Sarasota Golf... help (public or private)

aec4 · January 14, 2011

where should I play

I'm looking to play in Sarasota. I'm staying on Lido Beach. I may be able to use some connections to get on private or public courses, so please let me know where you think would be best.

JB57 · January 16, 2011

[quote name='aec4' timestamp='1295065005' post='2897882']
I'm looking to play in Sarasota. I'm staying on Lido Beach. I may be able to use some connections to get on private or public courses, so please let me know where you think would be best.
[/quote]

Haven't played any private golf in Sarasota, but if I could find a way, it would be Sara Bay CC designed by Donald Ross. Of the public courses, I recently played Misty Creek which is a very nice course on the outskirts of Sarasota (Bee Ridge Rd & I-75). Others played which I have enjoyed, Sarasota National, Waterlefe CC, University Park, The Legacy, Stoneybrook, Bent Tree CC, River Run, Greenfield Plantation, River Stand, I am not sure exactly where Lido Beach is, but I would recommend any of the ones I have played except Bent Tree. I really like and rate high The Legacy, Waterlefe and Sarasota National. All are always in great condition. Misty Creek most likely will be on that list but I have only played it this one time.

highscoreinky · January 16, 2011

Haven't played any private courses in the Sarasota/Bradenton area but there are several top notch semi-private and public tracks available. I agree with the poster above that Bent Tree should be avoided.

My favorite course in the area is River Strand which has 3 nine hole courses. I also recommend Waterlefe and The Legacy.

shankapotamus · January 17, 2011

Private--Gator Creek......very nice

Funderpants · January 17, 2011

aec4, I live and play about 2-3 times a week in SRQ. Here are a few course to play in no particular order. Lido is a little out of the way for most good golf.

Unless you just stay on the islands and go play Longboat Key Club. It has 2, 18 hole course. I believe there is another course on Longboat as well, just can't remember the name of them.

It's private, but If you can play the TPC Prestancia stadium course go for it, I've only played once but what a friggin' awesome course! They have another course as well.

Palm Aire is another private course, it has 2, 18's the championship course is fun to play. Haven't been there since the summer but it was well maintained. It used to host some really old pga tournaments and at one point the LPGA championship. Might not be the flashiest course, but it has some cool golf history for the area.

Bent Tree recently redid all of the tee boxes, sand and greens. Fair course, they used to host LPGA tournaments out there. It's an older designed course and is walkable. The 16th and 18th are fun. Not sure why the other posters hate it, but I thought they did a great job fixing up the course this summer.

Misty Creek is another good course, the 2 par 5's on the back nine are pretty tough. Greens are nice, it has a few concrete bunkers.

Legacy has gone downhill, for a $100 bucks the tee boxes, sand and greens should be a better shape. Great course layout, the 11th might be one of my favorite holes in Sarasota, but terrible maintenance.

Lakewood Ranch Country Club is a really good looking place, you can pay for a 2 day VIP pass to play the courses. They have 3, 18 hole courses. I've been a few times and have always played the King's Dunes, good times though.

University Park is great course, tight fairways and nice greens.

I played Sarasota National once this past summer, it was a 6 and half hour round....I'll never play it again. No driving range, no ranger, bleh, for the same price the Sarasota area has much better deals.

The Meadows is another private course, tons of water and fast greens. They have 3 courses, but I've only played "The Meadows". Everything is well maintained.

If you want to play some cheap golf with cheap beers The British Course at Bobby Jones, Rolling Green and the "Goat Farm" (Sarasota Golf Club) can be good times.

Sara Bay, The Concessions, The Founders and Gator Creek are supposed to be some nice private courses.

If you want to know more about any courses around here just let me know.