Melding golf and urban green space

The City of Sarasota announced it will reopen its Bobby Jones Golf Club and Nature Park on Dec. 15 following a major renovation guided by golf course architect Richard Mandell.  

“This will be a day to celebrate and remember,” Mayor Liz Alpert said. “Our historic municipal golf course has been restored and is a beautiful amenity for the community. The new wetlands already are cleaning stormwater and attracting wildlife. And, the nature park and trails will be a destination for birders, bicyclists and walkers. With a conservation easement on the property, it will be protected in perpetuity. There’s no question Bobby Jones will be an urban oasis for those who enjoy green space and being outdoors for generations to come.” 

 Previously a 45-hole facility, the revamped Florida course will feature:

• A restored 18-hole Donald Ross-designed course
• A renewed 9-hole adjustable Gillespie Course that can be played five different ways with 30 hole options
• 25-acre practice facility featuring:
  • Driving range with 70 hitting stations
  • 3.75-acre short game area with three chipping greens and two teardrop target greens
  • 21,000-square-foot putting green
  • Temporary clubhouse with food and beverage service

“Bobby Jones Golf Club in Sarasota is as significant as they come because the land on which Donald Ross created this masterpiece is still intact, allowing us to restore his original plan,” Mandell said. “The reintroduction of strategic mounding throughout the layout Ross planned long ago will be new and different from what many Ross golf aficionados are accustomed to playing. Bobby Jones has exceeded even my expectations as we approach opening day. I'm extremely excited to play the course myself."

Mandell introduced “tee shot distance equity” offering six tee boxes at varying distances to create an enjoyable experience for all players and maximize club selection for all talent levels. The golf course yardage extends from 4,583 yards to 6,714 yards.

“By adding forward tee distances, we’re welcoming a wider range of golfers at different skill levels,” said Sue Martin, Parks and Recreation team member who managed the golf course and shepherded the restoration. “Traditionally, red tees have been the closest to a hole, then white and blue tees farther away. Golf is evolving. With three additional tee distances, more options are available for golfers at Bobby Jones to have fun and add variety to their game, whether they’re a novice or lifelong player.”

For those who want to experience the golf course as Ross originally planned, a special set of “Ross tees” allow golfers to play from the Ross distance of 6,240 yards. The course plays to a par of 71.

The redesigned 9-hole Gillespie short course will reopen in early 2024 and feature adjustable holes, meaning the maintenance crew led by superintendent Ian Murphy can rearrange holes. As many as 30 different hole combinations will be available, offering golfers distinct, new experiences.  

The permanent clubhouse is anticipated to be constructed and open to the public in approximately two years.

The City borrowed $20 million to fund the golf course restoration and new clubhouse. Bobby Jones Golf Club will turn 100 years old in 2027.

Nature Park at Bobby Jones

The Nature Park at Bobby Jones encompasses 90 acres on the eastern portion of the property and features crushed shell and decommissioned golf cart paths repurposed into walking/bicycling trails around the newly created wetlands teeming with wildlife. The 1.57-mile Eagle Trail is the primary path with three offshoots: Prairie Trail (.4 mile), Hammock Trail (.12 mile) and Osprey Trail (.07 mile). Access to the trails is adjacent to the driving range.

The nature park is free and open to the public daily from dawn to dusk. The park will be closed when the golf course is closed.

Conservation easement

Following extensive community discussion over five years, the city commission in 2022 unanimously approved downsizing Bobby Jones Golf Club from 45 holes to 27. The non-golf green space, totaling nearly 100 acres, was designated a nature park. 

The commission also unanimously approved a conservation easement on the property in partnership with the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast. The agreement means the city-owned property will remain a protected, preserved green space in perpetuity.

“The grand reopening of Bobby Jones Golf Club and Nature Park is truly a joyous moment for our community,” said Christine P. Johnson, president of Conservation Foundation. “We worked for years, side-by-side with the City of Sarasota, citizens and community advocacy groups to ensure the permanent protection of this centrally located park. Benefiting people and nature, kids and grown-ups, wildlife and waterways – forever protecting Bobby Jones is a win for our entire community. We are thankful for the City’s foresight and willingness to conserve this special place.”

Water quality

Covering 307 acres, the Bobby Jones property is the single largest green space in the City of Sarasota. It is a significant floodplain in the Philippi Creek watershed and filters stormwater for 5,800 urban acres as far north as University Parkway.

To improve water quality, nearly 20 acres of wetlands were created, almost 14.5 acres of native grasses planted and 49,000 nutrient-filtering aquatic plants installed, including sawgrass, fire flag and pickerel weed.

In addition, a diversion weir was constructed along one of the main Phillippi Creek tributaries to divert water into the newly created wetlands. The water flow is regulated with two control structures in the wetlands, allowing the wetlands to serve as a regional stormwater treatment system. Ultimately, the filtered water flows into Roberts Bay, the intracoastal waters between Sarasota and Siesta Key. It is estimated 900 pounds of nitrogen and 300 pounds of phosphorus will be removed each year.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District granted the City of Sarasota $1.5 million to support the water quality improvements and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) provided a $487,500 grant.

“We’re grateful to the State of Florida for helping to fund the construction of the wetlands to improve our water quality,” city manager Marlon Brown said. “Thank you to our many partners and supporters including SWFWMD, FDEP, Sarasota County government and the Conservation Foundation. This truly has been a significant community effort to restore our historic municipal golf course and create a new urban nature park that will be a community treasure enjoyed by generations.”

With the installation of new drainage pipes throughout the golf course and improved land grading, the property will drain quickly and efficiently following a rain event.

The ASGCA recently honored Bobby Jones Golf Club and architect Richard Mandell with a 2023 Environmental Excellence Award for improving stormwater retention and drainage, while reducing the risk of flooding. Bobby Jones is the only golf course in Florida to be recognized this year with the award and one of just eight in the United States.

Golf management

Daily operations at Bobby Jones will be handled by Indigo Sports LLC, a private management company. Green fees will be dynamic and include a 40 precent reduced rate on the Donald Ross course for City of Sarasota residents.

"Our commitment to providing an exceptional experience to players of all ages and abilities remains unwavering,” Bobby Jones Golf Club general manager John Sparrow said. “This beautiful golf club, practice facility and nature trail will ensure that we can deliver on that promise and more.”

As part of the contractual agreement with the city, Indigo is expected to pursue certification for Bobby Jones in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program, with the goal of becoming certified within two years after reopening. During a recent annual bird count, the Sarasota Audubon Society documented 45 unique species on the property.