Sarasota City Commissioners Approve Bobby Jones Golf Club Preservation

SARASOTA, FL — At a special meeting Monday, Sarasota city commissioners unanimously approved the preservation of Bobby Jones Golf Club.

They voted to place a conservation easement on the property at 1000 Circus Blvd., restore the historic 18-hole Donald Ross golf course, and construct a new 9-hole adjustable course and clubhouse.

The conservation easement will limit the use to recreation, parkland and green space in perpetuity, the city of Sarasota said in a news release.

“Securing a conservation easement on 261 acres of urban green space is a historic legacy action,” Mayor Erik Arroyo said. “Future generations are guaranteed this beautiful natural area, that eventually will connect to the Legacy Trail, will permanently exist as parkland for residents and visitors to enjoy.”

The reconstructed Bobby Jones municipal golf course will be downsized from 45 holes to 27 holes and will now include the infrastructure for a 150-acre nature park while improving water quality, the county said.

Wetlands will be created to filter stormwater as it flows through the Bobby Jones property, which is located within a significant regional watershed, and ultimately ends in Sarasota Bay. The Southwest Florida Water Management District approved a $1.5 million grant for a wetlands and water quality improvement project on the site.

“The permanent conservation of Bobby Jones Golf Club is a huge win for both people and nature,” Christine P. Johnson, president of Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast. said. “We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of community support and to the army of people who engaged their policymakers in favor of this vote. We are excited to work with the City to create this legacy for our region and thank both the City Commissioners and staff for their commitment to conservation.”

During their meeting, commissioners approved multiple items related to preserving the historic municipal golf course and conserving the open, green space. Among their actions, they:

• approved an agreement with Q.G.S Development, Inc. for the construction of 18 regulation golf holes at Donald Ross course, nine adjustable holes and a driving range;
• an agreement with Jon F. Swift Construction to design and build a new clubhouse that will include a restaurant;
• authorized staff to negotiate a proposed term sheet with Indigo Golf Partners to manage golf course operations at the property;
• authorized the issuance of a capital improvement revenue bond not to exceed $20 million;
• approved conveying 12.07 acres located at Bobby Jones Golf Club to Sarasota County for the development of a regional playground;
• approved a conservation easement with the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast over the 261-acre Bobby Jones Golf Club property; and
• approved a fundraising partnership agreement term sheet between the city of Sarasota and the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast to fund maintenance and amenities at the nature park.

“Bobby Jones is the City’s largest green space and conserving it in perpetuity and reconstructing the golf course has been a long time in the making,” City Manager Marlon Brown said. “Thank you to our amazing team and community partners who remained committed over the years to seeing this through. The City Commission’s bold, visionary steps to conserve this important green space and historic municipal golf course will be a lasting legacy.”

The golf course renovation is expected to begin in February, the county said. The Donald Ross course restoration could be completed as early as November 2022 and the 9-hole adjustable course should be finished in January 2023.