OAK FORD GOLF CLUB (941-371-3680)
Florida Golf Course Review 11/17/06
Oak Ford Golf Club, located 20 minutes from downtown Sarasota, is a 27-hole open for public play Ron Garl
design, that is situated on a 850-acre nature preserve. The property's moniker is "a little out of the way - a lot out
of the ordinary". The tender loving care that has been afforded to the playing surfaces here - since the Swartz
family purchased the property in May of 2003, is now paying dividends. If you have not visited this course in the
past couple of years - you will be pleasantly surprised by the upgrades in conditioning to the fairways, tee boxes and bunkers.
A mix of open areas and fairways lined with mature oaks and palms plus a variety of green complexes provide
golfers of all skill levels with a challenging yet enjoyable round. Moss covered trees provide canopies along the
cart paths of several holes, adding to the aesthetic experience. The serene environment makes for an ideal
habitat for bobcat, deer, herons and abundant native wildlife. Partial cart paths also help with the speed of play.
The property features 27holes - and the photos in this review are from the Oaks and Myrtle nines.
The Oaks/Palms layout measures between 6679 and 5054 yards, with slopes varying from 129 to 116. The measurements for the Myrtle/Oaks are between 6734 and 5085 yards, with slopes ranging from 130 to 116,
while the Palms/Myrtle plays from 6753 to 5051 yards, with slopes measuring between 131 and 118. Water
comes into play in the form of ponds or marsh areas on 6 holes on the oaks, 6 on the Myrtle and on all 9 holes of
the palms. Most of these hazards are situated along the perimeter, with only a few forced carries.
Sand bunkering is understated but strategic, with approximately 36 neatly cut traps located on the 27 holes. The
putting surfaces vary in size from medium to small, with mild slopes and little undulation. Some are raised while
others are fairly level, and most are open in front, with gentle mounding to the sides and back. A combination of Tif Dwarf/Poa is used on the greens, with rye/bermuda on the fairways and rough.
On property are a grass range and practice green, plus a clubhouse with pro shop, changing areas with showers
, and a restaurant with outdoor patio that also serves to accommodate outings. On course golfers will find color
coded flags to indicate pin placements, sprinkler heads that are measured to the center of the green, plus 100, 150 and 200 yardage markers on the fairways.
The course is located about 9 miles east of I-75 and about 20 minutes from downtown Sarasota. When
comparing prices here with other area courses - it is easy to surmise that this is a good value. The recent
upgrades and attention given to the property by the Swartz family warrant a visit! For more info, visit our page for the course, with direct link to their website by clicking here.
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