Here you’ll find a multitude of scenic and rewarding opportunities to test your game. There’s a course to accommodate any player’s requirements, including public, semi-private and private courses with a variety of layout and costs. During the height of the winter season, no golf destination rocks and rolls harder than this southwest Florida enclave on the Golf of Mexico.

The Sarasota Area

The arts and cultural mecca of Sarasota is also a treasure trove of award-winning golf courses, from the Tom Fazio designed course at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club to the prestigious greens at the famed Waterlefe Golf Club just a few miles away. Guests staying at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota have exclusive access to the golf club, offering a challenging 18-hole championship course that takes golfers through a picturesque landscape of lakes and pristine greens punctuated with the salty smells of the nearby gulf waters.

Just a few miles away, the semi-private Waterlefe Golf & River Club in Bradenton beckons golfers to play the 72-par, signature golf holes designed by Ted McAnlis. The course’s  challenging outline borders the Manatee River, allowing players to remain competitive with five sets of tees ranging in length from 4,700 to 6,908 yards. The community has been rated 4 ½ stars by Golf Digest, making it a popular spot for golfers of all skill sets.

Another popular semi-private golf community is the Stoneybrook Golf Club, an Arthur Hills designed course. Lush Florida vegetation, sprawling palm trees and towering oaks gracefully blend into the gentle, rolling hills of the course. Tranquil waters and open vistas make Stoneybrook one of the best public courses in the area. 

The Oaks Club, a private members club, recently completely a redesign of one of  its two courses. The new Heron Course will play between 4,185 and 6,825 yards, slightly longer than the current 6,695 yards. “The revitalized course will have new surface contours, better constructed and strategically placed sand bunkers, interesting greens complexes, and a new teeing system that will accommodate players of all skill levels,” said course architect Jason Straka, who redesigned the course on behalf of Hurdzan/Fry Environmental Golf Course Design.

“Swing” into Boca Grande, found on Gasparilla Island, and find The Gasparilla Inn & Club featuring a magnificent Pete Dye signature 18-hole championship course. Both beautiful and challenging, the par 72, 6,837-yard course is considered the crown jewel of this historic resort. Complete practice facilities are available to all resort guests, and lessons from the club’s PGA professionals can be easily arranged by appointment. 

The Tampa Bay Area

The Tampa Bay area offers even more stellar courses to play such as The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook, a Salamander Golf & Spa Resort.  A favorite among PGA Tour professionals, the Copperhead Course is the most recognizable of Innisbrook’s four courses. Tree-lined fairways and rolling terrain define the course—a lengthy challenge for even the longest hitters at more than 7,2000 yards. The surrounding lakes and ponds are home to abundant wildlife, including fox squirrels, alligators, blue herons, and many other waterfowl, allowing members visitors to enjoy golf as nature intended. 

Not far you’ll find TPC Tampa Bay, home to an 18-hole, par 71, an award-winning course designed by Bobby Weed with Chi Chi Rodriguez as player consultant. The course gives players an opportunity to play well within their game, with a variety of teeing areas that allow the course to be played from 5,036 yards from the fowrd tees to 4,990 yards from the championship tees.

The Naples Area

In Naples, a region well-known for its numerous golf courses, it takes a very special golf course to attract attention, however Calusa Pines distinguishes itself from its brethren by designing a course that perfectly blends native plant vegetation with sweeping ridges generating outstanding vistas. 

Named among the prestigious “Top Ten Best New Private Clubs” in the United States in Golf Digest, Calusa Pines is an absolute blast to play. Perched upon the highest land point in south Florida, this course offers huge elevation. You’ll need to befriend a member to get a game on this private Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry designed layout, but if you manage, you’ll encounter an exceptional golf experience. 

Also in Naples is Tiburón, located at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort. Perfectly suited for those who wish to play a British Open style course—firm and fast, but without the thick thatch rough—Tiburón presents an excellent opportunity. The Tiburón is a public facility, certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, with 36 championship holes designed by Greg Norman. 

The Gold and Black courses each offer golfers a unique experience with sod wall bunkers, coquina shell waste bunkers and the absence of conventional rough. Following Greg Norman’s philosophy of maximizing the natural allure of the land, each element has been carefully integrated to produce a serene atmosphere in which to appreciate the finer aspects of the game. 

Situated minutes from Olde Naples and Marco Island, Eagle Lakes Golf Club welcomes its players with a one-of-a-kind Everglades golf experience. This 7,150 yard, par 71 championship course is sure to match-up well against the lowest handicappers while providing casual players with an engaging experience.

Designed with the surrounding Everglades in mind, Eagle Lakes captivates with an abundance of wildlife, including a pair of American Bald Eagles. 

Before leaving Naples, any golfer must try Naples National Golf Course, another Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry creation. This distinguished, 19-hole, member-owned golf club has maintained and cherished golf’s proudest traditions: purity in design, quality of membership, and love of the game.  

Back on the mainland, in Estero, you’ll discover the elegant Jack Nicklaus designed course, Old Corkscrew. The course, always in motion, is rated one of the most challenging in Florida and to any golf enthusiasts, the course is a must-play destination. 

Whether you want to play, study with a pro, or be part of the gallery, Southwest Florida is an incredible destination for an adventure in golf. Visitors can gain from checking in with their hotels, which often have arrangements for guests to play at some of the private golf clubs. Also, many clubs have systems of reciprocity in place for guests. In fact, many courses are open for public play during the “off-season,” May to October, for those who prefer to avoid crowds. No matter which area you choose to explore or which course you select, the Sunshine State has something to offer any golfer. 

Winding down the pathway toward The Oaks Club, magnificent ancient oaks dripping with Spanish moss seem to wrap their arms around you. In the distance a stately Antebellum mansion with soaring white columns beckons. Once inside the clubhouse, an intoxicating atmosphere of Southern hospitality welcomes you. A graceful double staircase, beautiful flowers, warm rich woods and elegant fabrics are the final indication that you have arrived in Paradise!

The essence of luxury and comfort is the aura created by this wonderful community living “under the Oaks.” Celebrated for its sense of community and social calendar, this premier golf and country club is located in Osprey, just a blink from downtown Sarasota and beaches that are ranked among the world’s finest.

Enveloped in a lush thousand-acre tropical landscape, The Oaks Club is a private membership-required community created expressly for the very discerning. The Oaks Club offers lifestyle opportunities for all ages within three gated neighborhoods including waterfront estates, high-rise luxury condominiums, sophisticated town homes, golf course homes and maintenance-free villas.

“Life under The Oaks Club,” as described by Susan Greene, Director of Membership and Marketing, “is the result of a community of couples, families and individuals who are looking for camaraderie, security and a strong neighborhood spirit. Here they find a wonderful place to make friends and enjoy the lifestyle they have earned.” Families with children are often attracted to The Oaks Club by the exceptional educational opportunities nearby, headlined by the distinguished Pine View School for the intellectually gifted and the renowned Ringling College of Art and Design.

Susan continues, “Living at The Oaks Club is like being on a cruise ship – so many activities to choose from every day.” Among those activities are two 18-hole championship golf courses with an elite staff and first-rate pro shop, 12 lighted Har-Tru tennis courts staffed by USPTA-certified professionals and an active croquet court.

No need is missed! Outstanding dining choices include three distinct dining rooms with three different menus (72 menu items in all). Options for dining include the Tavern with its “steakhouse feel,” the Grill, a casual spot to meet after the game and the Glen Room, the most formal dining room with traditional menu items such as dover sole, rack of lamb, and tenderloin. At The Oaks, even your golf clubs get VIP treatment – they are loaded and ready at your tee time and then cleaned and stored for you after your game.

This slice of Paradise has a remarkable cultural history; it was discovered and purchased after the turn of the century by Bertha Honore Palmer, a Chicago socialite, business woman, philanthropist and champion of women’s issues. She built a residence and wintered on an area of The Oaks Club property now known as Oaks Bayside. Her original gazebo and reflecting pond remain there, providing a unique centerpiece for the community.

The imprint of Mrs. Palmer’s attention to furthering women can still be felt within The Oaks Club community, where the Women’s Club membership is three hundred and seventy-five. Many of the tournaments held in this community are female-centered: the USTA Women’s $50,000 Pro Circuit Tournament, and the U.S. Women’s Open Qualifier.

As to what’s around this well-situated neighborhood – well, there’s a lot! The Sarasota beaches must be mentioned. Famous for their white sand, Nokomis and Casey Key beaches are visitor friendly and beautiful beyond description. Dr. Beach named Siesta Key, “America’s Most Beautiful Beach,” in 2011. A Sunday sunset on Siesta Key listening to the drum circle as the sun disappears is a not-to-be-missed experience.

Nature lovers will also enjoy the abundance of hiking, canoeing and kayaking at nearby Oscar Scherer and Myakka State Parks. History buffs, as well as their families, will not want to miss Osprey’s historic Spanish Point and baseball fans will find an exciting spring season with the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium. When shopping therapy is required, you can check-in at Southgate Mall where occupants include Saks Fifth Avenue and Williams Sonoma or cruise over to the specialty shops on St. Armand’s Circle.

Sarasota’s largest master-planned community, Palmer Ranch consists of 10,000 acres of beautifully developed land. The community presents residents with a wide range of lifestyle choices, from maintenance-free villas and condominiums to beautiful single family homes. All located just minutes from the county’s renowned beaches, cultural, business and civic centers.

The Palmer Ranch area was original purchased in 1910 by the late Bertha Honore Palmer, a wealthy socialite businesswoman from Chicago.  Mrs. Palmer was one of Sarasota’s most influential founders. She invited many of her Chicago friends to visit her in her newly found paradise including John Ringling. A great supporter of the Arts, Bertha and her friends are largely responsible for the thriving arts community we enjoy today. They of course needed entertainment during their winter holidays so, they founded many of the arts organizations we still enjoy today. 

Palmer Ranch real estate includes three golf country clubs, the TPC Prestancia and the Stoneybrook Golf and Country Club, and on the very edge of Palmer Ranch is The Oaks Club, the original location of Bertha Palmer’s home.  These fine golf course communities are gated neighborhoods and have a variety of homes from large estate homes to maintenance free villas to condos.  All of the neighborhoods are gated communities in Palmer Ranch with the exception of Stonebridge and The Isles on Palmer Ranch.  

The Legacy Bike Trail is a 12 mile section of old railroad track that has been taken up and paved to make a 12 foot wide bike path.  This paved bike path runs from McIntosh Road through Palmer Ranch just west of the neighborhood of Turtle Rock and continues south into Venice, FL.  Residents and visitors to Sarasota enjoy walking, rollerblading, and biking on this safe and easy to use bike trail.  Along with being a great area with many amenities the Palmer Ranch neighborhoods are about a 15-20 minute drive to the world famous Siesta Key Beach. 

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The over 600 residences at Waterlefe include estate homes, townhouses and condominiums, all enhanced by a fifty-nine slip marina on the Manatee River, an award-winning golf course and scenic views. Some homes are waterfront with boat docks in their own backyard.

The luxury Waterlefe Golf & River Club golf course is comprised of a collection of 18 unique holes designed by architect Ted McAnlis. True to its Waterlefe name, water is in play on 18 of the 18 holes — and many holes have water in play on more than one occasion. Designer McAlis comments, “…Waterlefe will present a memorable – even unforgettable – golfing experience.” The competitive layout, winding its way through protected conservation areas, presents a challenge for golfers of all skill levels. There are five sets of tees ranging in length from 4,700 to 6,908 yards. Five holes border the scenic Manatee River, where you may spot a family of manatees swimming close to shore and poking their noses up for a breath of air.

Known as a “Must Play” course, Waterlefe is a Golf Digest-rated 4 ½ star course and has been the host site for five US Open Qualifying Tournaments. PGA Professionals at The Golf Academy at Waterlefe are ready to improve your game, whether you are a beginner or a seasoned player. Ensuring a full-service atmosphere, you’ll find included an aqua range, practice putting green, pro shop, grille room, and beverage cart service.

The River Club at Waterlefe is the center of social and dining events. The impressive clubhouse offers an exquisite dining room overlooking the Manatee River and the spacious terrace, which is the perfect spot to watch the splendor of a Florida sunset. Upscale amenities abound with a 2,400 square foot saline swimming pool, tiki bar on the patio, and a modern fitness center, where programs such as personal training, yoga, Zumba, and water aerobics are offered.

Waterlefe Golf and River Club is located just east of I-75, conveniently close to the renowned culture, art, shopping and cuisine of the Bradenton-Sarasota area. When it comes to location and prestigious recreational living, this tropical residential resort has it all.