St. Armands Circle does not have its own golf course, but golfers staying on Lido Key or near downtown Sarasota have several options. The closest resort golf is at Longboat Key Club, where 45 holes are available to members and registered resort guests. For public golf, the restored Bobby Jones Golf Club is one of Sarasota's strongest choices, with an 18-hole Donald Ross course, a 9-hole adjustable course and extensive practice facilities. Village Green offers a shorter executive round, while University Park Country Club and Tatum Ridge expand the choices farther inland.

Quick Answers About Golf Near St. Armands Circle

Is There a Golf Course on St. Armands Circle?

No. St. Armands Circle is a shopping, dining and entertainment district on St. Armands Key rather than a golf community. Golfers can reach courses on neighboring Longboat Key or drive inland to public and private golf facilities throughout Sarasota.

What Is the Closest Major Golf Course to St. Armands Circle?

The Links on Longboat at The Resort at Longboat Key Club is the closest major golf experience, just north of St. Armands and Lido Key. Access is restricted to club members and registered resort guests, so it should not be treated as a public daily-fee course.

Where Can the Public Play Golf Near St. Armands Circle?

Bobby Jones Golf Club is an excellent public option in Sarasota. Village Green Golf Club also accepts public play, while University Park Country Club currently welcomes daily-fee golfers. Tatum Ridge Golf Links provides another public option farther east.

Can Visitors Play at Longboat Key Club?

Registered guests of The Resort at Longboat Key Club can play the club's golf courses, subject to tee-time availability and current policies. The club states that its courses are available to members and resort guests rather than the general public.

Does Sarasota Have a Municipal Golf Course?

Yes. Bobby Jones Golf Club is owned by the City of Sarasota and open to the public. Its golf complex includes the restored 18-hole Donald Ross course, the adjustable 9-hole Gillespie Course and a 25-acre practice facility.

Where Can You Play a Shorter Round in Sarasota?

Village Green Golf Club offers an 18-hole, par-58 executive layout and allows golfers to book either 9 or 18 holes. Bobby Jones also has the shorter Gillespie Course, giving golfers another alternative when a full championship round does not fit the day's schedule.

Can You Live Near St. Armands Circle and Still Have Good Golf Access?

Yes. Living on Lido Key or near St. Armands provides access to beaches, dining and downtown Sarasota while several golf options are available by car. Buyers who want golf directly inside their residential community, however, should also compare Sarasota's dedicated golf and country club neighborhoods.

What Is Golfing Near St. Armands Circle Like?

Golf near St. Armands Circle is less about walking from your condominium to a neighborhood clubhouse and more about combining coastal living with access to courses around Sarasota.

That distinction matters for buyers. St. Armands and neighboring Lido Key are centered on Gulf and bay access, beaches, restaurants, shopping and proximity to downtown Sarasota. If golf is part of your lifestyle but does not need to be immediately outside your back door, the location provides several choices.

For a closer look at the surrounding island lifestyle, read Hunt Brothers Realty's guide to Lido Key living.

1. The Links on Longboat: The Closest Resort Golf to St. Armands Circle

For golf with the strongest connection to the barrier-island lifestyle around St. Armands, The Resort at Longboat Key Club is the natural starting point. Its Links on Longboat course is located just north of Lido Key on the southern end of Longboat Key.

The Links on Longboat is an 18-hole, par-71 course measuring 6,748 yards from its longest tees. The course was redesigned by Ron Garl in 2014 and features five sets of tees, natural areas, waterways and Gulf breezes.

Who can play: Longboat Key Club currently restricts golf access to club members and registered resort guests. Resort guests may book tee times subject to the club's current advance-booking policy and availability.

Best for: Golfers staying at the resort, Longboat Key Club members and visitors who want golf integrated into a coastal resort stay near St. Armands Circle.

2. Harbourside Golf Course: Sarasota Bay Golf on Longboat Key

Longboat Key Club's second golf facility is Harbourside, located farther north and east along Sarasota Bay. Harbourside provides 27 holes divided among the White Egret, Red Hawk and Blue Heron nines, creating three different 18-hole combinations.

Many holes border Sarasota Bay and Longboat Key Club Moorings. The Blue Heron nine is particularly associated with bayfront scenery, while the three nines vary in their use of water, fairway width and shot-making demands.

Who can play: As with The Links on Longboat, access is for Longboat Key Club members and registered resort guests under current club policies.

Best for: Golfers looking for a private-club or resort experience with Sarasota Bay scenery and multiple nine-hole combinations.

3. Bobby Jones Golf Club: The Best Public Golf Starting Point

For golfers staying near St. Armands who want a public course without resort or club-membership requirements, Bobby Jones Golf Club deserves to be near the top of the list.

Located at 1000 Circus Boulevard, Bobby Jones is the City of Sarasota's historic municipal golf facility. The original course opened in 1926 and was designed by Donald Ross. Following an extensive restoration, the golf club reopened to the public in December 2023.

The current complex includes:

• An 18-hole restored Donald Ross course
• A 9-hole adjustable Gillespie Course
• A 25-acre practice facility
• A driving range with 70 hitting stations
• A substantial short-game practice area
• A 21,000-square-foot putting green

Who can play: The public. Tee times can be reserved through Bobby Jones Golf Club, with rates and availability varying by date and time.

Best for: Visitors, local residents, serious golfers, beginners using the shorter course and anyone seeking Sarasota municipal golf with significant architectural history.

4. Village Green Golf Club: Best for a Shorter Sarasota Round

Village Green Golf Club at 3500 Pembrook Drive is a practical option for golfers who want to play without committing as much time as a traditional championship course can require.

Village Green is an 18-hole, par-58 executive layout measuring 2,810 yards. The course allows walking or riding and offers both 9-hole and 18-hole rates. Club rentals and PGA professional instruction are also available.

Who can play: Public booking is available through the golf club.

Best for: A quicker round, newer golfers, visitors who want to play 9 holes, walking golfers and players who prefer an executive layout.

5. University Park Country Club: 27 Holes With Daily-Fee Access

Golfers willing to drive toward the University Parkway area gain another substantial option at University Park Country Club.

University Park has 27 holes of championship golf arranged as three nine-hole courses. The layouts were designed by Ron Garl and weave through the community's lakes and natural Florida landscape.

Most importantly for visitors, University Park currently welcomes daily-fee play. The club states that daily-fee golfers may reserve tee times four days in advance, subject to current availability and policies.

Who can play: Members and daily-fee golfers under current club policies.

Best for: Golfers who want a country-club setting and championship-style course without necessarily requiring a membership for a round.

6. Tatum Ridge Golf Links: Public Golf in East Sarasota

Tatum Ridge Golf Links at 421 North Tatum Road provides another public choice for golfers who do not mind traveling farther inland from St. Armands Circle.

Visit Sarasota County describes Tatum Ridge as a Scottish-style links course set among Florida wetlands. The facility includes a practice range, chipping area, putting green, pro shop and restaurant.

Who can play: Tatum Ridge operates as a public golf course with tee-time booking.

Best for: Golfers seeking a full-length public course, practice facilities and a more inland Florida golf environment.

Which Golf Course Is Best if You Are Staying on Lido Key?

Your best option depends primarily on access and the kind of round you want.

• For the closest resort golf: The Links on Longboat at Longboat Key Club
• For Sarasota Bay scenery: Harbourside at Longboat Key Club
• For public championship golf: Bobby Jones Golf Club
• For a shorter round: Village Green Golf Club
• For 27-hole country-club golf with daily-fee access: University Park Country Club
• For another full public course: Tatum Ridge Golf Links

Driving time from St. Armands can change substantially with traffic, particularly when crossing the Ringling Bridge or traveling through downtown Sarasota. Golfers should use current navigation information when planning a tee time rather than relying on a fixed drive-time estimate.

Can You Golf at Longboat Key Club Without Being a Member?

Yes, but only through qualifying resort access under the club's current policies. The Resort at Longboat Key Club states that its golf courses are available to club members and registered resort guests.

Resort guests currently may reserve tee times up to 24 hours in advance. Members have different advance-booking privileges depending on membership category.

Rates vary seasonally, and individual courses can close temporarily for scheduled maintenance, tournaments or private events. Anyone planning a golf-focused stay should verify the specific course schedule, rate and tee-time availability directly with the resort before booking travel around a round.

What Makes Bobby Jones Golf Club Important to Sarasota Golf?

Bobby Jones is more than a convenient public golf course. It is part of Sarasota's recreational history.

The Donald Ross course originally opened to the public in 1926 and was named for legendary amateur golfer Robert Tyre Jones Jr. the following year. Sarasota subsequently undertook a major restoration of the municipal property, reopening the golf complex in 2023.

The project also transformed former golf acreage into a nature park with wetlands and walking and bicycling trails. That makes Bobby Jones unusual among local golf destinations because the property now combines historic golf, a major practice facility and protected public green space.

Can You Practice Golf Without Playing 18 Holes?

Yes. Bobby Jones is particularly useful for golfers who want practice time rather than a complete round. Its 25-acre practice complex includes a large driving range, short-game facilities and putting green.

Village Green also offers professional instruction, while University Park operates a Golf Academy. These options can work well for seasonal residents or visitors who want to maintain their game without scheduling full rounds every time.

Does Living Near St. Armands Make Sense for a Golfer?

It can, particularly for someone who wants the beach and Sarasota's coastal lifestyle to come first while keeping golf within driving distance.

A residence near St. Armands Circle can place restaurants, shopping, Lido Beach, Sarasota Bay and downtown Sarasota close at hand. Golf becomes one of several recreational choices rather than the organizing feature of the neighborhood.

That lifestyle is different from living in a golf community such as University Park, where the course and country club are integrated into the residential environment. Neither model is automatically better. The right choice depends on whether you want to drive to golf or live around it.

Buyers comparing those lifestyles can explore Sarasota-area communities with Hunt Brothers Realty.

What Should Home Buyers Know About Golf Club Membership?

Buying near a golf course and buying golf privileges are not necessarily the same thing. Membership structures vary significantly among Sarasota-area clubs.

Before purchasing a home because of nearby golf, buyers should verify questions such as:

• Is golf membership mandatory, optional or completely separate from home ownership?
• Is membership currently available?
• Are there initiation, capital or transfer charges?
• What recurring dues and golf-related charges apply?
• What advance tee-time privileges come with the membership?
• Are there different golf, tennis, social or other membership categories?
• Does ownership of a particular residence provide any membership rights?

Club membership terms, dues and availability can change. Buyers should obtain current information directly from the applicable club before making a property decision based on golf access. Questions involving contractual membership rights, association obligations or property ownership should be reviewed with the appropriate club, association and a qualified Florida real estate attorney when legal guidance is needed.

Should Golfers Live Near St. Armands or in a Golf Community?

This is one of the more useful lifestyle questions for Sarasota home buyers who enjoy golf.

Living near St. Armands Circle emphasizes beach access, island living, restaurants, shopping and proximity to downtown Sarasota. Golfers drive to the course but can choose among different facilities.

Living in a golf community places the course and club closer to everyday residential life. Depending on the community, residents may also have access to tennis, pickleball, fitness, dining and organized club activities.

The decision is therefore less about whether Sarasota has enough golf and more about how central golf should be to your home location.

Frequently Asked Questions About Golf Near St. Armands Circle

Is There Public Golf on Longboat Key?

Longboat Key Club's courses are not open as unrestricted public daily-fee courses. Current club policy limits golf access to members and registered guests of The Resort at Longboat Key Club.

Is Bobby Jones Golf Club Open to Visitors?

Yes. Bobby Jones is Sarasota's municipal golf facility and is open to public play. Visitors can check current rates and reserve available tee times directly with the golf club.

Can You Rent Golf Clubs Near St. Armands Circle?

Some Sarasota-area golf facilities offer rental clubs. Longboat Key Club and Village Green currently identify club rentals among their golf services. Availability and rates should be confirmed before arriving.

Where Can Beginners Play Golf in Sarasota?

Village Green's executive layout and Bobby Jones' Gillespie Course can both be useful options for golfers who prefer something shorter than a traditional championship round. Instruction is also available at several area facilities.

Does University Park Country Club Allow Public Play?

Yes, under its current operating model. University Park Country Club states that daily-fee play is welcome and currently allows daily-fee tee times to be reserved four days in advance. Golfers should verify current availability before making plans.

Are There Private Golf Clubs Near Sarasota?

Yes. Sarasota and the surrounding area have numerous private and membership-oriented golf clubs in addition to public courses. Access, membership availability, dues and residential relationships vary by club, so golfers considering a home purchase should verify the current structure directly with each club.

The Bottom Line on Golf Near St. Armands Circle

St. Armands Circle is not a golf destination by itself, but it is well positioned for golfers who want Sarasota's coastal lifestyle without giving up access to the game.

Longboat Key Club provides the closest resort and membership golf, including The Links on Longboat and 27 holes at Harbourside. Bobby Jones provides the strongest historic municipal option for public play, while Village Green works well for a shorter round. University Park and Tatum Ridge give golfers additional choices farther inland.

For home buyers, the bigger question is whether you want to live beside golf or live near the Gulf and drive to golf. St. Armands and Lido Key make a compelling case for the second approach, combining beach access, dining, shopping and proximity to downtown Sarasota with multiple golf options elsewhere in the area.

Explore Sarasota Golf and Coastal Living With Hunt Brothers Realty

Hunt Brothers Realty helps buyers compare Sarasota's coastal, downtown and golf-oriented communities based on the lifestyle they want outside the front door. Explore Sarasota-area communities, learn more about living on Lido Key, visit the Buyer Resource Center, or contact Hunt Brothers Realty to discuss homes near St. Armands Circle or Sarasota golf communities.

Golf and real estate information notice: Golf-course access, tee-time policies, rates, memberships, initiation charges, dues, course schedules and membership availability can change. Verify current golf information directly with the applicable club before making reservations or a property decision. Home ownership near or within a golf community does not necessarily include golf privileges. Buyers should review property-specific association obligations and membership arrangements with the applicable club, association, licensed real estate professional and, when contractual or legal interpretation is needed, a qualified Florida real estate attorney or other appropriate professional.

Sources

• City of Sarasota, Bobby Jones Golf Club
• Visit Sarasota County, Bobby Jones Golf Club
• The Resort at Longboat Key Club, Golf
• The Resort at Longboat Key Club, Golf Membership and Access
• University Park Country Club, Golf
• Village Green Golf Club of Sarasota
• Visit Sarasota County, Guide to Sarasota County Golf Courses

Contact Hunt Brothers Realty

Hunt Brothers Realty

46 N. Washington Blvd, Ste 3, Sarasota, FL 34236

Phone: (941) 388-7017

Email: info@huntbrothersrealty.com

Website: HuntBrothersRealty.com