Miakka Golf - Florida
Owner Steve Herrig is building Miakka. Miakka is a new golf club located in Sarasota County, Florida. The new golf course is designed by golf course architects Dana Fry and Jason Straka of Fry Straka with assistance from PGA Tour player Paul Azinger. The property will have an 18 hole championship course and a 12 hole short course.
The course is situated on a property featuring natural wetlands, rolling hills, and mature oak trees. The property is exceptional with two miles of frontage along the Myakka River. The property is sand-capped at four inch depth and takes full advantage of the natural terrain with holes that weave through the wetlands. Miakka golf course is designed as an 18-hole championship course measuring approximately 7,700 yards from the back tees. The Turfgrass Group supplied Stadium and Lazer Zoysia sod to be planted on fairways, tees and greens.
Miakka is committed to environmental sustainability. The course was designed with the natural environment in mind by using native grasses and grassing to reduce water usage promoting healthy habitats for local wildlife. Modern irrigation control and drainage infrastructure help conserve water to prevent runoff. LOKSAND bunker technology was used to stabilize bunker construction. Brock Alexander, GCSAA, is the grow in superintendent. Terry Kennelly is the Director of Agronomy. John Leibold is leading irrigation. Leibold has recently worked on Medinah #3, McArthur, Camargo, Congressional, Oakland Hills, and many others.
According to county filings, the property spans over 1000 acres. The site is located on the east side of River Road, north of Clark Road. The course was approved by the Sarasota County Commission in 2019 and is currently under construction with a 2025 opening.
Australian Owen Hester from Green Golf Partners(acquired by Troon Golf) is a golf course management and development company involved in the Miakka golf course project. Green Golf Partners provides management and consulting services for the project working closely with the development team, Dana Fry and Jason Straka. Longer term, Green Golf Partners will be responsible for managing and operating the course community grounds and operations.