Sarasota newspaper/magazine news events:
Editor’s Note: When Gulf Gate was developed, Sarasota County approved a 24″ drainage pipe for that development when the specs called for it to be a 48″ pipe. The flooding of homes that succeeded that error was horrendous. On top of that, the county assessed the GG area residents $1.2 million to correct the county’s mistake. They now have the opportunity to make things right by taking over the Gulf Gate Golf Course for storm management. The property is polluted and should not be built on.
in Sarasota has transitioned from a community staple to a central figure in a long-standing battle over redevelopment and flood mitigation.
- Origins: The land was originally part of the Cy Bispham dairy farm. The course opened in 1965, with the former milking barn serving as the clubhouse.
- Closure: After decades of operation as a private business, the course closed permanently in 2016. It has since remained vacant and overgrown while multiple developers attempted to build housing on the site.
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1965
Golf Course Opens: The executive course officially opened, utilizing the old milking barn as its clubhouse. It served as a central green space for the deed-restricted community.
2016Decline & Closure: The course ceased daily operations, falling into disrepair. The clubhouse was eventually demolished.
- Pre-2016: Owned by Gray Gate Golf Course LLC.
- 2016: Purchased by Medallion Home (owned by Carlos Beruff) for $3.9 million with plans for a 106-home gated community.
- Recent Years: After Medallion “dumped” the property due to remediation costs, it was sold again in 2022 for $3 million.
- Current Owner: 13th Floor Homes, a Fort Lauderdale-based developer, currently holds the title. As of early 2026, they are reportedly negotiating a potential sale to Sarasota County.
- Flood Risk: The property is located in a FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Area. Nearby residents in the Gulf Gate Community Association (GGCA) have documented severe flooding during events like Tropical Storm Debby (2024), which also caused significant sewage spills from an on-site lift station.
- Contamination: Multiple redevelopment attempts failed due to high levels of arsenic and asbestos in the soil. Remediation costs have historically made private housing projects financially unfeasible.
- The “Bobby Jones” Vision: Sarasota County is considering a plan similar to the Bobby Jones Golf Course redevelopment, transforming the land into a stormwater park that would filter pollutants before they reach Sarasota Bay.
