When The Meadows Country Club filed for bankruptcy on July 7, the Sarasota golf community grappled with the loss of one of the area’s first major golf communities.
Despite the closure, there’s no shortage of green spaces in Sarasota and Manatee Counties to practice the sport, indulge in fine dining or stop by a wellness center for a quick Pilates class.
What happened to The Meadows Country Club?
Starting with a single 18-hole course, The Meadows eventually expanded into what it was before closing the greens: three courses totaling 54 holes.
The development, located north of 17th Street along Honore Avenue in north Sarasota County, features 3,500 residences across 52 independent communities, according to its website. The Meadows Community Association, a nine-member board of directors, represents the residents and oversees the property assessment fees. The MCA requires residents to pay for community maintenance and upkeep, like common area roads, sidewalks and landscapes.
The Meadows Country Club and its facilities have slowly deteriorated, with last year’s hurricanes exacerbating the already-hurting grounds. Despite undergoing multiple renovations in recent years, including a $1.5 million refresh of the 18-hole Members’ Course,
The club underwent several renovations in recent years, including a $1.5 million refresh of the 18-hole Members’ Course, but it wasn’t enough, members of the club said.
When the club first faced bankruptcy in 2018, the MCA bought more than 310 acres of land listed at 3101 Longmeadow from the country club for $6 million, according to Sarasota County Property Records. The MCA then leased the land and facilities back to the club for $10 a year and a monthly fee for the fitness facility. The club and the MCA operated under that lease until March 21, when the club terminated it. The termination was effective April 30. The golf courses have been closed since then.
The club is in substantial debt, even after it liquidates its assets. When it submitted it’s summary of assets and liabilities, the club reported $1.6 million in debt, with just $720,000 in liquidated assets.
Resident frustration reached a high with the termination of the lease. Their anger stems mostly from confusion surrounding the club’s finances, as well as the absence of golf. With The Meadows course gone, they will be forced to play at other nearby golf courses.
What are some other area golfing options?
Bobby Jones Golf Club
This public course, dedicated to famous American golfer Bobby Jones, first opened in 1926 with a par 71 course that spanned over 6,000 yards. In 2022, the city of Sarasota decided to renovate the 300-acre golf complex while unanimously voting to protect the area from future development via a conservation easement. It reopened to the public in December 2023 as its original 18-hole course design, just a few years shy of its 100th birthday.
Following the renovations, the grounds have a 199-acre golf course, which houses the restored 18-hole course from the 1920s; a new 9-hole adjustable course that can be played five different ways; and a 25-acre practice facility with 70 hitting stations, three chipping greens, two teardrop target greens and a putting green. For non-golf lovers, the property also has a 90-acre nature park with trails, walking paths, cycling and a historic park that is free to the public and open from dawn to dusk.
Rosedale Golf & Country Club
Located in Lakewood Ranch, Rosedale is a semi-private golf club offering public play, while giving members unlimited use of the fitness center, wellness programs, pool and restaurant. It also grants members access to the practice range, an opportunity to schedule tee times in advance and the ability to reserve Rosedale’s tennis courts.
For 2025, the Master Full Golf Membership runs a $15,000 initiation fee and a $9,000 annual fee for families. From July to August, public golf play runs from $45 to $75, depending on the tee time.
The Palms Golf Club at Forest Lakes
The Palms Golf Club at Forest Lakes is a semi-private golf course offering affordable public play and exclusive memberships providing access to advanced tee times, free range balls and member events. The par 64 course, designed by Gordy Lewis, features TifEagle greens and Celebration fairways, according to the club’s website.
Memberships start at $795 and go up to $1195, with an option for a six-month seasonal membership. Public play starts at $21.95 and runs up to $39.95, depending on the time of day and number of holes played.
The club also has a driving range and a short game practice area, as well as golf clinics taught by PGA Golf Professional Jay Nash. During the summer, the club holds a junior’s summer camp.
University Park Country Club
University Park Country Club is a semi-private course near Lakewood Ranch. Members get access to exclusive amenities like a golfing facility with two putting greens, a driving range and short game practice area, tennis courts and pickleball courts, a fitness center and the club’s restaurant.
Public play is available, too. Higher priced tee times in the morning run around $109, while prices drop to as low as $75 as the day goes on.
The club features a 27-hole Championship course, but holes 19 through 27 are closed until September.
More options in Sarasota County
The Herald-Tribune in 2022 took a look at 14 Sarasota County great golf courses, including Tatum Ridge and The Palms at Forest Lakes.
Golfweek lists best public courses in Florida
Golfweek in June offered its assessment of the best public courses in Florida, for people looking outside the area.
Ella Thompson covers real estate & development for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Contact her at ethompson@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: GOLF: Other courses to play in Sarasota, Manatee counties following Meadows bankruptcy
Reporting by Ella Thompson and Heather Bushman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
