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Golf

The championship 18-hole golf course and practice areas have become recognized as one of the area’s best golf courses.   

Our driving range has both a grass tee top/hitting area, and a synthetic grass hitting area that can be routinely used when the grass tee areas are closed.  In addition, we have a lesson tee available for private instruction, an expanded putting green, two chipping & pitching greens, several practice bunkers, and a multitude of short game hitting areas to fine tune your greenside skills.

The Sports Shoppe features a variety of latest golf products, an abundance of new accessories, clubs, and merchandise. Additionally, we carry tennis merchandise perfect for every tennis enthusiast.

2022 USGA Golf Course Report




Hours

Our Esplanade Sports Shoppe is open for tee time registration, phone reservations, walk-in inquiries, and shopping from 7am-6pm daily.


Booking Window

High Season (optimize golf member access)
  • Golf Members: 14-5 days prior to tee time
  • Club Members: 5 days prior to tee time
  • Original Resident Members / Public: No Tee Time System Access*
Mid / Low Season
  • Golf Members: 14-7 days prior to tee time
  • Club Members: 7 days prior to tee time
  • Original Resident Members / Public: 4 days prior to tee time


 

Meet our Golf Team:

Contact our Professional Golf Staff at golf@esplanadelwr.com or by phone at 941-306-3500

Name

Aaron Merritt

Title

PGA, Director of Golf

Prior to coming to Esplanade, Aaron has worked with one of the top 50 instructors in the U.S. at one of the top 10 golf schools in the country, acquiring a significant amount of knowledge about the proper fundamentals of efficient swing and how to successfully teach it. He has extensive management and instructor experience at River Strand Golf & Country Club, Heritage Landing Golf & Country Club, Orange Lake Resort & Country Club, Stone Gate Golf Club and Amelia Island Plantation Additionally , Aaron was with the Golf Courses at Walt Disney World, where he worked closely with the PGA Tour as the Host Professional for the Annual Disney Classic. Before moving to the Lakewood Ranch area, Aaron and his wife lived in the Orlando area for almost 16 years.

Name

Mickey Subotic

Title

Director of Agronomy/Golf Course Superintendent

Mickey started his career at the Westin Innisbrook Golf and Country Club, Palm Harbor in 1997. He then transitioned to superintendent as well as Director of Maintenance at East Lake Woodlands GCC in Oldsmar Fl. During that period, he became Regional Superintendent for Club Corp. In 2015, Mickey received the opportunity to continue my duties as Regional Superintendent for Club Corp but moved to Tampa Palms GCC in Tampa. Mickey is an avid soccer and tennis player. When the time allows he also enjoys playing golf. He is married and has two grown daughters. Mickey is very happy to continue his career at the beautiful Esplanade GCC!

Name

Michael Fream

Title

PGA Head Golf Professional

Michael has grown up in Lakeland, Florida, and graduated from Florida State University with a degree is Professional Golf Management. While in college Michael was member of the FSU Marching Chiefs Big 8 drum line. Michael has been a PGA professional for six years. Throughout Michael’s professional career, he has worked at various high-end golf courses within the Marriott Corporation, Streamsong Resort, and most recently The Venice Golf and Country Club.

Name

Stacey Dickey

Title

Assistant Golf Professional and Teacher

Stacey, a graduate of the Professional Golfers Career College, began his career at Mangrove Bay Golf Course in St. Petersburg, where he honed his abilities in teaching, golf shop operations and customer service. From there, he went to the IMG Golf Academy where he earned his designation as an Assistant Golf Professional. Stacy has been an active teaching professional with a simple, straightforward philosophy -- everything starts with posture, grip and alignment as the building blocks to produce a solid and consistent golf swing.