The Founders Golf Club recently partnered with the NCAA Division 1 conference golf teams to host the inaugural Heroes Ladies Intercollegiate tournament, raising more than $300,000 for the Army Ranger Lead the Way Fund.
Held over three days, 15 women’s golf teams from the Big 10, Big 12, SEC, and ACC Conferences, competed on the Club’s 18-hole Robert-Trend Jones Jr.-designed championship course. Coordinated by Purdue University Women’s Golf Coach Devon Brouse, the tournament began with a precision parachute jump courtesy of the Special Operations Command Team. Oklahoma State finished first in the 54-hole stroke play with a score of 15 under par, followed by Mississippi State at 13 under.
Following the tournament a dinner and auction at The Founders Club also benefitted the Army Ranger Lead the Way Fund, a non-profit organization focused on casualty assistance, recovery, transition, and financial support beyond what the government and Veterans Affairs can offer to U.S. Army Rangers and their families who have been impacted by combat.
Distinguished speakers included James Regan, who along with his wife, Mary, co-founded the Army Ranger Lead the Way Fund to honor the life and legacy of their son, Sgt. James J. Regan, who was killed in action in February 2007. Additional speakers included four-star General Tony Thomas, former Notre Dame Football Coach Lou Holtz, and Tim Murphy, a former member of The Founders Golf Club.
“This was a proud weekend for The Founders Club membership, volunteers and staff,” said Juliette Valin, general manager at The Founders Golf Club. “Thanks to the generous donors and the efforts of the Army Ranger Lead the Way Fund team, we were humbled to honor those who have bravely fought on the front lines while supporting college athletes with an opportunity to get back to competitive play.”
An award-winning gated golf club community, The Founders Golf Club is a sought-after course due to its intimate size and ease-of-play; tee times are not required and crowds are never an issue, since membership is limited to 275. Members can walk the course at their own pace – utilizing Sarasota’s only traditional caddie program – and enjoy the game as it’s meant to be. The Club’s 7,094-yard, par 72 layout features a backdrop of mighty oak, pine and palm trees and is dotted with tranquil lakes, unspoiled wetlands and natural buffers of untamed landscapes.
The Club recently completed a $600,000 renovation on the course, which included updates to the bunkers and greens. The Founders Club has also expanded their health and safety protocols, integrating new UV sanitation technology, HEPA Filter Air Purifiers in the gyms, and increased cleaning.
The Founders Golf Club boasts a state-of-the-art teaching facility, where seasoned pros help members improve their skills. Members can also work on their game at the Club’s putting greens, short game area for practice sessions and large driving range.
Additional amenities include the 24,000-square-foot Golf Hall. The member-owned club offers casual and fine dining, a golf pro shop, men’s and women’s locker rooms, and a state-of-the-art fitness center, along with Har-Tru® tennis courts, basketball and sand volleyball courts and a picnic pavilion. In addition, the Club has just added Whatmore Performance Training. This organization has fitness trained athletes from the Challenge European tour, Korn Ferry tour, Canadian tour, Latin America, PGA Tour, LPGA and Symetra tour, Legends tour and Long Drive.
Complimenting the amenities at The Founders Club is a robust builder program comprised of four of the areas most respected luxury homebuilders: AR Homes, John Cannon Homes, Lee Wetherington Homes and London Bay Homes. The program offers endless possibilities for homeowners to create a truly personalized home on homesites ranging from nearly half an acre to almost two acres that can accommodate floor plans ranging from 2,200 to more than 6,000 square feet. Home and homesite packages at The Founders Club are priced from the high $800,000s to more than $5 million. No CDD fees.
