Restoration of historic Donald Ross course continues as part of club’s master plan
SARASOTA, Florida – As Sara Bay Country Club—originally Whitfield Estates Country Club—approaches its centennial, a full slate of programs to commemorate 100 years of golf heritage is planned.
The club’s historic Donald Ross-designed course, the site of the legendary “Match of the Century” between Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen in 1926, remains a centerpiece of local and national golf history.
A new book, Sara Bay Country Club: A Century of Golf, authored by local historian Jeff LaHurd with club historians Gary Cole and Howard Akey, will be unveiled to members on Jan. 16. The event will feature a book signing and Q&A with LaHurd, celebrating the visionaries who built the iconic Donald Ross course and the clubhouse designed by Pringle and Smith of Atlanta.
Bobby Jones, who once worked as a real estate salesman for the club’s surrounding development, went on to become one of golf’s greatest champions. His grandson, Dr. Bob Jones IV, will visit Sara Bay on Feb. 27 for a fireside chat to discuss his grandfather’s involvement in the club’s history, and to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the “Match of the Century.”
The club’s commitment to preserving its legacy is evident in the ongoing restoration led by architect Kris Spence, who began work in 2018 to return the course to Ross’s original 1925 design. Spence’s renovations, including restored bunkers and reshaped greens, have earned praise from Golf Digest’s Ron Whitten, who called Sara Bay “one of the most authentic Donald Ross designs in the Sunshine State.”
Spence continues to guide the club’s master plan, ensuring the course remains true to Ross’s vision while evolving for today’s golfers.
Recent improvements include new bunkers and tees, upgraded cart path bridges, and the replacement of turf with Bimini Bermuda grass. Tree removal—some due to renovations, others following hurricanes—has enhanced turf conditions and preserved Ross’s strategic angles and open vistas, while highlighting the distinctive green complexes that make this course special.
Sara Bay Country Club remains a private, member-owned club dedicated to providing an exceptional golf and social experience. Located just north of downtown Sarasota and close to the Gulf Coast Keys, the club offers a challenging, walkable Donald Ross-designed course and a vibrant social scene.
For more information, visit https://sarabaycc.org.