The Resort at Longboat Key Club - Harbourside - Blue Heron/Red Hawk

Paspalum – the coastal golf course grass known for saltwater-tolerance – doesn’t tend to lend itself to the best golf conditions. But Longboat Key is the strongest counterpoint to that narrative I have encountered in America. Fairways are firm and bouncy and the greens, rolling more than 13 feet on the Stimpmeter, are some of the finest I have encountered anywhere, with no caveats necessary.

Design-wise, Harbourside is a bit two-sided, with the Red/White original 18 laid out on a long triangular parcel of core golf while the newer Blue is more of a residential loop. I like the more cohesive feel of the Red Nine but the Blue has some fun holes and good late views. A private club but for limited resort play, Longboat Key is one of the Gulf Coast of Florida’s better spots you can access.

Course was in excellent shape and the greens were very good!

Course is in excellent shape and the water hazards are in play on most holes. Greens roll smooth with very good pace.

Nice facilities, friendly staff, fun track - but 4 1/2 hours to play in 2-somes??? Really???

“Rangers” were a joke. They ”visited” with us and the group(s) ahead of is twice and did nothing to pick up pace. Yes, I understand it’s. resort course, but mid-morning on a weekend should be able to get a round completed in under 4 hours.

It’s a shame, but we’ll be hard pressed to go back.

Forget what you knew about this course before (which certainly wasn't terrible), the new version of Harbourside at Longboat Key Club is one of the must plays in the Sarasota area. With a recent renovation by Ron Garl, the course is both playable and beautiful with plenty of great vistas of the surrounding bay and marina. Most spectacular is the new Platinum Paspalum grass, which gives this 18 holes 27-hole venue perfect confitions (The White Course still has Bermuda in the fairways). The greens are perfect and golfers love the way the ball sits up on the turf in the fairways and light rough.

The date of play may be off. My husband and I were so excited to play this course. We asked our very pro to arrange play for us. After paying a hefty $175 each fee we were completely disappointed with the course conditions. When we asked for a rain check to come back when the course was in better shape the pro from MA acted as though we were way out of line. The greens were in horrible condition The pro was unable to see the greens. We understand courses have issues sometimes. I can't imagine the difficulty of keeping this course in good condition. The problem being the hefty fee and the rude Pro. Although it's a private course play is allowed when you stay at the resort. We will never go back.