Harborside ~ Red/White at Longboat Key Club

Longboat Key Club's Harborside course occupies the northern end of this barrier island along Florida's Gulf Coast, between Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Willard Byrd designed the original layout here in the 1960s, creating a resort course that works with the island's flat, subtropical terrain and integrates water features throughout. The Red and White nines combine to form one of the club's two championship courses, the other being the Islandside layout.

The routing reflects typical Florida resort design of its era, with generous fairways, strategic bunkering, and water hazards that come into play on many holes. The course sits at sea level with minimal elevation change, so wind off the bay and Gulf becomes a significant factor in club selection and shot shaping. Palm trees, native vegetation, and views of the surrounding waterways define the setting. Several holes play along or across tidal areas, giving the layout its name and character.

Longboat Key Club operates as a private club with an extensive membership base and resort component. The facility has hosted various regional amateur competitions over the decades and serves as a winter destination for members from northern states. The club maintains both golf courses alongside tennis facilities and dining venues, reflecting the full-service country club model common to Florida's barrier island communities. The Harborside course provides a traditional resort golf experience shaped by its coastal location and mid-century design principles.