Course Description
"All the ingredients are here to make this a great golf course...to create that want-to-come-back feeling when you can't wait to tee it up and play again."
Tom Fazio
With 16 lakes, numerous trees, a wonderful setting framed by the Braden River, and a remarkable variety of play, this magnificent Sarasota golf course delivers as pure a golf experience as you will ever enjoy. The pleasures of this challenging course are further enhanced by the exceptional course conditioning, services and amenities of The Ritz-Carlton.
A lush, mature look
Abundant vegetation in the form of tree plantings, flowering shrubs, formal mulched beds, informal native grass areas, and created marshes will appear throughout. Many existing large oak trees were relocated to key locations on the elevated course surrounds. Hundreds of nursery-grown trees have also been incorporated including pines, palms as well as live oaks.
Dramatic
Moving an estimated 1.9 million cubic yards of earth, an extensive lake system has been created to obtain soil for the spectacular elevation changes, which range from five to 40 feet. Many holes feature downhill tee shots to elevated fairways and greens - while several holes include a climb into the green, giving this course a very distinct look for a Sarasota setting.
Colorful and extremely playable
The wide and spacious turf areas create a comfortable look and feel - and are contrasted with extensive vegetation along the margins of holes. Several holes feature a native look of wetland marshes and open water lakes, while colorful plantings around many tees convey an exotic tropical feel. The course elevations and contours frame the sides of the holes, giving each a contained and private feel.
Additional features include:
- First putting green adjacent to practice area tees
- Second putting green adjacent to the tees at #1 and #10
- Native area sand bunkers
- Formal bunkers with white sand on all holes
- Elevated Clubhouse overlooking holes 1, 10, 9, 18 and the practice areas
- On-course rest stations accessible from holes 3,4,6, 7, 11 and 12
- Dramatic entry gate with waterfalls, lakes and stone work
The experience of playing this Tom Fazio masterpiece is what Sarasota golf was meant to be.
Tom Fazio - "Best Modern Day Golf Course Architect"
With an exceptional track record spanning 35 years, the world-renowned Tom Fazio attributes his success to his visionary group of designers - who bring a diverse base of knowledge and united love for the game to the creation of truly spectacular courses.
Tom Fazio's design philosophy draws inspiration from the land, feeling that "golf courses should reflect the natural beauty of their environments." Maintaining that principle, Fazio and his team redefined Sarasota, Florida golf by following design priorities that include creating harmonious transitions from existing topographical conditions, and developing courses that offer golfers of varying skill levels a challenging yet enjoyable experience.
The recipient of numerous awards, no other living designer has more credits on:
- Golf Digest's list of "America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses"
- Golfweek's "America's Best"
Other accolades include:
- Golf Digest's "Best Modern Day Golf Course Architect" three consecutive times
- "The Old Tom Morris Award" from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
