Sanctuary at River Strand Golf and Country Club

The Good: River Strand Golf & CC is a very nice, private 27-hole course designed by Arthur Hills, Steve Forrest & Chris Wilczynski does allow limited play during off-season summer months in an expansive Sarasota, FL community. There are many of Art’s signature qualities of a course: primarily weaves awkwardly through residential communities, has a significant amount of doglegs around water, and very challenging, undulating green complexes. In extremely good shape and the greens were putting really true. Beautiful clubhouse and pro shop area, along with nice dining/bar area (note, you need a reservation to walk into the Grille Room). The Tributary nine is the best of the two I played (the other being Estuary), with several strong Par-4’s with ample room off the tee but challenging around the green. Overall, extremely fun risk-reward Par-5’s & nice quartet of Par-3’s. The GPS on the carts with the rooftop accessories holder is a nice touch. Very good value at $75 during public accessible offseason from April to October.

The Bad: The Estuary nine, in particular, seemed to have the same dogleg left Par-4 around water about 3 holes in a row. The 7th on the Estuary is nearly an impossible golf hole with the approach shot heavily guarded by trees even when you’re in the fairway. Limited on-course service considering it was the weekend and in the afternoon. Way too many long drives between holes makes for a very odd routing and experience.

The Verdict: In an area filled with Arthur Hills designs, I happen to like Stoneybrook and Heron Point slightly more than River Strand. But don’t get me real, it’s a top-notch conditioned, upscale facility that has much to like, yet I suspect Art Hills detractors won’t enjoy.

Best Hole(s): The 8th hole on the Tributary nine is a demanding, strategic Par-5 that can be birdied if you play it right, but the green has a false front and a run off to the pond guarded the right. Very fun hole! The 7th on the Estuary nine is a straightway Par-4 but it has one of the most interesting sand trap compilation on the course.

This was my first time playing Estuary at River Strand. The conditions were awful because it was so wet, muddy, mucky and almost unplayable due to being so wet and muddy.
The layout is challenging with lots of trouble on the course. There is water on every hole. Due to the rain in the area of the prior few days, the course conditions were not good at all. The course does not drain well and by the end of the round, my shoes were filthy and totally covered with mud. Several times I was walking in the fairway and I would sink up to the top of my shoes in the mud and muck.
Before I went out, I asked the snack bar for a cooler with ice. They do not have coolers, only bags which they will put a little bit of ice in the bag. The temperature today was near 100 and to not have a cooler with ice for drinks is crazy, especially here in FL with the high humidity.
I liked the course layout. It is fun and challenging. As muddy and mucky as it was, the greens were in good condition. They greens were VERY slow and shaggy because they had not been cut in several days. If it has rained recently, I would recommend to try another course because the course does not drain well at all and retains TONS of water. If it has not rained recently, I highly recommend the course as it is fun and challenging.

This is a great course that is well groomed and has just enough features to keep the game interesting.

Great course and very challenging. Layout could be improved but overall it’s a great experience.

Love the course and staff. Challenging design with a lot of trouble on the course.
Pace of play is great and staff works hard to make it a great experience .
Recommend this course to anyone who loves a challenge.

Hooked up with some very nice people and had a great time. Course in great shape, fun had by all

It's a fun layout. Fairways were great, greens weren't in the best shape but Irma had a lot to do with that. Would like to play again.

But not allowed to bring your own beer and no cart driving around selling drinks.

River Strand used to be my favorite course in the Bradenton area. I understand end of summer is aeration time in Florida. River Strand always advertised that with 3 nine golf courses, playing in aerated greens wouldn't happen. I guess since it only allows the general public in during the summer its not as important to make sure there are always 18 holes in good shape.

Great layout. Course in really good shape given the recent weather. Greens are always good since they shut down 9 holes at a time during the summer for to punch greens... you never have to worry about playing on bumpy greens, which is probably the best thing about this course.
Downside is pace of play is always extremely slow here. If you go here with less than 4 people they always want to pair you up with others, which at this course can be unbearable. With the forced membership with home purchase in the neighborhood you get a lot of members that took up golf late in life, and unfortunately just aren't familiar with basic means of playing quickly. They are never ready to play their shot when it is their turn, etc. The best thing they can do is hold clinics for their members on how to be ready to hit your shot when it is your turn. This problem is no fault of the course staff, but it would be nice if they helped their members understand how to play faster.
If you're lucky enough to get out to this course on a day when not many members are playing you won't be disappointed at all. It's one of the best courses in the area.

had an enjoyable round at River Strand. Only problem was one of the cart/bag boys who threw a fit because I took the cart into the parking lot. Real smart mouth.

Course needs to be drained properly.
Too wet on the course.
Nice play anyway
Staff very pleasant

This is a must play. This course is a A+ and at twice the rate it is still a deal. It's not easy but you don't want that anyway..

I played this course for the first time and was really impressed with the conditions and layout of the course. The greens rolled true but were a little on the slow side, rated at a 9 that day. My only complaint was that some of the fairway bunkers lacked sand and were pretty solid. You got a free bag of range balls with the round and the practice facility was good.

A lesson learned you do not want to walk Tributary & Estuary in 90 degrees.
The course does not drain well therefor cart path only . I will call prior to going.
I aimed for the cart paths never played liked before and won't again. The greens
On the Trib were nice the Estuary were bumpy. If your a good played you would
be disappointed in the condition of the greens. IMO greens needed longer to
heal after aerifed. I will wait until October when rains will be less and the greens
better for the arrival of snowbirds !

Grass on the fairways, Green hold approach shots and rolled consistently and somewhat medium fast to better.

Tributary was the shorter nine, but the hazards were placed more strategically.

Haven't played Estuary, but understand it is the longest of the 3 nines.

Great value as I paid for my tee time through Golf Now. The staff very really friendly and even though the course was busy the pace of play was good.