The Members Golf Club at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota?

[Jbarbour]

Reviews anyone?

Hello Everyone,

I was wondering if any of you have played this course. I am heading down to this area in August and would love to play. I cannot find any reviews of this course anywhere, so I thought I would ask the gold folks here.

So, have any of you played it? Thoughts?

Thanks!

JB

[Jbarbour]

No one?

[hobbstc]

No, but I'm staying at the Ritz in August, too. When are you there?

[hobbstc]

BTW< I found this course description for future reference.

 

THE RITZ-CARLTON MEMBERS GOLF CLUB, SARASOTA

HOLE-BY-HOLE DESCRIPTION

 

No. 1 Par 4 418 395 369 346 314 301

The opening hole plays straightaway to the north/northeast and features an elevated teeing ground dropping down to a low-climbing fairway. The second shot into this elevated left-to-right angled green is bunkered on the right side. The green is back-dropped with a broad ridge top framed with vegetation. It is one of the few holes where no water is in play.

 

No. 2 Par 4 441 429 407 381 357 327

On this slight dogleg right, the tees stagger down the left side of this medium-length par 4. The tee shot is slightly downhill to a fairway framed by an elevated ridgeline down the left side while the right side is low and open. The green is set low against an existing tree-lined wetland.

 

No. 3 Par 3 208 181 161 141 133 117

This one-shotter is a low-profile hole which hugs the ground plane. The green is tucked at the base of the hill tightly wrapping around the green on all three sides. The linear, straight green shape is bunkered on the left edges. Six tee locations allow for plenty of variety.

 

No. 4 Par 5 535 520 489 465 441 427

The first par 5 hole is a double dogleg (left then right). The wide landing area has a lake that begins at 250 yards and extends all the way to the green along the right side. Players should aim down the left side and leave the ball in a position to approach the green from the left. The green opens from left to right and is guarded by sand on the right side. Trees contain the left rough from tee to green.

 

No. 5 Par 4 321 306 291 268 248 182

This short par-4 hole can be played a number of ways. Some players may opt to drive the green while the more conservative players have the option to lay up with a medium iron or a fairway wood. The large lake along the right side is the feature and key element to avoid. The angled green traverses parallel to the lake with bunkers hugging the front left.

 

No. 6 Par 5 571 540 510 475 453 420

This par-5 plays to the west as the front nine turns to play back to the clubhouse. The strong dogleg left is a true three-shot hole that can only be reached by the advanced player. The hole weaves between three lakes and one wetland. However, the turf areas are wide, spacious and very playable. The right-to-left green is elevated above the fairway. Waste areas of sand and native grasses frame the left sides of the second shot.

 

No. 7 Par 3 190 177 151 136 112 98

Playing due south, this hole is set through two wetlands. The tees start high atop a hillside formed by the third green and the tee areas on the fourth. This downhill hole plays to a linear green with bunkers left and right. The fairway area allows the player to roll the ball up the center. A lake is out of play behind the green but adds a dramatic look from the elevated tees.

 

No. 8 Par 4 448 426 395 377 360 340

Playing to the northwest, the eighth is a medium-length straightaway par 4. The tees stagger to the right away from the lake that borders the left of the fairway. The wide fairway has ample room on the right to avoid the lake. The second shot is slightly uphill and is tucked against the hillside, which curls around the back left side. This hole offers a beautiful open long-range view along the south side across wetland, forests and lakes.

 

No. 9 Par 4 470 449 427 415 399 373

The closing hole on the front nine is the longest par 4 on the course and is defined by plenty of options, variety, elevation change, beauty, drama and strategy. It offers elevated tees looking down on a low fairway hugging a linear lake that traverses the left side from tee to green. The slight dogleg right calls for a safe line down the right center of the fairway. The shot to the green allows for many options, depending on the hole location on the large putting surface.

 

First Nine Totals

Par 36 3,602 3,423 3,200 3,004 2,817 2,585

 

 

No. 10 Par 4 441 418 391 381 366 302

An elevated tee provides a panoramic view of holes 18, 17, 1, and 9. A predominant landscape ridgeline provides the backdrop to the green. The hole plays along a lake to the left and a hollow long right, running slightly uphill from the landing area. The green angles left to right with a small bunker and a large oak protecting the left side. The putting surface has a small elevated pin area in the center for interesting hole locations.

 

No. 11 Par 5 588 560 533 515 486 453

The first par 5 on the back nine has a huge landscape ridge running the entire right side of the hole. A long-range view is provided from the elevated tees that are perched on the ridgeline with No. 10. The hole plays downhill 12 feet and then gently climbs up to the green. Two well-placed bunkers protect the left side of the first landing area. A large oak on the left side protects the second shot. A generous right side fairway opens up behind a small ridgeline that crosses the fairway. A long fairway bunker helps steer the second shot. The green is a two-tiered straight-in target with two bunkers protecting the right side and one small bunker on the left. Small collection areas help hold errant shots around the green.

 

No. 12 Par 4 449 427 395 375 347 322

Rising above #11 green and the 15th fairway, the tees on the 12th are at an elevation of 65 feet. The hole plays 18 feet down to the first landing area and then back up 10 feet to a left-to-right green. A large waste area protects the left side from the tees to the first landing area and two bunkers placed long right narrow the fairway for long hitters. Large majestic oaks line both sides of the fairway with a well-landscaped ridge on the left side running from the landing area to the green. The green is soft and subtle with a bunker visible back left. A large oak tree and staggered vegetation highlight the left side of the green complex.

 

No. 13 Par 3 226 193 173 144 129 110

A valley tee shot provides only a view of the green on this par 3. The tees are encapsulated with a large variety of landscape material and two ridges that provide a secure feel. The green sits in slightly left to right with a raised back rear level. The green is protected short left and long right with cavernous, bold bunkers. The slight downhill green is accessible with a run-up or a shot hit high in the air. The 13th hole is outlined with mature oaks on the left side and strong ridges on the right.

 

No. 14 Par 4 376 359 332 319 297 264

The shortest par 4 on the back nine is a slight right-to-left dogleg that is narrow at the landing area with bunkers right and left. A conservative lay-up shot to the widest area of the fairway is the safest bet. A tree-lined right side makes for a tight alleyway with an opening to the left. The multi-tiered sideways green is well protected on all sides by a deep lake, with a large oak on the back right side.

 

No. 15 Par 5 559 543 510 478 454 381

Playing from an elevated tee down to a fairway 10 to 12 feet below, the tee shot is guided by massive oaks on either side of the fairway. The right side features a beautiful lake and a tree-lined fairway on the right. A formal bunker well placed for long hitters and a waste area that is shared by No. 12 protects the left side. Long hitters should keep in mind the lake only comes into play at 330 yards. The second shot to this winding par 5 requires the proper line right of the fairway bunkers and left of the wraparound lake to ensure an open third shot to this well-protected green. Three large oaks also frame the second landing area. Those choosing to go for the green in two must carry the fairway bunkers and run the ball up to a green that has bunkers left and right. A well-defined landscape area provides a backdrop for the left side of the fairway from the first landing area to the green.

 

No. 16 Par 3 231 216 180 164 141 106

This massive par 3 from the back tees is made a bit tougher by playing over the corner of a lake. The backdrop is a natural area to the entire right and rear of the hole. A slightly elevated right-to-left green with a raised slope in the back left will help hold the shot. A small bunker back right will collect errant shots and hold them closer to the green. Par is a good score here.

 

No. 17 Par 4 472 457 432 421 394 336

The first of two tough finishing holes, the 17th plays right to left to the west and is guarded on the right with a long and narrow lake. The entire right side of the hole is framed with the last look of the natural area to the north. The fairway slopes left towards the lake but flattens out at the landing area. Two large bunkers resting on the left side of the hole warrant a second thought for long hitters, who can take the chance and carry the corner of the lake to leave themselves with a short- to mid-iron approach. The green rises from the fairway slightly and has a swale running through the middle. A bunker and a tall oak protect the right side of the green and a small pot bunker protects the left side. Large and small trees dot the landscape on the entire left side of the golf hole.

 

No. 18 Par 4 473 437 411 391 360 316

The left-to-right dogleg plays around a large lake reminiscent of many classic finishing holes. The fairway provides a generous landing area and the green is accessible for all levels of play. The errant shot to the right will nestle in a large saving bunker. Outside the dogleg, a bunker complex frames the left side of the fairway. The approach shot to an open green will require length and accuracy. The clubhouse backdrop provides a pleasant view from the fairway high above the finishing green.

 

 

Second Nine Totals

Par 36 3,815 3,610 3,357 3,194 2,974 2,590

 

Overall Totals

Par 72 7,417 7,033 6,557 6,198 5,791 5,175

 

 

Course Ratings:

Course Slope

Rating Rating

Black 75.6 133

Silver 73.7 129

Blue 71.6 121

White 70.0 119

 

Nine-Hole Nine-Hole

Course Rating Slope Rating

Front Nine Back Nine Front Nine Back Nine

Black 37.3 38.3 131 135

Silver 36.5 37.2 125 132

Blue 35.6 36.0 118 124

White 34.7 35.3 117 120

[Jbarbour]

Sorry for the late reply.

 

I'll be at the Ritz Carlton Sarasota on August 20th and 21st which is a Wednesday and Thursday. I'll be at Doral Sunday and Monday of this same week, playing the Blue Monster Sunday afternoon, then the Naples Ritz Carlton playing the Tiburon on Tuesday, then after Sarasota, driving up to the World Golf Village for 2 days. The King and Bear course there is pretty nice.

[hobbstc]

Seems we were there at the same time. We arrived Wed morning and left Fri morning. Did you play it? I was at the Beach Club with the wife the whole time. Fantastic Ritz, one of the best I've statyed at.

[stevenpol]

guys, how was the golf course? was it worth the money charged? WE NEED TO KNOW! thanks

[powermacknyc]

Review PLEASE?!?!??! I've been wanting to know how good this course is.

[hobbstc]

Sorry guys, didn't end up playing it. Stayed with the wife at the beach the whole time.

[irul&ublo]

I've played this course a couple of times.

It is one of the better maintained courses in the area. Lots of elevation changes and very unique vegetation.

Caddies are required and cost $30. They are well worth it. They will club you if you want but if you tell them how far you hit your clubs they can tell you where to aim.

I would definitely recommend this course if you have the chance.

The only course I would rate higher in the area is The Concession.

Good Luck, have fun.

[kell]

I played in a tourney there,it was beautiful.It had the best bermuda green ive ever seen,we asked the starter how many round a day he sees he said 3 or 4.Generous layout.