Sara Bay Country Club

What Sara Bay Country Club does

Sara Bay Country Club is a private, member-owned golf club founded in 1926 in Sarasota, Florida, operating from 7011 Willow Street just north of downtown Sarasota. The core asset is an 18-hole Donald Ross-designed course, restored in 2018 by Kris Spence Golf, Inc. using the original 1926 blueprints and re-grassed with Bimini Bermuda in 2023; the course features multiple tee configurations (Blue, White, Silver, Gold, Red, Orange) accommodating a 66.4–74.9 rating range. Membership is organized into four tiers — Owner (45+, voting, capped at 225 per By-Laws), Executive (20–44), Dining (no golf), and Junior (12–19) — with 288 total golfing members and a maintained wait list.

Revenue is generated through three streams: (1) non-refundable initiation fees (earmarked for capital projects) and recurring annual membership dues, the dominant subscription model; (2) public-facing event catering and venue rental across four rooms (Willow up to 150 guests, Palm up to 70, Iris up to 30, Conference up to 12) covering weddings, corporate events, and lifecycle celebrations; and (3) ancillary retail and reciprocal fees from the on-site Golf Shop and seven 2026 partner-club reciprocal agreements (including year-round access to Bird Key Yacht Club). Distribution runs through a Director of Membership (Monica Carruth) for member inquiries and a public event inquiry form on sarabaycc.org; daily operations are led by General Manager/COO John Spiess, with credentialed functional heads (Penn State-trained Superintendent Carlyle Merring, ACF Certified Executive Chef John Scritchfield).

The club's positioning rests on a nearly 100-year heritage — including a 1926 Bobby Jones vs. Walter Hagen exhibition, Senior PGA and LPGA tournament history — and a current LPGA world #1 member (Nelly Korda). Strategic investment in a clubhouse renovation, the 2026 centennial, and a deepening reciprocal network point toward facility-and-experience reinvestment rather than scale expansion, consistent with a member-owned governance model where revenue is capped by By-Law membership limits and the active Owner-Member wait list indicates demand exceeds supply.

Name

Sara Bay Country Club

Legal name

Sara Bay Country Club

Website

https://sarabaycc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sara Bay Country Club is a private, member-owned golf club founded in 1926 in Sarasota, Florida, operating an 18-hole Donald Ross-designed course and serving 288 golfing members through tiered membership, dining, and event-hosting services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Golf Club

NAICS

Golf Courses and Country Clubs (71391)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Golf Courses & Golf Facilities (MPAKAEAD)

Keywords

• Private golf club
• Country club membership
• Golf course operations
• Event venue hosting
• Club dining services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sarasota

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues and Initiation Fees: Private country club generates revenue through non-refundable initiation fees and ongoing membership dues. By-Laws limit voting Owner-Members to 225. Initiation fees are used to fund capital projects. Capital and operational assessments from time to time are subject to membership approval.
2. Event Catering and Venue Rental: The club offers event hosting services including weddings, corporate events, birthdays, anniversaries, rehearsal dinners, bridal/baby showers, holiday parties, reunions, bar/bat mitzvahs, quinceaneras, celebrations of life, charity events, luncheons, cocktail receptions, and dinner parties. Catering is available to the public.
3. Golf Shop Sales: The golf shop sells golf equipment, accessories, and fashionable apparel for men and women, with staff available for advice, recommendations, and special orders.
4. Reciprocal Golf Fees: Through reciprocal arrangements with partner clubs, members pay fees when playing at other clubs (e.g., $80-$104 per round at various reciprocal clubs), generating ancillary revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sara Bay Country Club is a private, member-owned golf club that sells memberships (Owner, Executive, Dining, and Junior tiers) granting access to an 18-hole walkable Donald Ross designed golf course, dining at the Donald Ross Grill Room, social events, and event hosting. It also offers public event catering and on-site golf shop sales of equipment, accessories, and apparel. The club generates revenue from initiation fees, annual dues, event catering, golf shop sales, and reciprocal golf fees at partner clubs.

Product overview

Sara Bay Country Club is a private, member-owned golf club offering a single, integrated portfolio of golf and social membership services. The core offering centers on its Donald Ross designed 18-hole golf course (with a recently restored layout from 2018), complemented by a full-service Golf Shop, Donald Ross Grill Room dining, and Meetings & Celebrations event hosting across multiple venues (Willow Room, Palm Room, Iris Room, and Conference Room). Membership tiers include Owner, Executive, Dining, and Junior categories. The club also maintains reciprocal privileges with Bird Key Yacht Club for extended facilities access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Private Golf Club Membership Tiered private golf club memberships (Owner 45+ with voting rights, Executive 20-44, Dining, and Junior 12-19) granting access to the 18-hole Donald Ross course, dining, social events, tournaments, and reciprocal privileges with Bird Key Yacht Club. Aimed at affluent individuals and families in the Sarasota, Florida region.
• Donald Ross Golf Course An 18-hole, walkable, championship-caliber Donald Ross designed golf course featuring wide fairways framed by tall Florida pines and moss-draped oaks, well-placed bunkers with pristine white sand, and subtle undulating greens. Multi-tee configuration (Blue, White, Silver, Gold, Red, Orange) accommodates all skill levels with course ratings from 66.4 to 74.9 and slopes from 121 to 136. Open to members and their guests.
• Golf Shop On-site, fully-stocked golf shop offering golf equipment, accessories, and fashionable apparel for men and women, with staff available for advice, recommendations, and special orders.
• Organized Golf Games and Tournaments Organized golf programming including Men's Golf Games (individual and team tournaments, Member Guest Invitational, monthly Stag Day events), Ladies Golf Association (9 and 18 hole groups), and Couples Golf Games throughout the season.
• Donald Ross Grill Room Dining Member-facing dining venue and bar with golf course views, weekly changing menus, vegetarian options, and full lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch service led by Executive Chef John Scritchfield and Dining Manager Wendy Wallis.
• Meetings & Celebrations Event Hosting Publicly available event hosting with catering for weddings, corporate events, birthdays, anniversaries, rehearsal dinners, bridal/baby showers, holiday parties, reunions, bar/bat mitzvahs, quinceaneras, celebrations of life, charity events, luncheons, cocktail receptions, and dinner parties. Venue spaces include Willow Room (up to 150 guests), Palm Room (up to 70), Iris Room (up to 30), and Conference Room (up to 12).
• Social Events Program Member social programming including the Centennial Gala, Summer White Party, wine tastings, dueling pianos, chef's culinary classes, Mahjong, Euchre, a monthly book club, and weekly Bridge card games.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked #68 among 599 Private Golf Clubs in Florida
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Bradenton Country ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Reciprocal golf arrangement for 2026 summer season (May 1 - Oct 31). SB Members pay $80 + tax for 18 holes (guests $100 + tax). Tee times available 3 days in advance through professional staff.
• Esplanade Golf & Country ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Reciprocal golf arrangement for 2026 (May 1 - Oct 31). SB Members pay $82 + tax + CC surcharge for 18 holes. Includes Golf, Pro Shop & Bahama Bar access.
• The Field ClubsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Reciprocal dining arrangement (May 1 - Oct 31). Grill reservations Tuesday-Saturday 11:30-2, Dining Room 5:30-9. Sunday Buffet 10:00-2:00 with reservations required.
• The Founders ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Reciprocal golf for 2026 (May 1 - Aug 30). SB Members pay $85 + tax for 18 holes, $60 + tax for 9 holes. Guest rates $110/$75 + tax.
• Heritage Oaks Golf & Country ClubsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Reciprocal golf arrangement for 2026 (May 1 - Oct 31). SB Members pay $60 + tax for 18 holes, $42 + tax for 9 holes. Lunch available at Tee Side Patio.
• Lakewood NationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Reciprocal golf for 2026 (May 1 - Sept 30). SB Members pay $89 before 3 PM, $60 after 3 PM. Tiki Bar open 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM.
• Lakewood Ranch Country ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Reciprocal golf for 2026 (May 1 - Oct 31). SB Members pay $104 (18 holes) / $69 (9 holes) + tax. Tee times available 4 days in advance after 10:00 AM.
• Kris Spence Golf, Inc.coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Golf course architect firm that led the 2018 course restoration using Donald Ross' original blueprints to restore bunkers and greens to original intent. Continued partnership for ongoing course master plan guidance.
• Bird Key Yacht ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive year-round reciprocal privileges providing tennis, pool, fitness, boating & dining access. This reciprocal arrangement enhances member value by providing access to additional recreational facilities beyond golf.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Longboat Key Club: Upscale private member-owned resort and golf club on Longboat Key, FL, near Sara Bay, offering golf, tennis, marina, and beach amenities. Comparable in member-owned governance, affluent demographic, and Sarasota/Longboat real estate market.
• Lakewood Ranch Country Club: Private member-owned golf and country club in Lakewood Ranch, FL (a Sara Bay reciprocal partner). Comparable membership tiers, golf operations, dining, and event hosting in the same regional Sarasota-Bradenton corridor.
• University Park Country Club: Private member-owned golf and country club in University Park (Sarasota-Bradenton area), FL. Comparable in member-owned governance, golf and tennis amenities, and affluent retiree demographic in the same regional market.
• Pelican's Nest Golf Club: Private member-owned golf club in Bonita Springs, FL, offering championship golf and dining. Comparable member-owned model and Florida Gulf Coast demographic, though serving a different submarket than Sara Bay.
• TPC Prestancia: Private golf club in Sarasota operated under the TPC brand, offering championship-level golf, dining, and social amenities. Directly competes with Sara Bay in the same affluent Sarasota market for golf-focused members.
• The Country Club of Sarasota: Another private member-owned golf and country club in Sarasota, FL, offering golf, dining, and social amenities to a similar affluent membership demographic in the same geographic market. Directly competes with Sara Bay for local prospective members.
• Bird Key Yacht Club: Sarasota-based private member-owned club offering yachting, tennis, pool, fitness, and dining. Sara Bay's exclusive reciprocal partner with year-round privileges; directly comparable in membership model, scale, and affluent Sarasota demographic.
• Esplanade Golf and Country Club: Private member-owned golf and country club in Lakewood Ranch, FL (a Sara Bay reciprocal partner). Comparable in member-owned governance, full-service golf/dining/t Amenities, and same regional corridor.
• Bradenton Country Club: Private member-owned golf and country club in Bradenton, FL, and a Sara Bay reciprocal partner. Comparable in member-owned governance, golf and social amenities, and shared Sarasota-Bradenton regional demographic.
• The Founders Club: Private member-owned golf club in Sarasota, FL, and a Sara Bay reciprocal partner. Comparable in private member-owned governance, golf-focused offerings, and affluent regional demographic.

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sara-bay-country-club

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sara Bay Country Club