Bobby Jones Golf Club renovations progressing well

City staff provides update on work to renovate the course and create new nature park

Construction is progressing well at the Bobby Jones Golf Club, the City of Sarasota’s historic municipal golf course, city staff announced in a March 3 newsletter.

“The back nine fairways (holes 10-18) have been grassed and the greens will be completed when ground temperatures warm to optimum levels for healthy growth,” the newsletter notes. “On the front nine, both sprigging and sod installation started last month. The 9-hole adjustable Gillespie Course is being shaped and will be ready for grass soon,” the newsletter continues. “Construction also began [last] week on the new driving range and accompanying building, practice green and restrooms,” the newsletter adds. Work “will get underway soon on a temporary clubhouse,” as well as the Gillespie Course starter booth/shop,” the newsletter says.

Meanwhile, design concepts for the new clubhouse are being created by Fawley Bryan Architecture of Sarasota, the newsletter notes. The concepts “will be presented to the City Commission for consideration in the coming months,” the newsletter points out.

“The wetlands located on the property have been fully constructed and will be planted with native aquatic shoreline vegetation beginning in April,” the newsletter continues. The Bobby Jones grounds comprise the city’s single largest green space, the newsletter explains. Following the creation of these new wetlands, the newsletter says, “water quality in the region will be vastly improved,” with stormwater being filtered as it flows through the property and ultimately into Sarasota Bay.

“This environmental and recreational improvement project will have a significant positive impact on the health and well-being of future generations,” the release adds.

As the time the March 3 newsletter was written, it says, city staff still was anticipating that the golf course would open this fall, with infrastructure in place for a 150-acre nature park.