As Sara Bay Country Club – originally Whitfield Estates Country Club – approaches its centennial, a full slate of programs to commemorate 100 years of golf heritage is planned for the legendary club in Sarasota, FL. Sara Bay’s historic Donald Ross-designed course, the site of the legendary “Match of the Century” between Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen in 1926, remains a centerpiece of local and national golf history.
Sara Bay Country Club remains a private, member-owned club dedicated to providing an exceptional golf and social experience.
A new book, Sara Bay Country Club: A Century of Golf, authored by local historian Jeff LaHurd with club historians Gary Cole and Howard Akey, will be unveiled to members on Jan. 16, 2026. The event will feature a book signing and Q&A with LaHurd, celebrating the visionaries who built the iconic Ross course and the clubhouse designed by Pringle and Smith of Atlanta.
Jones, who once worked as a real estate salesman for the club’s surrounding development, went on to become one of golf’s greatest champions. His grandson, Dr. Bob Jones IV, will visit Sara Bay on Feb. 27, 2026, for a fireside chat to discuss his grandfather’s involvement in the club’s history, and to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the “Match of the Century.”
Sara Bay Golf and Country Club
The club’s commitment to preserving its legacy is evident in the ongoing restoration led by architect Kris Spence, who began work in 2018 to return the course to Ross’s original 1925 design. Spence’s renovations, including restored bunkers and reshaped greens. Spence continues to guide the club’s master plan, ensuring the course remains true to Ross’s vision while evolving for today’s golfers.
Recent improvements include new bunkers and tees, upgraded cart path bridges, and the replacement of turf with Bimini Bermuda grass. Tree removal – some due to renovations, others following hurricanes – has enhanced turf conditions and preserved Ross’s strategic angles and open vistas, while highlighting the distinctive green complexes that make this course special.
Photos Courtesy of Sara Bay Country Club
