Myakka Golf Club: Behind the Scenes at This Exclusive Florida Club

On this episode of the Club + Resort Talks podcast, Club + Resort Business Editor-in-Chief Rob Thomas speaks with Erik Whitehead, Membership Director at Myakka Golf Club in Myakka City, Fla. Miakka Golf Club, a private club currently being built by Dana Fry and Jason Straka with consultation from PGA veteran Paul Azinger, is located near Sarasota, construction is well under way and preview play is expected to begin the fall of 2025. The course is being built on more than 1,100 acres of land and will feature an Australian Sandbelt design (Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, etc). They also have created a 600 acre sod farm to grow their own zoysia grasses. Rob and Senior Editor Phil Keren also discussed projects happening in Florida, Arizona and California. Boca West Country Club in Boca Raton, Fla. this past week officially unveiled its 110,000-sq.-ft., fully renovated, two-story Lifestyle Center. The facility includes a 96,000 sq.-ft. Aquatic Complex, 20,000 sq. ft. of fitness studios, with state-of-the-art technology for spin, aerobics, Pilates and core training. The expansion includes a fully renovated spa, cabana shop, poker room, card room, game lounge, locker rooms/lounge, and business center. Rob and Phil shared thoughts about the renovation of the Mountainview Golf Course that was completed at SaddleBrooke Two, a master-planned community located north of Tucson, Ariz. The project focused on replacing the old irrigation system, improved drainage, bunkers complexes, turf reduction and improvements as well as adding new tees to the 27-year-old course. Phil and Rob also reviewed the ongoing reconstruction of the original 18 holes of the 27-hole golf course at the private North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village, Calif. Every feature and component of the Valley and Oaks courses has been reimagined by Jackson Kahn Design. Enhancements include: tee-to-green layout changes with fair challenges for all levels of play; new greens ranging from 3,400 to 11,000-plus sq. ft.; and Sand-soil mixtures optimizing moisture characteristics and drainage. Rob and Phil highlighted a groundbreaking ceremony for a new golf clubhouse being constructed as part of a new, master-planned resort-style new home community located on Lake Anna in Louisa County, Va. The fully-built development is expected to contribute significantly to Louisa County’s economy, with an estimated annual impact of $6.5 million. This figure includes $5 million from property taxes and more than $1.5 million from transient occupancy taxes. Additionally, the project will generate more than 200 full-time jobs and 150 construction and skilled trade positions during the development phase.