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The spectacular par 3, 4th hole at Legacy Golf Club

For those who prefer their Florida golf-travel destinations on the quieter, less crowded side, consider Sarasota. This medium-sized city on the Gulf Coast just south of Bradenton and about 50 miles south of Tampa has a leisurely feel to it with a modest skyline of bank and apartment buildings
that lets you breathe.

First settled by the Scots around 1884, the city is noted for citrus and
fishing. A long established winter retreat for snowbirds, Sarasota was also
the winter home of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus until it moved to Venice a few miles further down the coast. The reason the circus wintered here was the railroad. The Circus Museum remains one of Sarasota's featured attractions.

When you visit, don't forget the keys to the city. Separated from the city to the west on the other side of the intracoastal waterway is a whole chorus line of barrier islands including famed Longboat and Siesta keys. These thin strips of land stretch for miles and miles and feature upscale waterfront homes and Mediterranean style mansions, clean gated apartment complexes, yacht clubs, and golf clubs. The keys' jagged edges form quaint coves that make wonderful exploring in an easy-to-rent motor boat.

When you tire of golf or boating (fishing?) and want to go shopping or just browsing, Sarasota has bookstores, art galleries and shops offering all kinds of curios and fine restaurants. You won't want to miss St. Armands
Circle, an enclave of shops and restaurants located just off the Ringling
Causeway and just south of Longboat. Attracting strolling shoppers from all over the world, the circle is a traffic circle turned into a bazaar with a small lushly landscaped park in the center. For pricey but outstanding gourmet seafood, try Charley's Crab House.

Pack Your Clubs

The 90-mile stretch from Tampa down to Venice includes dozens of fine golf courses, most of which are located in the many developments typical of the Sunshine State. While population growth and development is not as fast in Sarasota as elsewhere in the state, it looms as a threat to the old-style atmosphere. And while the merchants and politicians might welcome growth, some traditionalists don't look forward to the changes. "When you head back north," one golf partner said, "don't write about us."

I was in Sarasota over the Christmas holidays in 1999 into early 2000 and
played the following courses. Keep in mind, course conditions vary throughout the year. It always pays to phone ahead and inquire.

University Park

Located a few miles west of Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport on
University Parkway is University Park, a sprawling upscale development with 27 holes. Designed by Ron Garl, the holes weave around lakes, environmental areas and ranch-style homes. There are lots of trees on the site and some modest elevation changes. The holes are well designed and will be enjoyable for players of all levels. The price tag is quite high, an irritant given the relatively poor condition of the greens. Over seeding had not yet taken hold and the greens were a bit coarse. If money is no object, go ahead and play this excellent course anyway. 941-359-9999.

Legacy Golf Club at Lakewood Ranch

Five miles east of University Park on the same parkway is this Arnold
Palmer design. Managed by Troon Golf, one of the best course management companies, the course and conditions were excellent. The front 9 offers some of the best holes I have ever played in the U.S. and include the very long par-5 second, the 380-yard 3rd, and the 200-yard 4th, the signature hole. Number 2 is 539 yards from the back and requires a tee shot over a marsh to the bend of a left dogleg. From there the hole veers slightly uphill to the green. Number 3 requires a drive to a plateau landing area over a corner of a large lake. It, too, is a dogleg left to a green adjacent to the lake that also serves as the major feature (and hazard) of the spectacular 4th, a 200-yard exercise in nerve steadying. Here, you either hit the green or your wet left or sandy right. But regardless of score, this is a visual delight. The rest of the course continues to take an interesting, varied route around lakes and ponds and over mounds (in some places). On the back 9, development of homes mars an otherwise savory golfing jaunt that ends with a treacherous finishing hole of 470 yards from the back tees. Not to worry, there are five sets of tees on this par-72 layout stretching from 4886 to 7067 yards. The fee is also a bit pricey. 941-907-7067.

Heron Creek

This Arthur Hills layout in Venice is also recommended, for its quality and fair fee. Opened in early 1999, the course is not yet matured but the layout is excellent with lots of interesting designs around water, pines and marsh. The front nine is a bit more beautiful than the back, but both nines will offer fine shotmaking opportunities, visual treats and one or two frustrating moments. A great deal of earth moving was done to create the course, particularly on the 10th hole and adjacent practice area. It is promoted as one of the highest points in Florida, but accept that with a grain of salt. It is still an interesting landscape. Arguably the best hole is the 8th, a 360-yard dogleg over a marsh to a very tight landing area flanked right by traps and left by a lake. Navigate the tee shot safely and you have a wedge in to a fairly severely sloped green. Put it on your list but expect hard greens, due to their immaturity. 941-423-6955.

Pelican Pointe and Heritage Oaks

These are two medium-priced development courses typical of Florida. They are definitely worth playing for the price but don't look for pristine
scenery except in snatches. Lots of homes are going up around both courses. Pelican Pointe 941-496-4653. Heritage Oaks 941-926-7600.

Calusa Lakes

This is one of the best development courses in the area, a delightful design of Ted McAnlis, a local favorite. A moderately challenging and delightfully sculpted layout stretching up to 6700 yards from the back, the course has generous fairways and lots of water, with some mounding. Trees also abound on a course whose scenic features are preserved because the homes on generous lots are well set back. The price is right, too. 941-484-8995.

Bent Tree Country Club

This private golf club a few miles east of I-75 (the major north-south route west of the city) features a superior traditional layout that is truly a delight to play. Attractive homes are well out of play on this venue that hosted the LPGA's Sarasota Classic from 1978 to 1988. Nancy Lopez loved it. After all, she won her first professional tournament here and her 35th, putting her into the Hall of Fame. This is a small, member equity club that is seeking to enhance revenues. As of January 2000, the club was considering a number of proposals including exclusive arrangements with several Sarasota hotels, in the same fashion as The Dunes in Myrtle Beach. In the meantime, call Director of Golf Mark Trotter and tell him I sent you. 941-371-8200  

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Alan B. Nichols is a professional golf-travel writer residing in Bethesda, MD.
He is the featured golf-travel writer for GolfLink. Alan appreciates your
comments on his features and the courses he has written about. 
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