Golf in Sarasota: Public Courses, Tee Times and What to Wear

Golf in Sarasota is a big part of why so many visitors trade snow for sand between October and April. The catch for a visitor is that many of the best-known clubs around town are private. This guide covers the courses you can actually book from a hotel on St. Armands, Lido, Longboat or Siesta: which are public, which are open only to resort guests, how far ahead to reserve in season, and what to wear so you get past the pro shop.

Golf in Sarasota at a Glance

• Closest public course: Bobby Jones Golf Club, the city-owned course at 1000 Circus Blvd., about 20 minutes from St. Armands Circle. Public tee times open 14 days ahead.
• Newly public: Meadows Golf Club, a former private club, reopened to everyone in 2026 with 36 holes.
• Resort golf: the Longboat Key Club courses are for resort guests and members, and the Ritz-Carlton's Tom Fazio course is for its resort guests and members.
• Dress code: plan on a collared or mock-collar shirt, no denim, and soft spikes.
• Rental clubs: offered at Bobby Jones, Meadows Golf Club and Longboat Key Club. Reserve a set when you book.
• Season: winter and early spring are peak months here, so book your tee time when you book dinner.

Public Courses You Can Book Online

Bobby Jones Golf Club

The city's municipal course has real history. Donald Ross designed the original layout in 1926, and after years of decline the city restored it, with architect Richard Mandell renovating the course. The 18-hole Ross Course reopened to the public on December 16, 2023, and the land around it is protected by a conservation easement that also created a nature park next door.

• Two ways to play: the 18-hole Ross Course, or the Gillespie Course, a 9-hole adjustable par 3 that opened in May 2024 and is easy to walk. It's named for John Hamilton Gillespie, the city's first mayor, who is often credited with helping introduce golf to the United States.
• Booking: the public can book up to 14 days ahead online, in the club's app or by phone at 941-365-4653. The club says its lowest rates are online.
• Cancellations: cancel at least 24 hours ahead, or a no-show is charged to your card.
• Practice: a 25-acre practice area with a range, putting course and short-game greens. The range is open sunrise to 45 minutes before sunset, and opens at 9 a.m. on Thursdays.
• Rental clubs: Srixon and Cleveland sets are available with your round. Check current rates.

Meadows Golf Club

For decades The Meadows Country Club was private. It closed after a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing in July 2025, and it has come back as a public club run by Arnold Palmer Golf Management. The Meadows Course reopened to the public in June 2026, and the Groves Course followed on October 1, 2026.

• The courses: the Meadows Course is a full-length layout redesigned by Ron Garl in 2004. The Groves Course is an Arthur Hills design, a par-65 executive course that rewards accuracy more than distance.
• Where: 3101 Longmeadow, near University Parkway and I-75, about 25 minutes from St. Armands. Phone 941-415-7807.
• Booking: online at the club's site or by phone. Residents of The Meadows get a 24-hour head start, so public times open about two weeks out.
• Carts and walking: a shared cart is included in green fees. No walking on the Meadows Course; walking is allowed on the Groves. No fivesomes, and tee times must be canceled at least 48 hours ahead.
• Rental clubs: TaylorMade sets for men and women. Call the golf shop to reserve one.

Tatum Ridge Golf Links

A public, links-style course designed by Ted McAnlis, set among preserved wetlands and 11 lakes at 421 Tatum Road N., about 30 minutes east of St. Armands. Its signature hole is the par-5 13th, a dogleg over water. Green fees use demand-based pricing, so rates move up and down with the tee sheet. Book online or call 941-378-4211.

Resort Golf on Longboat Key and Beyond

Longboat Key Club. The Resort at Longboat Key Club has 45 holes, but they're for resort guests and members only. Bring your room key to check in.

• Links on Longboat: 18 holes at 361 Longboat Club Road, once known as the Islandside course, redesigned by Ron Garl in 2014. It's about 10 minutes from St. Armands.
• Harbourside: 27 holes in three nines at 3000 Harbourside Drive, about four miles up the key from the guest rooms. A free resort shuttle connects the two.
• Booking: resort guests can reserve tee times one day (24 hours) ahead. Pro shop: 941-387-1632.
• Seasonal closures: Harbourside closes for maintenance in June and July, and Links on Longboat in August and September, so both are normally open for a winter trip.

Longboat Key took wind damage from Hurricane Milton in October 2024, and the club's grounds crew had golf back open about a week after the storm.

The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club. If you're staying at the Ritz-Carlton downtown, you have access to its Tom Fazio-designed 18 holes at 15150 70th Terrace East in Lakewood Ranch, about 13 miles from the resort. Play is limited to resort guests and members. Tee times are by phone only (941-309-2900), Tuesday through Sunday, and the club can arrange transportation from the hotel with advance notice.

Private and Semi-Private Clubs

A lot of the area's golf sits inside member clubs. A few to know before you start searching:

• The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton is a private members' club. It hosted a PGA Tour World Golf Championships event in 2021.
• Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club runs four private courses, including The Legacy, a former public course that became private in 2024.
• University Park Country Club and Rosedale are member clubs that have listed limited daily-fee play, usually about three days ahead. Call before you plan around either one.

Booking Tee Times in Peak Season

Winter is high season here. Airport traffic climbs from November and stays strong through April, and that's when the best morning tee times go fastest.

1. Book on day one of the window. At Bobby Jones and Meadows that's about two weeks out. If you're traveling over a holiday weekend, set a reminder.
2. Book direct. Bobby Jones says its best rates are on its own site and app, and walk-up and phone rates can be higher.
3. Ask about afternoon rates. Twilight pricing isn't published for this winter, so check when you book. Winter sunsets come early, so an afternoon start may not leave time for 18.
4. Know the cancellation rule. Bobby Jones asks for 24 hours, Meadows for 48.
5. Reserve rental clubs at the same time, especially on weekends.

Golfers who don't mind heat can find easier tee times outside the winter season. See our guide to the best time to visit for the month-by-month picture.

What to Wear on the Course

Each club sets its own rules, but they have a lot in common:

• Bobby Jones: men need a collared or mock-collar shirt; women's shirts need sleeves or a collar.
• Meadows Golf Club: collared polo shirts, mock or full turtlenecks, slacks or Bermuda-length shorts. No denim. Non-metal spikes or tennis shoes.
• Longboat Key Club: no jeans, cutoffs, T-shirts, tennis shorts, short shorts, gym shorts or swimwear.

A light layer helps on cool winter mornings, then comes off by the back nine.

Sun, Heat and Storms

• The sun is strong all year. Wear a hat, use sunscreen before you tee off and reapply at the turn.
• Bring water. Even a mild winter day can feel warm on an open fairway.
• Watch the sky in warm months. From late spring into early fall, afternoon thunderstorms are common. Book morning times and head in at the first sign of lightning.
• Before you go: courses close at times for maintenance, tournaments or weather, so check the club's site the day before.

Watching the Pros

The Korn Ferry Tour's LECOM Suncoast Classic is played at Lakewood National Golf Club in Lakewood Ranch. It ran April 2 to 5 in 2026, and the tour has said Lakewood National will keep hosting in 2027 and beyond. The 2027 dates were not posted at the time of writing, so check the official site before you plan around it.

What to Pack for a Round

If you'd rather not fill a suitcase with golf clothes, a few pieces from the shop cover a winter round on the keys:

• A performance polo. The Longboat Johnnie-O Polo Kerwin is a featherweight, stretchy polo with a collar for the dress code and an embroidered Longboat logo on the sleeve.
• A quarter-zip for the first tee. The Lido Key Johnnie-O 1/4 Zip is lightweight and moisture-wicking, made for cool mornings, in S to 3X.
• A vented cap. The Longboat Key Rempa cap has laser-cut vents and a sweat-wicking band.
• A visor. The Cool Fit Visor keeps the sun off without trapping heat, in navy, grey or white.
• Sunscreen. The Sun Bum Mineral Sunscreen Spray is easy to reapply at the turn.

For the rest of the suitcase, see our packing guide.

Book your tee time when you book your flight, bring a collar, and play early. After your round, come say hello at The Sarasota Style on St. Armands Circle, open every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. If you're staying on the north end, our Longboat Key guide covers the beaches and dinner spots near the Key Club.