Sarasota County has over 80 golf courses. The quality of the sand in the area is nothing short of legendary. Long-time residents swear that the county has its own micro-climate, and when rain is falling in Tampa, some 60 miles north, or down toward Fort Myers, the skies remain fair over Sarasota. Add in the temperate waters of the Gulf of Mexico, wide expanses of powdery sand with abundant people-watching opportunities, and it's easy to see why Sarasota holds such appeal.

Sarasota has plenty to offer, and the golf is as worthwhile an attraction as anything else. One of the toughest tracks in town is called Stoneybrook, a formidable Arthur Hills design in an area called Palmer Ranch. The Waterlefe Golf and River Club has one of the most spectacular settings in the area. Other worthwhile courses include Arnold Palmer's Legacy at Lakewood Ranch and Heron Creek, a fine Arthur Hills design with that rarest of Florida features, a bit of elevation change.

Here is a list of the top Sarasota County golf courses:

Golf Courses In The Sarasota Area

Course County Holes Telephone Bobby Jones Golf Complex Sarasota 45 (941) 365-4653 Boca Royale Country Club Sarasota 18 (941) 474-7475 Bradenton CC Manatee 18 (941) 792-1600 Calusa Lakes Golf Club Sarasota 18 (941) 484-8995 Capri Isles Golf Club Sarasota 18 (941) 485-3371 Deep Creek Golf Club Charlotte 18 (941) 625-6911 Forest Lakes Golf & CC Sarasota 18 (941) 922-1312 Foxfire Golf Club Sarasota 18 (941) 921-7757 Greenfield Plantation Manatee 18 (941) 747-9432 Gulf Gate Golf Course Sarasota 18 (941) 921-5515 Heritage Oaks Sarasota 18 (941) 926-7600 Imperial Lakewoods Manatee 18 (941) 747-4653 Jacaranda West CC Sarasota 18 (941) 493-2664 King's Island Charlotte 18 (941) 743-4611 Kingsway Country Club Charlotte 18 (941) 625-1985 Legacy Golf Course Sarasota 18 (941) 907-7067 Lemon Bay Golf Club Charlotte 18 (941) 697-3729 The Meadows CC Sarasota 54 (941) 378-5957 Misty Creek CC Sarasota 18 (941) 921-5258 Oyster Creek Charlotte 18 (941) 475-0334 Palm Aire CC Manatee 36 (941) 355-9733 Pelican Pointe Golf & CC Sarasota 18 (941) 496-4653 Plantation Golf & CC Sarasota 36 (941) 497-1479 Port Charlotte Golf Club Charlotte 18 (941) 625-4109 Punta Gorda Charlotte 18 (941) 639-1494 The River Club Manatee 18 (941) 751-4211 River Run Golf Links Manatee 18 (941) 747-6331 River Wilderness CC Manatee 18 (941) 776-1729 Riverwood Golf Club Charlotte 18 (941) 764-6661 Rolling Green Golf Club Sarasota 18 (941) 355-7621 Rosedale Golf & CC Manatee 18 (941) 756-0004 Rotonda Golf & CC Charlotte 54 (941) 697-4880 Sabal Trace Golf Club Sarasota 18 (941) 426-2804 Sarasota Golf Club Sarasota 18 (941) 371-2431 Serenoa Golf Club Sarasota 18 (941) 925-2755 Stoneybrook Golf & CC Sarasota 18 (941) 966-1800 Sunrise Golf Club Sarasota 18 (941) 924-1402 Tatum Ridge Golf Links Sarasota 18 (941) 378-4211 Terra Ceia G & CC Manatee 18 (941) 729-5747 University Park CC Manatee 27 (941) 359-9999 Venice Golf & CC Sarasota 18 (941) 493-3100 Village Green Golf Club Sarasota 18 (941) 922-9500 Waterford Golf Club Sarasota 27 (941) 484-6621 Woodlands Golf Course Manatee 18 (941) 729-8999