Donald Ross Course Feature: Sara Bay

Donald Ross left an undeniable mark on golf course architecture with his innovative designs and masterful layouts. Born in Dornoch, Scotland in 1872, Ross’s journey in golf began as a young apprentice under the protection of Old Tom Morris at St Andrews. His passion for the game and keen eye for design led him to the United States, where he would eventually shape over 400 courses, leaving a legacy that continues to influence the world of golf today.

Among these incredible creations, the Sara Bay Country Club in Sarasota, Florida, is a course that stands as a testament to Donald Ross’s genius. Originally established as the Whitfield Estates Country Club in 1926, Sara Bay is considered one of the courses designed during Ross’s golden era of architecture, making it a phenomenal and world-renown location for golfers of all backgrounds. Through the decades, professional golfers from all over have played Sara Bay, the course even standing as a frequent venue for esteemed tournaments.

Sara Bay is a classic example of Donald Ross’s design philosophy, which emphasized strategic play, natural beauty, and a respect for the native land. Learn more about Donald Ross’s philosophy and genius design through the history of the Sara Bay Country Club.

The Golden Era of Donald Ross’s Architecture

The period between 1910 and 1930 is often referred to as the golden era for Donald Ross’s architecture. Ross created some of his most iconic courses during this time as his design philosophy fully came into fruition. What characterizes a Donald Ross course is his utmost appreciation for the natural land, utilizing the unique landscape of each location to create a course that felt challenging based on strategy rather than pure strength.

As golf’s popularity in the United States surged in the 1910s, Donald Ross was at the forefront of it; designing courses that would cater to all enthusiasts of the sport through his unique approach to land preservation in his architecture. The Sara Bay Country Club is a prime example of Ross’s work during this golden era, showcasing his ability to create courses that are timeless in their appeal and challenge.

The History of Sara Bay

1926:The Match of the Century between Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen took place at the club, shortly after opening.

1938: The club was renamed to North Shore Country Club.

1940: North Shore Country Club was then renamed to Sarasota Bay Country Club.

1940 & 1941: Sarasota Bay Country Club co-hosted the third and fourth annual Seniors PGA Championship with Bobby Jones Golf Course, won by Otto Hackbarth and Jackie Burke, Sr..

1953 – 1954: SBCC hosted the LPGA Sarasota Open, both won by Babe Zaharias

1964: The club was renamed to it’s name today: Sara Bay Country Club.

In recent years: Sara Bay has undergone a restoration to bring the course back to its original Ross design. Led by golf course architect Kris Spence, the restoration is focused on recapturing the strategic elements that had been lost over time, such as repositioning bunkers and expanding greens to their original sizes, and removal of non-native vegetation to restore the natural beauty of the landscape. Highlighting the characteristics of an authentic Ross course.

Sara Bay: A Testament to Timeless Design

The Sara Bay Country Club has stood the test of time, remaining largely unchanged from Ross’s original design thanks to undergoing restoration in recent years. Golf enthusiasts’ emphasis on respectfully maintaining this historic course is a testament to Donald Ross’s influence in the golf community for his ability to create timeless masterpieces.

Sara Bay continues to challenge and delight golfers nearly a century after its creation, proving it to be a highly respected and deeply appreciated golf venue. The course has even hosted numerous prestigious events, including the 1927 Miami Open and the 2012 and 2013 LPGA Symetra Tour’s Guardian Retirement Championship.

The Genius of Donald Ross: Blending Strategy with Nature

Donald Ross believed that a well-designed course should challenge players of all skill levels, offering multiple routes to the hole and demanding thoughtful shot selection. Often these routes are sculpted by the original land the course is built on, making each Ross course unique to themselves and playfully unpredictable.

Sara Bay beautifully showcases these philosophies as the course meanders through natural rolling terrain and native Florida vegetation, creating intrinsic routes that vary in difficulty on every hole. Ross treated course design as an extension of the natural land, using these original bearings as building blocks for his designs. The result is a one-of-a-kind creation that utilizes natural terrain to test golfers’ strategic abilities.

A Living Monument to Donald Ross

Sara Bay Country Club is more than just a golf course; it is a living monument to Donald Ross and his eternal impact on the game of golf. His design principles, which emphasized strategic thinking, natural beauty, and respect for the land, are as relevant today as they were nearly a century ago. Sara Bay stands as a testament to Ross’s genius; a place where golfers can experience the timeless challenge and beauty of a true classic. As we walk the fairways and greens of Sara Bay, we are reminded of the artistry and vision of Donald Ross, a man whose legacy continues to shape the game of golf.