Best Golf Courses Near Longboat Key

by Hunt Brothers Realty

The best golf courses near Longboat Key, Florida begin on the island itself, where The Resort at Longboat Key Club offers 45 holes across Links on Longboat and Harbourside Golf Course. Those courses are limited to club members and resort guests, so golfers seeking public access can also consider Manatee Golf Course, IMG Academy Golf Club, University Park Country Club, Bobby Jones Golf Club, and other Sarasota-Bradenton courses. For buyers considering Longboat Key Club real estate and lifestyle, golf can be combined with Gulf beaches, Sarasota Bay, boating, dining, and access to mainland Sarasota.

Longboat Key presents golfers with an unusual choice. Residents can pursue private resort golf directly on the barrier island or cross to the mainland for public and daily-fee courses in Bradenton and Sarasota. The right course therefore depends not only on course design, but also on whether you have club or resort access, how frequently you play, and how far you want to travel from the island.

Quick Answers About the Best Golf Courses Near Longboat Key

Are there golf courses directly on Longboat Key?

Yes. Longboat Key Club has 45 holes of golf on the island. Links on Longboat is an 18-hole, par-71 course near the Gulf side, while Harbourside provides 27 holes through three distinct nine-hole layouts near Sarasota Bay and Longboat Key Club Moorings.

Can the public play Longboat Key Club?

Not through ordinary public daily-fee access. The Resort at Longboat Key Club states that its golf courses are available to club members and resort guests. Resort guests currently may make tee times 24 hours in advance, subject to availability and course schedules.

What is a convenient public golf course for Longboat Key?

Manatee Golf Course in West Bradenton is a practical public option. The course specifically identifies itself as the closest public golf course and driving range to Longboat Key, Anna Maria Island, and Holmes Beach.

Is IMG Academy Golf Club open to outside golfers?

Yes. IMG Academy Golf Club in Bradenton offers tee times to outside golfers as well as memberships. Its 18-hole championship course extends beyond 6,800 yards from the back tees and includes a practice facility.

Where can you play 27 holes of public-access championship golf?

University Park Country Club has 27 holes designed by Ron Garl and welcomes nonmember daily-fee players. The club currently permits nonmembers to book tee times four days in advance.

What is a good public course for golfers interested in Sarasota golf history?

Bobby Jones Golf Club is a standout public choice. Sarasota's municipal golf facility features a restored Donald Ross-designed 18-hole championship course, a nine-hole adjustable par-3 course, and an extensive practice facility.

Does owning property near Longboat Key Club automatically include golf membership?

No. Buyers should treat real estate ownership and Longboat Key Club membership as separate considerations unless current property and membership documents specifically establish otherwise. Membership categories, availability, initiation requirements, dues, privileges, and waiting lists should be verified directly with the club before purchasing a property based on anticipated golf access.

1. Links on Longboat: Coastal Golf Directly on Longboat Key

Links on Longboat at The Resort at Longboat Key Club provides the island's signature 18-hole golf experience. The par-71 course was redesigned by Ron Garl in 2015 and stretches to approximately 6,748 yards from the longest tees.

The course has characteristics associated with seaside golf, including coastal breezes, open natural areas, large greens, waterways, and extensive landscaping. Longboat Key Club describes small waterways running along many fairways, making accuracy and positioning important even though the course uses fewer conventional bunkers than some layouts.

Who can play Links on Longboat?

Golf is restricted to Longboat Key Club members and qualifying resort guests rather than conventional public daily-fee play. Resort guests currently may request tee times one day in advance. Golfers should verify current privileges and availability directly with the club.

September 2026 course update: The resort's current golf information states that all 18 holes at Links on Longboat are closed during August and September for scheduled annual maintenance. Golfers planning a September stay should verify the reopening date directly with the golf shop.

2. Harbourside Golf Course: 27 Holes Along Sarasota Bay

Harbourside Golf Course gives Longboat Key golfers another 27 holes through three nine-hole layouts, White Egret, Red Hawk, and Blue Heron. Many holes occupy the Sarasota Bay side of Longboat Key near Longboat Key Club Moorings, creating a noticeably different environment from Links on Longboat.

White Egret is the least water-intensive of the three nines but uses tighter fairways to create its challenge. Red Hawk was redesigned by Ron Garl and combines a more open layout with water influencing numerous shots. Blue Heron borders Sarasota Bay and serves as Harbourside's signature nine.

Why does Harbourside matter to Longboat Key homebuyers?

Harbourside is integrated into the Bay Isles and Longboat Key Club environment, where golf-course, bayfront, marina-oriented, and Gulf-access real estate can sit relatively close together. Hunt Brothers Realty's Grand Bay Longboat Key real estate guide and Marina Bay Longboat Key guide illustrate some of the residential choices in this part of the island.

Proximity to a golf course should not be interpreted as automatic golf privileges. Buyers should independently verify club membership availability and costs as well as association fees, insurance, property condition, and other property-specific ownership considerations.

3. Manatee Golf Course: A Convenient Public Option

Manatee Golf Course in West Bradenton is one of the most practical choices for Longboat Key residents and visitors who want public golf. The course identifies itself as the closest public golf course and driving range to Longboat Key, Anna Maria Island, and Holmes Beach.

The 18-hole course offers five sets of tees, allowing golfers to choose a distance suited to their game. Practice facilities include a grass-tee driving range as well as putting and chipping areas, and instruction is available.

Why consider Manatee Golf Course instead of Longboat Key Club?

Access is the main distinction. Longboat Key Club requires membership or qualifying resort-guest status, while Manatee Golf Course provides conventional public golf. That can make it a more straightforward choice for a Longboat Key visitor staying outside the resort or a resident who does not maintain a private-club membership.

4. IMG Academy Golf Club: Championship Golf in Bradenton

IMG Academy Golf Club in Bradenton is another strong mainland option. The 18-hole championship course plays to more than 6,800 yards from its longest tees while offering multiple tee choices for different playing abilities.

The course originally opened in 1972 and later underwent a $2.5 million Gene Bates renovation, reopening in 2003. The renovation included changes to the routing, bunkers, irrigation and drainage, landscaping, practice facilities, and playing surfaces.

Can Longboat Key visitors book IMG Academy Golf Club?

Yes, subject to availability. IMG Academy Golf Club currently offers outside tee-time booking, with tee times available three days in advance under its published course policies. The club also offers memberships.

5. University Park Country Club: 27 Holes of Ron Garl Golf

University Park Country Club provides 27 holes of championship golf designed by Ron Garl. The three nines can be combined into different 18-hole configurations, giving repeat players more variety than a conventional single 18-hole course.

The club is particularly useful to Longboat Key golfers because it welcomes nonmember daily-fee play. As of 2026, outside golfers can book tee times four days in advance. The club also operates a golf academy and full-service pro shop.

Is University Park farther from Longboat Key?

Yes. University Park is a mainland option rather than an island-adjacent course, so it requires more travel than Longboat Key Club or nearby West Bradenton golf. The tradeoff is public-access championship golf with three nine-hole layouts. Actual travel time from Longboat Key can vary significantly with starting point, bridge conditions, seasonal traffic, and time of day.

6. Bobby Jones Golf Club: Historic Public Golf in Sarasota

Bobby Jones Golf Club is one of Sarasota's most important public golf destinations. Its original Donald Ross-designed course opened in 1926, and the historic layout underwent a major restoration by golf architect Richard Mandell before reopening for public play in December 2023.

Today's municipal facility combines an 18-hole championship course with the nine-hole John Hamilton Gillespie adjustable par-3 course and a modern practice facility. That combination makes Bobby Jones useful both for a full round and for golfers who want a shorter golf experience or dedicated practice time.

For more mainland options, Hunt Brothers Realty's guide to the best public golf courses in Sarasota compares Bobby Jones with Serenoa, University Park, Misty Creek, Meadows Golf Club, and additional public-access choices.

7. Sarasota's Additional Public Golf Courses

Golfers willing to travel farther into Sarasota can significantly expand their choices. Serenoa Golf Club offers public play on a layout where water influences every hole, while Misty Creek Country Club and Bent Tree Golf Club provide additional outside-play opportunities in eastern Sarasota.

The Sarasota public-golf market also changed in 2026 with Meadows Golf Club's transition to a 36-hole public golf destination under Arnold Palmer Golf Management. These courses are less about immediate proximity to Longboat Key and more about giving island residents access to a much larger regional golf menu.

Hunt Brothers Realty's broader Sarasota golf course guide provides additional choices for golfers who want to explore beyond the courses closest to the island.

Which Golf Course Near Longboat Key Is Best for You?

The best choice depends heavily on access. Golfers with Longboat Key Club privileges have 45 holes directly on the island, while golfers seeking public tee times have a broader selection once they cross to Bradenton or Sarasota.

For 18-hole island golf near the Gulf: Links on Longboat
For 27 holes near Sarasota Bay: Harbourside Golf Course
For convenient public golf: Manatee Golf Course
For public championship golf in Bradenton: IMG Academy Golf Club
For 27-hole daily-fee golf: University Park Country Club
For historic public golf: Bobby Jones Golf Club
For a larger menu of mainland courses: Sarasota's additional public golf options

Golf access, rates, maintenance closures, membership availability, guest privileges, and tee-time rules can change. Contact the individual golf course before planning a round, particularly when golf is an important part of a vacation or seasonal stay.

Is Longboat Key a Good Place to Live if You Love Golf?

Longboat Key can be particularly compelling for golfers who also prioritize coastal living. The island combines golf with the Gulf of Mexico, Sarasota Bay, beaches, boating, waterfront dining, and relatively convenient access to Sarasota and Bradenton. Hunt Brothers Realty's guide to the beaches and real estate of Longboat Key provides a broader look at the island lifestyle.

The key decision is whether golf needs to be immediately outside your door. Buyers who expect to play frequently at Longboat Key Club may prioritize the southern portion of the island or Bay Isles. Other buyers may prefer direct Gulf frontage, boating access, or another island location and simply drive to golf when they want to play.

Can you live behind the Longboat Key Club gates with golf views?

Yes. Several luxury condominium communities occupy the Longboat Key Club environment, and individual residences can have golf-course views depending on building, floor, and orientation. Hunt Brothers Realty's guides to The Sanctuary on Longboat Key and Regent Place provide examples of Gulf-front residential options within this part of the island.

Views, club privileges, association rules, fees, assessments, insurance, parking, storage, rental policies, and other property characteristics can vary by community and residence. Buyers should verify those details through current property and association documents and with the appropriate qualified professionals.

What Should Buyers Verify Before Choosing a Home for Golf Access?

Do not purchase a Longboat Key property based on an assumption that nearby golf automatically conveys playing privileges. Buyers interested in Longboat Key Club should verify current membership availability, membership category, initiation requirements, annual dues, golf privileges, tee-time rules, guest policies, and any waiting-list conditions directly with the club.

The real estate itself deserves a separate review. Association fees, reserves, assessments, insurance, flood exposure, property condition, structural matters, title, financing, taxes, and other ownership costs can materially affect a purchasing decision. Current association documents should be reviewed where applicable, and individualized questions should be addressed with the appropriate licensed real estate professional, insurance agent, lender, Florida real estate attorney, CPA, inspector, engineer, or other qualified professional.

Explore Longboat Key Golf and Real Estate

Longboat Key offers something that many Florida golf destinations cannot easily replicate, the ability to combine serious golf with barrier-island living. Longboat Key Club provides 45 holes directly on the island, while public and daily-fee courses in Bradenton and Sarasota broaden the choices for golfers who do not have club access.

If golf, Gulf beaches, boating, and the Sarasota lifestyle are part of your Florida real estate plans, contact Hunt Brothers Realty to compare Longboat Key communities and properties based on how you actually want to use your Florida home.

Informational notice: This article is provided for general real estate and lifestyle information. Golf-course access, membership availability, initiation requirements, dues, guest privileges, rates, tee-time policies, maintenance schedules, and amenities can change. Buyers considering a property partly because of access to a golf club should verify current membership information directly with the applicable club. Property-specific financial, legal, insurance, tax, lending, inspection, association, structural, title, and ownership questions should be reviewed with the appropriate qualified professionals before making a purchasing decision.