Myakka City, Fla. (August 2023) – Florida is replete with world-class golf venues, but insiders are beginning to whisper about a new course underway in Myakka City likely to rival the very best in this state, or any other state. The course will be the centerpiece of Miakka Golf Club, a private club along the banks of the scenic Myakka River, less than 30 miles southeast of Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport. The club shares ownership with and is adjacent to the acclaimed TerraNova Equestrian Center and The Estates at TerraNova community.
Miakka Golf Club’s vision is being led by Florida entrepreneur Steve Herrig, and the course is being designed by award-winning Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design in cooperation with celebrated PGA TOUR player Paul Azinger, who lives in nearby Bradenton, Florida.
“This is one of the best natural sites for golf and one of the best teams we’ve ever been affiliated with,” said Jason Straka, principal of Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design. “The property has an incredible two miles of frontage along the Myakka River with hundreds of mature oak hammocks. Just the golf club and its facilities are being built on more than 1,100 acres. Miakka is going to be pure golf with no encroachments or distractions of any kind. The course will resemble the celebrated courses of the Australian Sandbelt, with wide turf corridors, no rough, and distinctive bunkers and natural-area hazards jutting into the line of play.”
The enthusiasm and high expectations for Miakka Golf Club’s future are shared by co-designer Azinger, as well. “I’m from here. This is my home, and it’s incredibly important to me,” said Azinger. “Steve and his team are absolutely committed to making Miakka Golf Club one of the very best private clubs in the world. He’s assembled an all-star team and will do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.”
Building upon Azinger’s comment, Dana Fry, Straka’s partner in Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design, points to the extraordinary lengths to which the development team has gone to ensure Miakka Golf Club provides its future members with unparalleled playing conditions.
“The entire 7,700-yard golf course will be sand capped with a proprietary blend of sand and Profile soil conditioner. Everything but the greens will be sodded. In addition, the entire course will have substantial underdrains to ensure fast and firm playing conditions year-round,” said Fry. “Recently, Miakka secured 1,600 acres of adjacent land and will be the first course in Florida with its own sod farm. This is where they’ll grow the Stadium and Lazer Zoysia grass that will be used on the fairways, tees, and green surrounds.”
When completed, Miakka Golf Club’s 18-hole championship course will wind its way through the gently rolling meadows and along the dense stands of mature trees lining the Myakka River, presenting players with a captivating selection of risk/reward challenges and shot-making opportunities. In addition, Miakka Golf Club will include a 12-hole, par-3 golf course, a 7-acre short game facility, a lighted putting course, and a distinctive performance center featuring a unique 360-degree practice facility.
Other amenities will accentuate the club’s friendly, relaxed ambiance and rustic, natural charm to encourage fun social interaction and strengthen the bonds of friendship among members. These will include an inviting clubhouse with breathtaking golf course views, an expansive patio, luxurious locker facilities for men and women, and a comfortably appointed dining room and bar with exceptional cuisine. Adjacent to the clubhouse, the performance center will be fully integrated with the latest TrackMan technology to aid with instruction and clubfitting. It will also include an innovative putting lab as well as indoor and outdoor hitting stations. A well-equipped fitness center will feature the latest equipment for strength, flexibility, cardio training, recovery, and rehabilitation. It will be designed to help every player, from members to PGA TOUR professionals, maximize their athletic performance.
Surrounding the putting course will be a cluster of traditional cracker-style cabins to provide overnight accommodations for members and guests. Nearby, the Still will be a charming, informal gathering spot overlooking a 38-acre recreational pond. Here, members and guests will relax over a favorite snack or beverage while enjoying the activities and games, such as golf simulators, fire pit, bocce, horseshoes, and fishing.
The 12-hole par-3 course, Still and a selection of cabins are expected to open in 2024 with the championship course ready for play in early 2025. A limited number of local and national memberships will be offered by invitation only, ensuring members an intimate, golf-centered environment where tee times are not necessary. To inquire or to learn more, please email Membership Director Erik Whitehead at ewhitehead@miakkagc.com call 941-799-9227.
