Destination Guide

Destination: Bradenton/Sarasota

The Bradenton-Sarasota region of Florida fits the definition of overlooked and underrated by both tourists and golfers alike.

That's a mistake on both accounts. This Gulf Coast destination, sandwiched by Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg to the north and ritzy Naples to the south, still offers the mild winter weather of the Sunshine State and attractions good enough to entice beach bums and golfers to visit year-round, but with a sleepier, small-town vibe.

Sarasota's best rounds come courtesy of the Arnold-Palmer-designed Legacy Golf Club at Lakewood Ranch and the Troon Golf-managed Sarasota National in Venice. There are a couple dozen more courses to consider, just be sure to save some energy for post-golf adventures.

Sailing and chartered catamaran and fishing trips are great day excursions on the Gulf of Mexico available in either city. Boaters can explore Beer Can Island.

The miles-long Siesta Key Public Beach ranked no. 1 in the world in 2011 by Dr. Beach for its soft, sugary-white sand, but the Venice Beach, Longboat Key Beach, Anna Maria Island, Bradenton Beach and Lido Key Beach are also revered shoreline spots for families and sunbathers.

Spoiled guests love the luxury of the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota and, across the Sarasota Bay on a thin finger of land, the Longboat Key Club & Resort, home to 45 holes of golf in Longboat Key.

Sarasota boasts a vibrant arts community. The paintings at the world-famous Ringling Museum of Art highlight the museum scene. John Ringling's Ca D'Zan Mansion, made of Venetian Gothic architecture, and the Ringling Circus Museum are intriguing, too. A nationally recognized opera house, ballet company, symphony orchestra and multiple theaters reside just a mile down the road from the Ringling complex.

Sarasota's quaint Towles Court art district comes to life with brightly painted wooden homes filled with galleries, shops and restaurants. Main Street is for strolling, whether you're on the prowl to eat, drink or shop. St. Armand's Circle across the Ringling Causeway is another hotspot.

Away from the hustle and bustle, the gigantic Myakka River State Park offers miles of hiking trails, campgrounds, cabin rentals, and airboat tours.

The Sarasota Jungle Gardens animal park showcases the Florida wildlife. For a different kind of migratory bird, check out Ed Smith Stadium, the spring training headquarters of the Baltimore Orioles. The stadium is fresh off a $31-million renovation completed in 2011. Up the coast, the McKechnie Field, home of the minor-league Bradenton Marauders, hosts the Pittsburgh Pirates spring training camp. Nick Bollettieri's Tennis Academy, where Andre Agassi honed his game, calls Bradenton home as well.

See also


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Courses

Course City Rates from
Course City Rates from
1/2 at University Park Country Club
Tee Times
University Park $25
Heritage Harbour Golf Club
Tee Times
Bradenton $12
3/1 at University Park Country Club
Tee Times
University Park $25
The Highlands Golf Course
Tee Times
Sarasota $8
Blue/ Red at Myakka Pines Golf Club Englewood $18.69 - $45.00
Red/White at Myakka Pines Golf Club Englewood $18.69 - $45.00
White/Blue at Myakka Pines Golf Club Englewood $18.69 - $45.00
Marsh/Creek Course at Heron Creek Golf and Country Club
Tee Times
North Port $27
Creek/Oaks Course at Heron Creek Golf and Country Club
Tee Times
North Port $27
Waterlefe Golf & River Club
Tee Times
Bradenton $21
Oaks/Marsh Course at Heron Creek Golf and Country Club
Tee Times
North Port $27
The Club at River Wilderness
Tee Times
Parrish $60
2/3 at University Park Country Club
Tee Times
University Park $25
The Meadows Country Club
Tee Times
Sarasota $35
Bent Tree Country Club
Tee Times
Sarasota $10
Misty Creek Country Club
Tee Times
Sarasota $13
The Palms Golf Club At Forest Lakes
Tee Times
Sarasota $12
Serenoa Golf Club
Tee Times
Sarasota $17
Manatee County Golf Course
Tee Times
Bradenton $10
Panther Course at Plantation Golf & Country Club Venice $66 - $76
Buffalo Creek Golf Course
Tee Times
Palmetto $13
Village Green Golf Club of Sarasota
Tee Times
Sarasota $10
Preserve Golf Club at Tara
Tee Times
Bradenton $10
The River Club
Tee Times
Bradenton $10
Tatum Ridge Golf Links
Tee Times
Sarasota $20
Riverwood Golf Club
Tee Times
Port Charlotte $17
Venetian Golf & River Club North Venice $90
Terra Ceia Bay Golf & Tennis Club
Tee Times
Palmetto $10
Sarasota National Golf Club
Tee Times
Venice $39
Charlotte Harbor National Golf Club
Tee Times
North Port $19
IMG Academies Golf & Country Club
Tee Times
Bradenton $30 - $69
Bobcat Course at Plantation Golf & Country Club Venice $66 - $76
The Groves Golf Course
Tee Times
Sarasota $9
Wellen Park Golf & Country Club Venice $99 - $149
Links at Greenfield Plantation Bradenton $17.99 - $29.99
Riverside Club
Tee Times
Ruskin $12
Rosedale Golf & Country Club
Tee Times
Bradenton $14
Legacy Golf Club
Tee Times
Bradenton $14
River Run Golf Links
Tee Times
Bradenton $12
Peridia Golf & Country Club
Tee Times
Bradenton $10
Boca Royale Golf & Country Club
Tee Times
Englewood $12
Jacaranda West Country Club
Tee Times
Venice $12
Duffy's Golf Center
Tee Times
Port Charlotte $28
Moccasin Wallow Golf Club
Tee Times
Palmetto $18.69
Coral Creek Club Placida $125
Cypress Links Course at Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club Bradenton $40 - $75
Third/First at Lake Venice Golf Club Venice $15 - $35
Key Royale Club Holmes Beach $14
Tara Golf & Country Club Bradenton $60
Harbourside Blue/Red at Longboat Key Club & Resort Longboat Key $58 - $164
King's Dunes Course at Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club Bradenton $40 - $75
Players Course at TPC Prestancia Sarasota $159 - $205
Bradenton Country Club Bradenton $70 - $75
Ritz - Carlton Members Club Bradenton $125 - $155
West Course at Laurel Oak Country Club Sarasota $100
American Course at Bobby Jones Golf Club Sarasota $13 - $33
Palms Course at Rotonda Golf & Country Club Rotonda West $19.99 - $39.99
Gillespie Executive Course at Bobby Jones Golf Club Sarasota $9 - $20
Bird Bay Golf Course Venice $26
Capri Isles Golf Club Venice $30 - $58
Sawgrass/Gleneagles at Waterford Golf Club Venice $30 - $58
First/Second at Lake Venice Golf Club Venice $15 - $35
Founders Golf Club Sarasota $95
British Course at Bobby Jones Golf Complex Sarasota $13 - $33
Stoneybrook Golf & Country Club Sarasota $36 - $88
Eagle Course at The Oaks Club Osprey $105
Venice Golf & Country Club Venice $75
Meadows/Preserve at Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club Venice $31 - $72
Harborside White/Blue at Longboat Key Club & Resort Longboat Key $58 - $164
Pinebrook/Ironwood Golf Club Bradenton $13.85 - $16.00
Lemon Bay Golf Club Englewood $70 - $80
Harborside Red/White at Longboat Key Club & Resort Longboat Key $58 - $164
Lakewood National Golf Club - Piper Course
Tee Times
Lakewood Ranch $89 - $129
Sara Bay Country Club Sarasota $60
Mission Valley Golf & Country Club Nokomis $30 - $45
Red Nine at Palmetto Pines Golf Course Parrish $22
Timber Creek Golf Course Bradenton $10 - $23
Heritage Oaks Golf & Country Club Sarasota $32.50 - $75.00
Sanctuary Course at River Strand Golf and Country Club Bradenton $32 - $89
Sorrento Par-3 Golf Course Nokomis $6
Gleneagles/Turnberry at Waterford Golf Club Venice $30 - $58
East Course at Laurel Oak Country Club Sarasota $100
Suncoast Golf Center
Tee Times
Sarasota $12
Gasparilla Inn & Club Boca Grande $125
Pinemoor West Golf Club Rotonda West $10.28 - $26.99
Hills Course at Rotonda Golf & Country Club Rotonda West $18.99 - $33.99
Heron Course at The Oaks Club Osprey $105
Venice East Golf Club Venice $12 - $20
Preserve/Hatchett at Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club Venice $31 - $72
Tributary Course at River Strand Golf and Country Club Bradenton $32 - $89
Estuary Course at River Strand Golf and Country Club Bradenton $32 - $89
The Long Meadow Nine at Long Marsh Golf Club at Rotonda West Rotonda West $15.00 - $43.99
Second/Third at Lake Venice Golf Club Venice $15 - $35
White Marsh Nine at Long Marsh Golf Club at Rotonda West Rotonda West $15.00 - $43.99
Oyster Creek Golf Club Englewood $19 - $25
Champions Course at Palm-Aire Country Club Sarasota $80
Gimme Course at The Concession Golf Club Bradenton N/A
Calusa Lakes Golf Club Nokomis $30 - $70
Gator Creek Golf Club Sarasota $100 - $124
Hatchett/Meadows at Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club Venice $31 - $72
Greens of Manatee Golf Course Bradenton $16 - $32
Pine Valley Nine at Long Marsh Golf Club at Rotonda West Rotonda West $15.00 - $43.99
Lakes Course at Palm-Aire Country Club Sarasota $80
Esplanade Golf & Country Club at Lakewood Ranch
Tee Times
Lakewood Ranch $31
Sawgrass/Turnberry at Waterford Golf Club Venice $30 - $58
Stadium Course at TPC Prestancia Sarasota $197 - $205
Concession Golf Club Bradenton N/A
Orange Nine at Palmetto Pines Golf Course Parrish $22
River Isles Golf Club Bradenton $13
The Resort at Longboat Key Club - Links on Longboat Longboat Key $58 - $164
Commander Course at Lakewood National Golf Club
Tee Times
Lakewood Ranch $25
Links Course at Rotonda Golf & Country Club Rotonda West $12.99 - $22.99
Royal Lakes Course at Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club Bradenton $40 - $75
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