SARASOTA, Fla. -- Legendary golf course architect Tom Fazio has unveiled his latest Florida creation at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club, Sarasota. The recent grand opening ceremonies were attended by more than 300 members and guests, course representatives and local dignitaries.
"I'm ecstatic with the results of this golf course," Fazio said. "This has been a special project from the very beginning and when you see the variation in hole elevation and the placement of numerous lakes and water features, I think you can see we have created a special golf course."
Located on 315 acres of tropical landscape, the par-72 layout has been strategically sculpted by moving nearly 1.9 million cubic yards of earth to create elevation, relief, contouring and framing for each hole in a manner that gracefully rolls among the 12 picturesque lakes and extensive landscape to form a fair and memorable test of golf.
There are six sets of tees designed to provide maximum playability without sacrificing strategy or beauty, with yardage ranging from 7,417 to 5,175.
"This will be a high-end, dramatic, distinctive golf club that will be the type of course that all levels of players will enjoy," Fazio said. "It has that 'want-to-come back' feeling, when you can't wait to play it again."
Amenities include the Ritz-Carlton's Caddie Concierge program and a two-level practice range, with two chipping greens and two putting greens. The clubhouse -- overlooking holes 1, 10, 9 and 18 -- is set to open in 2007, complete with a golf shop, grill restaurant, lounge and separate, attendant-serviced men's and women's locker rooms.
The Members Golf Club is a private 18-hole facility, available only for the use of Members of The Ritz-Carlton Members Club and guests of The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. However, officials announced that the golf course would be donated one day per year for each of the next three years to the Boys and Girls Clubs chapters of Sarasota and Manatee Counties to host a fund-raising golf tournament.
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