Plans emerge for luxury golf community in Myakka City

Lakewood Ranch's Charles Duff knew he and partners David Turner and John Galt were giving former golf great Nick Price an imposing challenge when they asked him to design a world class course on Singletary Road in Myakka City.

Besides all the usual challenges of developing a 7,400-yard, par-72 course, Price was told he could not touch any of the wetlands that run through the 537 acres of the new Soleta community.

And oh, by the way, the 93 custom-built homes on the property were not to be connected to the golf course.

Did Price, who is in the World Golf Hall of Fame, take the assignment seriously?

"He did 56 iterations of design," Duff said.

"Nick impressed us from Day 1," Turner said. "It was intimidating, but he wanted to be involved with it."

Duff said that kind of commitment is going to make the Soleta golf community not only one of the best in Florida, but one of the best in the country and beyond.

Besides forging a deal with Price, who won three Majors and attained the No. 1 ranking in the world during his golfing career, the partners signed famous golf instructor David Leadbetter to design a 30-acre practice and performance facility on the grounds.

Leadbetter might be known best for rebuilding the swing of Nick Faldo, who went forward to win six Majors. Ledbetter-coached players have won 26 Majors.

In a release, Leadbetter said the new practice facility will be a "field of dreams."

Away from the golf course, luxury home builders John Cannon Homes and Anchor Builders have been signed to design the custom homes.

"When we saw the availability of this property, we went back and forth on whether this was the right fit," Duff said. "We had mixed feelings (among the partners)."

While the wild setting offered significant challenges to build, it always guaranteed a one-of-a-kind setting.

"I was a little unsure," Turner said. "But when we dug in, it felt like the right location, and the right product. We are not tract home builders. This property will be something unique. It is not what you see in developed Florida."

While the new development met some resistance from members of the community, it was passed by the Manatee County Commission in June 5-1 with District 5 Commissioner Vanessa Baugh, who had just announced her retirement from the board, absent and James Satcher voting against the project.

Duff, who grew up in Sarasota, said his dad, also Charles Duff, lived on Singletary Road in the 1980s.

"He lived less than a mile from this property," Duff said of his father, who died 10 years ago. "We still have family there. It is a special place for me personally."

Duff said his connections to the area did allow him to talk with "certain residents" about the project as it did encounter some push-back. 

"Ninety-three homes (on 537 acres) is not overdeveloping the area based on our conversations with our new neighbors," Duff said. "There is a lack of space in other places (for a golf course in Manatee County)."

Although Myakka City is 25 miles from Sarasota and 30 miles from Bradenton, Duff said he didn't believe the new residents of Soleta will mind driving to metropolitan areas.

"This is going to be a world class golf course," Duff said. "We think it is something where people will be willing to drive."

Turner, who lives in Richmond Hill, Georgia, said construction on model homes should begin early in 2024. Golf course construction is expected to begin this fall. The hope is that the course will be open for play late in 2024.

"The final site plan will be approved later this year, we hope," Turner said. "People have wanted to move to the area, but the golf courses have multiyear waiting lists. Then they heard this is coming."

Turner said the course's natural setting will make golfers feel like they "are playing in the middle of nowhere." The course will wind through pastures, oak-filled prairies, and fields with saw palmettos.

The owners do not expect to chase big professional events to be hosted at the course.

"I don't know that would be a good fit," Duff said. "We are going to be more focused on providing for our members."

The golf club and practice and performance facility will only be open to club members.

The course will be built by Heritage Links, a golf course and irrigation builder which has built heralded projects such as Trump National Doral Blue Monster, The Golf Club at Dove Mountain in Arizona, Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington.

Price's indoor/outdoor facility will include a state-of-the-art biomechanics studio, a putting studio, GolfZon simulators and other advanced training technologies. The driving range will have covered hitting bays.