Stoneybrook Golf & Country Club

The Good: Private Arthur Hills design part of the "Palmer Ranch" community just south of Sarasota allows tee-times with 2-days advance. Solid design with many of Hills' cape template hole twists and turns, yet very playable off the tee and green complexes that aren't overly demanding. The signature short, drivable Par 4's are a staple throughout the course. Excellent course conditions and greens, while undulated, aren't too slick for the average player. Beautiful clubhouse and extremely nice restaurant/bar area adjacent to the golf shop. Very nice practice facilities with large driving range, big putting green, and short game area. Good value at under $100 during peak season for non-members.

The Bad: Service is mediocre for an upscale, private facility. There was no on-course service and no starter other than names announced on an intercom. Pace of play dragged as they sent groups off both the 1st and 10th tees.

The Verdict: Stoneybrook is a fun, well-conditioned track and one of the best available to the public in the Sarasota area. Playable for the higher handicapper and challenging enough for the most skilled players.

Best Hole: The Par 5 4th is the most demanding drive on the course as it must carry 200 yards to a dogleg left fairway.

Buying property in Palmer Ranch area and wanted to try the local course. They request a 2 day call in advance but got right on. Played as a 2 some for the entire day. Did not wait long and took our time. Course was in great shape and greens were challenging. Great signage with water and bathrooms on every 5 holes. Some challenging holes while not an overly long course, the greens were undulating and not easy for a northerner to read. Holes are independent of each other and i cant remember having a single fairway side by side. Good experience for $ 53 all in fee and was surprised by the low green fee. Range was in great shape.. lots of practice and lessons going on. Great facility.

I'm sure the previous reviewer played the Stoneybrook in Brandenton. This course is private in Jan., and the other Stoney has been a bad experience for me and many others as per it's reviews.

Stoney in Sarasota is excellent, greens , fairways and bunkers. It is a must play if your a good golfer and can get on it. This course is not on Golfnow as of this review.

paid $130 for range balls, round, and cart. The range was virtually grassless. Most of the tee boxes were closed and as I was playing with golfers with handicaps from 11-15, we chose the white tees which was to play about 6,000 yds. Most tee boxes were closed. 7 of the 9 holes on the front were set up for a 2,800 yard 9 and they pushed 2 holes back about 75 yards to keep the total close to "as advertised" about the same on the back. When we asked why we weren't told about conditions, the response from Mr Steele was "so what did you shoot? If you didn't break par, you shouldn't be complaining". We were civil and he was beyond obnoxious. They did not disclose anything about the course conditions-----just awful.