer4]

Going on a beach Vacation with the family in March and thinking about trying to play a round or two. What are the best public options around? Hoping to keep it within 30-40 minutes of Sarasota. 

 

Streamsong would be great but I have zero interest in their $420 non resort guest rate. 
 

Cabot would be my first choice but I don’t want to take a full day (2 hours each way, plus 4 hour round) on a family vacation. 

[cer5059]

Heading to Sarasota tomorrow for a vacation with the in-laws. Looking to get two rounds in while we're down there. Hoping to play the recently renovated and reopened Bobby Jones golf club which was an original Donald Ross design. Other than that, it doesn't seem like there are very many interesting public courses in the area. I'll report back on what we played and let you know how they were 

[GolfSRQ]

Had a few friends play Bobby jones and loved it.    Try university park or legacy for a 2nd round 

[achun88]

Lakewood National used to be my go-to....although I'm not seeing the ability to make tee times on their website anymore.  

[GolfSRQ]

Goal was to make that private once enough houses were built.   I’m guessing they’re at that point.   They’ve had a lot of members for the last few years and things are growing like crazy down here. 

[cer5059]

On 1/10/2024 at 9:38 AM, StudentGolfer4 said:

Going on a beach Vacation with the family in March and thinking about trying to play a round or two. What are the best public options around? Hoping to keep it within 30-40 minutes of Sarasota. 

 

Streamsong would be great but I have zero interest in their $420 non resort guest rate. 
 

Cabot would be my first choice but I don’t want to take a full day (2 hours each way, plus 4 hour round) on a family vacation. 

Circling back on this...

 

Was down there a couple weeks ago and played Bobby Jones and University Park. Both courses were courses I would 100% play again. Bobby Jones isn't going to wow you with any beautiful scenery or real memorable holes, a lot of back and forth holes and it's a very wide open golf course, but it was in really great condition for just having reopened. Didn't use the range, but saw it, and it's a great spot to warm up and hit balls before the round. There's a small putting green right next to the first tee, but down by the range is where they have their little 18 hope putting course. Didn't get to play it at all as it was on and off raining during our round so we just wanted to get out of there when we were done, but id definitely play it again if I'm ever back in the area. 

 

University Park was great as well. It's a 27 hole course and we played holes 1-18. We played from the back tees which it says is 7,000 yards, but it didn't really seem that long, even though the course was wet and you got no roll on the fairway; don't think I had anything more than a 5 iron into the par 4s. The course is in a community so there are houses on pretty much every hole, but they don't really come into play. Greens were in great condition and were pretty quick. I would certainly play this course again as well. Playing from the tips, there were some very tight shots off the tee, but the fairways were pretty wide once you got it through the window.

 

Each day we teed off around 7:30 and were done in about 3.5, 3.75 hours. 

 

Tight tee shot from the tips on the 4th hole

 

Par 3 5th hole

 

View of some holes, must have been 19-27, driving to the starter from the clubhouse 

 

1st tee at Bobby Jones

[Chigolfer2]

What course has a great practice facility? 

[Philfil]

4 hours ago, Chigolfer2 said:

What course has a great practice facility? 

I’ve been there a few times but have yet to play/practice there, but the new Bobby Jones course has a huge range and practice area with a few different chipping and putting greens.

[StudentGolfer4]

My group enjoyed Bobby Jones. With it essentially just having opened this fall, it was very firm which made it a lot better in my mind. Layout isn’t difficult, but has some good short holes and interesting greens. 
 

Staff was mostly helpful and kind. I didn’t use either but they had a big grass range and a 18 hole putting course. Undulations weren’t crazy but has some decent movement to it still.