| I have played and visited some of the world’s finest golf clubs in my many years of travel. Some have been outrageously opulent; others boast the most revered golf layouts on our planet. None, however, offer more service to their guests and members than the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club in Sarasota.
From the moment I entered their property to the second I left, everyone there tried their very best to make my visit a memorable one. As I rolled up the driveway to their guard gate, the attendant already knew my name and my guest’s name without us telling him. He gave us directions to drop our clubs and then the cart attendant was ready and waiting for us.
Next, Chris Martin, Golf Ambassador, met us at the clubhouse and showed us inside. The clubhouse is done in what I would describe as understated elegance. No flashy sparkles or neon lights. Just right. The clubhouse staff all seemed to be expecting us and treated us like members. The food for lunch was perfectly prepared as we discussed the club’s features with Director of Golf, Glen Murray and Director of Golf Grounds, Nick Von Hofen, both of whom joined us for our round of golf.
Tom Fazio, one of the top golf architects today, designed this layout of wonderfully flowing golf holes. No flash, no tricks, again just right. This is not to say that it is bland. To the contrary. The course is a terrific mix of golf holes that will test all levels of golfers without making it seem like you’ve been kicked around by an uncaring layout.
There are five sets of tees ranging from 7,033 yards to 5,175. Oh yes, there is also a set of Championship tees that stretches the track out to 7,417 with a rating/slope of 75.6/133 reserved for visiting tour players or used in the top events that this young course has already hosted. Events such as the 2007 and 2008 U.S. Open Qualifying and the upcoming 2009 Florida State Four-Ball Championship.
During my visit, we played from the blue tees that measure 6,557 with a rating/slope of 71.6/121 – a nice day of challenging golf. With no homes bordering the golf course, you felt that you were free to swing away and, if you dare, cut some corners. The small number of players on the course at any one time makes you feel like you have the whole place to yourself.
There are a few holes in partcular I’d like to tell you about. Number 5, a short Par 4 at 291 yards, begs you to take a rip at driving the green. Mr. Fazio, however, has some special bunkers and a lake on the front right that may cause you to rethink this attack. We all decided to lay-up off the tee and then use a short iron to attack the saddle back green. A wonderful little hole.
Number 13 is a picturesque Par 3 that Nick Von Hofen has done a fantastic job framing with plenty of wonderful landscaping. (As a matter of fact, the entire course is kept in superb condition and well groomed shape.) Just for fun, we played the brawny #18 from the Championship tee. This made the finishing hole a strong 473 yard Par 4 over a lake to a slightly up hill green. No pushover.
A few more examples of the top service provided at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club: It was a little a humid the day we played and I was thinking it would be nice if someone brought us ice cold damp towels to dab away a little of the perspiration. Right on cue, an attendant drove over the hill with exactly that. (Alright, I wasn’t really hoping that some one would bring me a cool, damp towel, but it sure was nice to get one.)
We also had a terrific English fore-caddie who provided excellent directions on how to attack each hole. The Members Golf Club has a group of caddies available for this job or full caddie service if you’d like to walk the course.
Glen and Nick tell me that the best time of year to play the course is in the Florida springtime – February through May. If you are visiting the area you may set up a round of golf by being a guest at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel on the bay in downtown Sarasota (about 20 minutes from the course), or by being a guest of a member of the club. You may also purchase a 30-day guest membership to play any 30 days during the year.
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