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Best Golf Courses in Sarasota, Florida (2026 Guide)
Photo by Jeffrey Eisen on Unsplash
Sarasota, Florida has approximately 60 golf courses within a 20-mile radius, making it one of the most golf-dense markets in the state. The best courses for visiting golfers include TPC Prestancia, Bobby Jones Golf Club, Misty Creek Country Club, Heritage Oaks, and University Park Country Club. Green fees range from $30 at municipal courses to $130 at semi-private clubs. Peak season runs November through April, when temperatures stay between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Visiting golfers flying into Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) can arrange golf club rentals in Sarasota for local pickup rather than paying $70 to $200 in round-trip airline bag fees.
Top Golf Courses in Sarasota for Visiting Golfers
TPC Prestancia
Type: Semi-private | Holes: 36 (Stadium and Villa courses) | Par: 72 | Green fees: $60 to $130
TPC Prestancia sits inside a gated community in Palmer Ranch and offers two distinct 18-hole layouts. The Stadium Course is the more challenging of the two, with water on 14 holes and tight fairways through native Florida landscaping. The Villa Course is more forgiving and better suited to mid-to-high handicappers. Both courses are well-maintained year-round. Tee times are available for non-members on a limited basis.
Bobby Jones Golf Club
Type: Public | Holes: 36 (American and British courses) | Par: 71/72 | Green fees: $30 to $75
Bobby Jones Golf Club is a City of Sarasota facility and one of the best-value public courses in the region. The American Course was originally designed by Donald Ross and has undergone several restorations to maintain its classic layout. The British Course offers a links-style experience. The club is 3 miles from downtown Sarasota and accepts walk-in tee times, making it the most accessible option for visitors.
University Park Country Club
Type: Semi-private | Holes: 27 | Par: 72 | Green fees: $55 to $110
University Park offers three 9-hole courses that can be combined into three distinct 18-hole layouts: Park/Country, Park/Club, and Country/Club. Ron Garl designed all 27 holes with water features on nearly every hole. The course is known for immaculate conditioning and fast greens. Located in Manatee County near the Sarasota county line, it is 20 minutes from most Sarasota hotels.
Heritage Oaks Golf and Country Club
Type: Semi-private | Holes: 18 | Par: 71 | Green fees: $50 to $95
Heritage Oaks is a Ron Garl design built through 500-year-old oak trees that form natural tunnels over several fairways. The oaks give the course a distinctive character unlike most Florida layouts. Water comes into play on 12 holes. Heritage Oaks accepts non-member tee times and is one of the more visually striking courses in the Sarasota area.
Misty Creek Country Club
Type: Semi-private | Holes: 18 | Par: 72 | Green fees: $45 to $85
Misty Creek is a well-regarded Arthur Hills design in the Sarasota highlands area, east of I-75. The course winds through a residential community with pine and oak tree corridors and minimal water compared to most Sarasota layouts. Misty Creek is popular with local members and offers visitor tee times outside peak hours.
Bent Tree Golf Club
Type: Semi-private | Holes: 18 | Par: 72 | Green fees: $40 to $80
Bent Tree is a mature, tree-lined layout in a residential community about 10 miles east of downtown Sarasota. The course suits mid-handicappers well and is notably less crowded than courses closer to the coast. No water carry shots make it approachable for higher-handicap visitors.
Waterlefe Golf and River Club
Type: Semi-private | Holes: 18 | Par: 72 | Green fees: $50 to $100
Waterlefe sits in Manatee County between Sarasota and Bradenton, about 25 minutes from downtown Sarasota. The Ted McAnlis design plays along the Manatee River with multiple water crossings and elevated tees. Waterlefe is consistently rated among the top 10 public-access courses on the Gulf Coast.
What to Know Before You Play Sarasota Golf
Sarasota golf operates on a two-season pricing model. Peak season runs from November 1 through April 30. Green fees at most semi-private courses are 20 to 40 percent higher during peak season than in summer. Tee times fill quickly on weekends from January through March, when the area's seasonal population swells by 40,000 to 60,000 residents.
Summer golf from May through September is significantly cheaper but comes with afternoon thunderstorms that affect play almost daily. Most Sarasota courses implement a lightning suspension policy and will restart rounds if conditions improve within 90 minutes. Golfers who tee off before 7 AM in summer often complete 18 holes before the daily storms arrive.
The SRQ airport is small, with 5 commercial gates. Nonstop service is available from select Northeast and Midwest cities on American, Delta, and United. Many visitors connect through Tampa, Orlando, or Charlotte.
Getting Around Sarasota Golf Courses
Most Sarasota golf courses are spread across a 20-mile corridor from Siesta Key in the west to Lakewood Ranch in the east, and from the Sarasota-Manatee county line in the north to Venice in the south. A rental car is essential for getting between courses. Ride-share services reach most courses but can have 20 to 30 minute wait times in outlying areas like Palmer Ranch and the east Sarasota highlands.
Golfers staying on Siesta Key or Longboat Key have the shortest drive to TPC Prestancia and Bobby Jones. Golfers staying in Lakewood Ranch are better positioned for University Park and the Bradenton-area courses including Waterlefe.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best public and semi-public golf courses in Sarasota include TPC Prestancia (two 18-hole courses rated among Florida's top 50), Bobby Jones Golf Club (36 holes, historic Donald Ross design), Misty Creek Country Club, and Heritage Oaks Golf and Country Club. Green fees range from $30 to $130 depending on season and course.
Yes. Golf club rentals in Sarasota are available for pickup starting at $59 per day for a Basic set and $84 per day for a Premium set featuring Titleist, TaylorMade, Callaway, or Ping clubs.
November through April is the best time to golf in Sarasota. Temperatures range from 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit with low humidity and rare rain. May through October brings heat, high humidity, and afternoon thunderstorms that frequently delay or cancel rounds.
Sarasota County and the surrounding area have approximately 60 golf courses, ranging from public municipal layouts to private championship clubs. The Sarasota area is one of the most golf-dense markets in Florida, with courses available within 10 miles of most hotels and resorts.
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) is the primary airport for Sarasota golf. SRQ is 5 miles from downtown Sarasota and 15 minutes from most area courses. Tampa International Airport (TPA) is 60 miles north and provides more flight options for connecting travelers.