Soleta Golf Club membership director excited for opportunity

The 7,400-yard course is being built in Myakka City on pastures, prairies and saw palmettos, it's designed by World Golf Hall of Fame member Nick Price, and its being built by Heritage Links, which has Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Washington, and The Estancia Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, on its resume.

That's some impressive stuff.

Then note the practice and training facility is being designed by world famous golf instructor David Leadbetter. 

Oh, and tennis courts, pickleball courts, and a lagoon-style pool will be featured in the new community, which will offer access to 2 miles of the Myakka River for canoeing, fishing and other activities. 

Who wouldn't be excited about all that? 

The new community is called Soleta Golf Club and while all of these features will draw the interest of many prospective members and home buyers, they also draw potential staff members.

Courtesy photo

Alan Pope is one such staff member, and he figures to be a key one. Pope was named the club's membership and sales director July 31, though Pope said he's been working for the club since November. Pope comes to Soleta from The Coral Creek Club in Boca Grande, but he previously served as membership director at The Concession Golf Club, so he knows the East County area well. 

When Soleta managing partner David Turner and others contacted Pope about the club, he knew right away it was an opportunity he couldn't turn down. Pope worked with Leadbetter at Coral Creek, and the idea of a golf-focused club around and through wetlands was appealing. When the club told him it was hiring Price to design the course, that was gravy on top of a already-delicious meal. 

"I knew it was going to be state-of-the-art," Pope said. "It's going to be a place people want to be."

That's where Pope comes in. His job is to get people to buy into Soleta's vision, just like he did himself. Besides the big names involved in the club — which Pope said are a big selling point to prospective members — Pope is advertising the club as a place where the sport of golf comes first, along with the family experience. 

"A lot of clubs in the area might be focused on the family aspect — the dining, the pool, the tennis," Pope said. "(Soleta's) vision is to have both. We want a great family experience, but also a great golf course. I think it's going to be impressive." 

Another selling point? Pope said the club will initially focus on its member experience as opposed to luring events from the PGA Tour or Korn Ferry Tour. Pope understands that approach, he said, but as a brand-new club, Soleta is more concerned with creating a great environment for the people who are there every day. Many years down the line, could the club host something? It's possible, Pope said, but not in the foreseeable future. 

Soleta will feature 93 custom-built homes separated into three enclaves. Pope said the club's ultimate goal is to have 275 full-time members and another hundred "national" members, defined as members who live 60 miles or more from the club, who stop in a handful of times a year to play a round. There will also be sports memberships available for people who don't play golf, but are interested in using the club's tennis, pickleball or fitness amenities. Pope said the club has not set a target number of sports memberships yet. 

Prospective members can apply on SoletaGolf.com, but don't think applying means an automatic spot. It doesn't. Pope said the club will go through each application carefully and only accept members who fit the culture that Soleta is trying to create. 

"We're looking for that family that wants to meet new people and be around a place that has a great atmosphere," Pope said. "We want people who will wear the club logo with pride when they travel or go out on the town. We want people to let others know they're members at Soleta. That's how you build culture. You find people that fit what you're looking for." 

Besides creating a desired and consistent culture, Pope said, the main concern of the club is not expanding too quickly. Pope said he hopes every member can secure tee times with ease and have the ability to finish a round in approximately four hours. When you can't do those things, Pope said, members understandably get frustrated. 

There's a long way to go before Soleta is ready to host rounds of golf — the plan is for the course to open in late 2024 — but Pope is counting down the days. He's excited for the members he's courting, of course, but also for himself. 

He's got a job to do, but playing on Price's course and Leadbetter's practice facility will be a nice perk. 

"Nick likes that natural feel of golf," Pope said. "It's got a different play to it than other courses you'll see around Sarasota. It's old Florida. It's a wonderful piece of property and he's not touching the wetlands at all. It's going to be unique. I'm excited to get to play it."