This summer, the Club’s equity members approved a plan that allowed them to become fully membership owned while also strengthening the Club’s financial position. Today there is no debt encumbering the golf course and Club facilities. The plan allows for the sale of a limited number of Golf Equity memberships for $15,000 and a limited number of Social Equity memberships for $5,000.
Club President Humberto Vainieri says the offering was initially formulated for non-member homeowners at The Founders Club, but that it has now been expanded to allow members of the public to join the Club. "The Founders Club offers one of the best golf experiences in the region, but there are many other lifestyle amenities available that add to a member’s enjoyment," he said.
Among the offerings at the 24,000 sq. ft. Golf Hall are fine and casual dining, a bar and grille with outdoor verandah, a fully equipped fitness facility, golf shop, and men’s and women’s locker facilities.
Vainieri says that the Founders Club golf experience is what truly distinguishes the community among its peers. The Founders Club is offering just 275 Golf Memberships allowing for a no tee-time policy for its members. The Robert Trent Jones, Jr. signature-designed course also features the area’s only traditional caddy program, allowing members the pleasure to walk the course if they desire.
PGA Professional and Director of Golf Jim Owens oversees the Club’s teaching programs that include The Florida Golf Performance center with a high-tech indoor training facility featuring private instruction on the area’s only Trackman® swing and ball flight analysis systems.
In addition to the Equity Membership programs, The Founders Club is also offering three levels of Non-Equity memberships that include a Golf membership for $7,500; an Associate membership for $3,750; and a Social membership for $2,500.
"Every one of these membership programs offers an incredible value for prospective members and there is great flexibility among the offerings to allow people to purchase a membership that is perfectly suited to their lifestyle," Vainieri said.
Many local golf enthusiasts who have had the opportunity to play at The Founders Club say it is a course that would be difficult to replicate today. The 18-hole design is set among gently rolling terrain against a backdrop of moss-covered centuries-old oaks, pines and palm trees, highlighted by a buffer of lush natural landscape.
The Founders Club course is reminiscent of a traditional Scottish Links course that features a "core" design where golfers cross no roads during play and where the homes are carefully set back from the field of play.
"The Founders Club has a very friendly membership and the community itself is located in a very serene setting, but yet it’s only 20-minutes from all the activity of downtown Sarasota," Vainieri said.
The Founders Club is located east of I-75 on the recently expanded section of Fruitville Road. For additional membership information visit www.thefoundersclubgolf.com or call Club General Manager Hugh O’Donnell at 941-371-9720 x. 302.
For information about homes and home sites visit www.thefoundersclub.com or call 941-404-3107. Home and home site prices start in the $500s.
