Best Golf Courses in Sarasota, Florida: 2026 Local Guide

Best Golf Courses in Sarasota, Florida

by Hunt Brothers Realty

Some of the best golf courses in Sarasota, Florida range from historic public layouts to highly regarded private clubs. For public play, Bobby Jones Golf Club and University Park Country Club are two excellent places to start. Private-club golfers can explore TPC Prestancia, Sara Bay Country Club, Laurel Oak Country Club, and The Founders Golf Club, among others. Sarasota County has more than 50 golf courses in the broader area, giving golfers options that range from restored Donald Ross architecture to modern championship designs, while also making golf an important lifestyle consideration for buyers exploring Sarasota and Gulf Coast communities.

Quick Answers About the Best Golf Courses in Sarasota

What Are Some of the Best Golf Courses in Sarasota?

Standout Sarasota-area choices include Bobby Jones Golf Club, University Park Country Club, TPC Prestancia, Sara Bay Country Club, Laurel Oak Country Club, and The Founders Golf Club. The right choice depends heavily on whether you want public access, private membership, classic architecture, multiple courses, or a golf-centered residential community.

What Is a Great Public Golf Course in Sarasota?

Bobby Jones Golf Club is a particularly compelling public choice because of its history and restoration. The City-owned facility includes a restored 18-hole Donald Ross-designed course, a 9-hole adjustable Gillespie Course, and extensive practice facilities.

Can the Public Play University Park Country Club?

Yes. University Park Country Club currently welcomes daily-fee players, with public tee times available up to four days in advance. Its 27 holes were designed by Ron Garl and can be combined into different 18-hole rounds.

What Are Some of Sarasota's Top Private Golf Clubs?

TPC Prestancia, Laurel Oak Country Club, Sara Bay Country Club, and The Founders Golf Club are among Sarasota's notable private golf choices. Each provides a distinctly different experience, from championship TPC layouts to historic Donald Ross architecture and a traditional caddie program.

Are There Golf Courses Near Siesta Key?

Yes. TPC Prestancia is located in Palmer Ranch, just inland from Siesta Key, while several public-access courses are available elsewhere in Sarasota. Buyers considering living on Siesta Key can therefore combine an island home base with access to numerous mainland golf options.

Can You Live in a Golf Community in Sarasota?

Yes. The Sarasota region includes numerous residential communities built around or adjacent to golf courses and country clubs. Membership arrangements vary significantly, however, so buyers should verify whether membership is mandatory or optional, what privileges are included, and what initiation fees, dues, assessments, and other costs apply to the specific property.

Can You Play Golf Year-Round in Sarasota?

Sarasota's climate supports year-round golf, although weather, maintenance schedules, course renovations, seasonal demand, and summer conditions can affect availability and playing conditions. Tee times can also be more competitive during the Gulf Coast's busier seasonal months.

Why Sarasota Is a Serious Golf Destination

Golf has unusually deep roots in Sarasota. According to Visit Sarasota County's 2026 golf guide, the Sarasota County area offers more than 50 courses and clubs, spanning public, private, and resort-style golf.

The area's golf history reaches back to the late 19th century. Today, that legacy is represented by historic Donald Ross designs, modern championship layouts, private country clubs, municipal golf, resort courses, golf academies, practice facilities, and residential communities where the course is part of daily life.

There is also substantial architectural variety. Sarasota golfers can play courses associated with Donald Ross, Ron Garl, Robert Trent Jones, Jr., Rees Jones, Gary Player, Robert Von Hagge, and other prominent designers without leaving the broader region.

1. Bobby Jones Golf Club

Best for: Public golf, history, Donald Ross architecture, practice facilities, and golfers who want an accessible Sarasota experience.

Bobby Jones Golf Club is one of Sarasota's most historically important golf facilities. The Donald Ross course opened to the public in 1926, and the property was later named for legendary amateur golfer Robert Tyre Jones, Jr.

The City of Sarasota completed a major restoration and reopened the facility in December 2023. Today's golf complex includes the restored 18-hole Donald Ross course and a renewed 9-hole Gillespie Course that can be configured in multiple ways.

The practice facilities are another major attraction. The City identifies a 25-acre practice complex with a 70-station driving range, extensive short-game areas, and a large putting green.

Bobby Jones is also part of a larger public recreation property. The adjacent nature park encompasses approximately 90 acres, with trails winding around restored wetlands and wildlife habitat.

Why it stands out: Few Sarasota courses combine public access, genuine architectural history, a modern restoration, extensive practice space, and a central city location this effectively.

2. University Park Country Club

Best for: Public-access championship golf, multiple course combinations, practice, and buyers interested in a golf-community lifestyle.

University Park Country Club offers 27 holes of Ron Garl-designed championship golf in a mature natural setting near the Sarasota-Manatee county line. The three nines can be paired into different 18-hole combinations, adding variety for repeat players.

One of University Park's biggest advantages is accessibility. Although it provides a country-club environment and memberships, the club currently welcomes daily-fee public play, with tee times available four days in advance.

The club also operates a golf academy and practice facilities, making it relevant to players who want instruction and structured game improvement rather than simply an occasional round.

University Park is part of a larger residential environment with golf, tennis, pickleball, fitness, dining, walking and cycling routes, and multiple neighborhoods. For a home buyer who wants golf integrated into everyday life, that broader community context can be just as important as the course itself.

Why it stands out: University Park combines the feel and amenities of a private country club with an opportunity for daily-fee golfers to experience the course.

3. TPC Prestancia

Best for: Private-club golfers, championship pedigree, Palmer Ranch living, and players who want two distinct courses.

TPC Prestancia is a private 36-hole club in Palmer Ranch, a convenient location for golfers living in south Sarasota or on Siesta Key.

The club's Stadium Course was designed by Ron Garl with PGA player Mike Souchak as consultant. It was inspired by the stadium concept associated with TPC Sawgrass and has hosted professional senior golf events during its history.

The Players Course provides a contrasting experience. Designed by Robert Von Hagge with Bruce Devlin as consultant, it uses mature oaks, doglegs, and water to create a more traditional Florida country-club layout.

2026 course note: TPC Prestancia currently reports that the Stadium Course is undergoing a comprehensive tee-to-green transformation. Golfers and prospective members should contact the club directly for current course availability, project timing, and playing arrangements.

Why it stands out: Two championship layouts, TPC heritage, substantial practice facilities, and a Palmer Ranch location make Prestancia one of Sarasota's most recognizable private golf choices.

4. Sara Bay Country Club

Best for: Golf architecture enthusiasts, walkers, traditional private-club golf, and Donald Ross fans.

Sara Bay Country Club is a private, member-owned club founded in 1926 and located north of downtown Sarasota. Its Donald Ross-designed course gives golfers a direct connection with one of the most influential architects in American golf.

Sara Bay emphasizes traditional strategy rather than simply length. Wide fairways, carefully positioned bunkers, subtle green contours, mature Florida pines, and moss-draped oaks create the type of decision-making golf associated with Ross architecture.

The course underwent a significant restoration in 2018 using Ross's original plans as a guide. Additional turf improvements were completed in 2023, including re-grassing of fairways, tees, and approach areas.

Walking is also an important part of the Sara Bay experience. The club specifically promotes the course as walkable and allows walking throughout the year.

Why it stands out: Sara Bay offers one of the Sarasota area's strongest combinations of architectural history, traditional golf, restoration work, and walkability.

5. Laurel Oak Country Club

Best for: Private-club golfers who want 36 holes, variety, active golf groups, and a broader country-club lifestyle.

Laurel Oak Country Club offers two 18-hole championship courses in east Sarasota. One was designed by Gary Player, while the second was redesigned by Rees Jones in 2005.

Having 36 holes is a meaningful advantage for frequent golfers. The two courses provide different design challenges, and multiple tee choices allow players to adjust the experience to their abilities and preferred yardage.

Laurel Oak also has an extensive golf calendar with men's, women's, couples', junior, clinic, and social golf opportunities. For prospective members, that can make the club attractive not simply as a place to play but as a central part of an active lifestyle.

Why it stands out: Two championship courses give members substantial variety without leaving their home club.

6. The Founders Golf Club

Best for: Private golf, low-density play, walking, caddie golf, and golfers who value the course as the central club experience.

The Founders Golf Club centers its experience on an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones, Jr. championship course. The par-72 layout stretches to approximately 7,094 yards and is routed through mature oaks, pines, palms, lakes, and wetlands.

The club describes the course as a core design, meaning golfers do not cross roads during play and residential development is set back from the playing corridors. That helps keep the golf experience visually focused on the course and surrounding landscape.

The Founders also operates a traditional caddie program and allows walking, features that distinguish it from many cart-oriented Florida clubs. Membership is intentionally limited, and the club promotes an environment where tee-time congestion is minimized.

Why it stands out: The combination of a Robert Trent Jones, Jr. layout, core-course routing, caddie program, walking, and limited membership creates a golf-first private-club experience.

Other Sarasota Golf Courses Worth Knowing

A list of six courses only begins to describe Sarasota's golf options. Depending on access, budget, location, and playing style, several additional clubs deserve consideration.

Tatum Ridge Golf Links

Tatum Ridge provides public-access golf east of Interstate 75. Visit Sarasota County describes it as a Scottish-style layout set among Florida wetlands, making it a useful option for golfers who want an accessible round outside the country-club environment.

Bent Tree Golf Club

Bent Tree has significant tournament history, including years as a host venue for LPGA competition. Once private, the club now welcomes outside play, giving golfers access to a course that has tested professional players and U.S. Open qualifying competitors.

Misty Creek Country Club

Misty Creek offers another Sarasota-area public-access opportunity, with advance tee times available to outside players. Its wooded setting, natural hammocks, pines, palmettos, and wildlife give it a distinctly natural Florida character.

Serenoa Golf Club

Serenoa is another public option in south Sarasota. Water comes into play throughout the layout, giving the course a recognizable Florida golf character and requiring players to think carefully about placement and risk.

Best Sarasota Golf Courses by Type

Golf Priority	Course to Consider	Access
Historic public golf	Bobby Jones Golf Club	Public
Public-access country-club experience	University Park Country Club	Daily-fee and membership
TPC championship golf	TPC Prestancia	Private
Classic Donald Ross design	Sara Bay Country Club	Private
36-hole private-club variety	Laurel Oak Country Club	Private
Caddie and walking experience	The Founders Golf Club	Private

What About Golf Near Longboat Key and the Gulf Islands?

Golfers interested in coastal living do not necessarily have to choose between the beach and the course. The broader Sarasota region includes golf convenient to Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Lido Key, downtown Sarasota, Palmer Ranch, and communities farther east.

The Resort at Longboat Key Club is especially notable for golfers who want an island golf environment. Visit Sarasota County identifies 45 holes of championship golf across its island facilities, with golf access tied to club membership and resort guest arrangements.

Siesta Key itself is better known for beaches and waterfront living than championship golf. Its central location, however, provides access to mainland courses while allowing residents to return to an island setting after a round. Buyers can learn more through Hunt Brothers Realty's guide to living on Siesta Key.

Buying a Home in a Sarasota Golf Community

For a golfer moving to Sarasota, proximity to a favorite course can become a significant part of the home search. But living next to a golf course and belonging to the associated club are not necessarily the same thing.

Some residential communities are closely integrated with private clubs. Others may have optional membership arrangements, separate club ownership, or homes near a course without membership privileges attached to the real estate.

What Should Golf-Community Buyers Verify?

Whether golf membership is mandatory, optional, or separate from home ownership
Current initiation fees and membership dues
Membership categories and privileges
Waiting lists or membership availability
Transfer or resale provisions, if any
Cart fees, trail fees, food and beverage minimums, and other charges
Guest policies and reciprocal privileges
HOA or condominium fees separate from club costs
Current or planned club assessments and capital projects
Whether the club is member-owned, equity, non-equity, or otherwise structured
The home's actual position relative to fairways, greens, cart paths, and practice facilities

Membership costs, rules, privileges, availability, and assessments can change. Buyers should obtain current written information directly from the applicable club and association before purchasing a property based on golf access or membership expectations. Questions involving contracts, membership rights, title, ownership obligations, or other legal matters should be reviewed with a qualified Florida real estate attorney or other appropriate professional.

Is a Golf-Course Home Right for You?

Golf-course living can offer attractive views, convenient access to recreation, club amenities, and a strong connection between home and lifestyle. The specific location of the residence still matters considerably.

A home facing a fairway can experience different conditions from one beside a tee box, green, cart path, maintenance area, or practice facility. Buyers should visit a property at different times, observe golf and maintenance activity, and consider landscaping, privacy, sun exposure, errant-ball exposure, and the location of club operations.

Property condition, insurance, association obligations, and club membership should also be evaluated independently. A desirable course does not eliminate the need for normal residential due diligence.

How to Choose the Best Sarasota Golf Course for Your Lifestyle

There is no single Sarasota golf course that is best for every golfer. A useful starting point is deciding what kind of golf experience you actually want.

For public golf and history: Start with Bobby Jones Golf Club.
For public access with a country-club feel: Consider University Park Country Club.
For a private TPC experience: Explore TPC Prestancia.
For classic Donald Ross golf: Consider Sara Bay Country Club.
For two private championship courses: Explore Laurel Oak Country Club.
For caddie golf and limited membership: Look at The Founders Golf Club.
For golf combined with island living: Compare mainland club access with homes on Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Lido Key, and nearby coastal neighborhoods.

For home buyers, the better question may be broader than "Which course is best?" Consider which combination of golf, home style, club structure, beach access, boating, downtown access, dining, shopping, and everyday travel fits the way you expect to live in Sarasota.

Golf Is Part of the Sarasota Lifestyle

Sarasota's golf scene is notable for its range. A golfer can experience a restored municipal Donald Ross course, 27-hole daily-fee country-club golf, private TPC layouts, a historic member-owned club, 36-hole private facilities, and limited-membership caddie golf within the broader Sarasota area.

That variety also gives home buyers choices. Some may want to live directly inside a golf community. Others may prefer Sarasota waterfront living, an island condominium, or a downtown home while driving to a favorite course.

The best choice depends on how often you play and how much of your Sarasota lifestyle you want organized around golf.

Explore Sarasota Golf Communities With Hunt Brothers Realty

If golf is an important part of your Sarasota home search, Hunt Brothers Realty can help compare communities based on location, home style, proximity to courses, club structure, association considerations, beach access, boating, and other lifestyle priorities. Start by exploring Sarasota and Gulf Coast communities, learn more about living on Siesta Key, or explore Sarasota waterfront neighborhoods if you want to combine golf with coastal living.

Informational notice: This article is provided for general informational and educational purposes. Golf-course access, tee times, membership availability, initiation fees, dues, assessments, reciprocal privileges, guest policies, renovation schedules, and club rules can change. Buyers considering property in a golf community should verify current club and association information directly and review property-specific financial, insurance, inspection, title, association, tax, and legal matters with the appropriate qualified professionals before making a purchasing decision.