FriendsoBobbyJonesGC

I wish to chime in following the first review and regarding the general impressions that people seem to have of this course.

The original course here was designed by Donald Ross in 1925, opened June 5, 1926 as Sarasota Municipal Golf Course and Recreation Grounds (Ross' layout included a baseball diamond) and dedicated February 13, 1927 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and exhibition match featuring immortal Bobby Jones with 1500 spectators. On that day the course was renamed "Bobby Jones Golf Club".

The course was NOT a "lower end" Ross design but in fact was heralded in its time as one of the premier golf courses in the South.

In addition to a number of matches featuring "hometown boy" Bobby Jones (he and his parents and new bride wintered here for several seasons), the course hosted the 1935 Sarasota Open won by Johnny Revolta (leading money winner and that year's PGA Championship winner).

In 1940 the Senior PGA Championship was played at BJGC. The first two "Senior PGAs" were played at Augusta National, the only Major other than The Masters ever played at Augusta.

Otto Hackbarth prevailed over previous champion Jock Hutchison in a never-equaled "double playoff": the two tied after regulation play, were tied after an 18-hole playoff, and Jovial Jock won 74-75 in the second 18-hole playoff.

The 1941 Senior PGA was also played at Bobby Jones Golf Club, won by U.S. Open runner-up Jackie Burke, Sr. in a runaway 7-stroke victory. The Senior PGA then moved to Donald Ross designed Dunedin Country Club, headquarters of the PGA of America for the next several decades.

In 1952 nine holes were added to BJGC designed by Chicago golf architect Robert Bruce Harris.

In 1954, the LPGA played its Sarasota Women's Open at BJGC. Betty Jameson won. In 1955, Bob Jones Award-winner Betsy Rawls won the tourney. The fields included every player from the first THREE classes inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

In addition to Bobby Jones and the LPGA Hall of Famers, Sam Snead played at BJGC with the famous Bauer sisters.

We know that at least 10 Hall of Famers played BJGC.

In 1967 a fourth nine holes were added, design by local golf architect Roy Albert Anderson.

With the total number of holes at 36, the City split the Ross course into two nines and assigned the Ross FRONT nine holes 1-9 to the British Course (British 10-18) and the Ross BACK nine holes 10-18 to the American Course (American 10-18).

So when you play either the American or British course at Bobby Jones Golf Club, you'll play a famous and historic Donald Ross back nine.

In 1987, Florida golf architect Ron Garl renovated the American Course, including significant alterations to the original ROSS holes 10-18.

A Sarasota-based not for profit, Friends of Bobby Jones Golf Club (.org) is working to promote sustainable investment to improvements at BJGC including the RESTORATION of the historic DONALD ROSS design. The course could again be one of the best in the South.