The 410-acre The Resort at Longboat Key Club straddles the southern tip of a long, narrow barrier island opposite Sarasota. It consists of two developments: Islandside, which borders the beach and Gulf of Mexico, and Harbourside, a primarily residential enclave, which faces Sarasota Bay.
Hotel guests bed down in the 226 rooms and suites in a cluster of mid rise towers just behind the beach on Islandside, where there are eight Har-Tru courts, a spa, fitness center, and 18 of the resort’s 45 golf holes. However, the focal point of the resort’s tennis activity can be found at the $4.5 million Tennis Gardens, three miles away along Sarasota Bay in Harbourside. This handsomely designed facility has 20 Har-Tru courts, one of which is a stadium with seating for 500 spectators, as well as a full service pro shop and an outdoor players’ lounge. The USTA named it Facility of the Year when it opened in 2009, and for several years it served as the host site for the Sarasota Open, a men’s professional tournament.
Briana Harris Francois had a history with the Tennis Gardens even before taking over as tennis director. Previously, she directed the club’s summer camps while also teaching adults as a member of the professional staff. Born in Ohio, she took up tennis at age 13 and showed so much talent she earned a scholarship to train at IMG Academy in Bradenton and another to attend Ohio State University. She left in her junior year to compete on the WTA satellite tour and then returned to Ohio State to finish her degree. A series of coaching opportunities followed, which eventually led her and her husband to move to Sarasota and an opportunity to direct the junior program at Celsius Tennis Academy and then summers at the Resort at Longboat Key Club. She also established her own B. Harris Kids, a free youth tennis and tutoring program for needs-based and at-risk kids in the community of Sarasota.
Tennis Programs: Like Palm Beach, Sarasota has a social season from November to April when seasonal residents return and activity on the courts intensifies. During that period, having the eight additional courts at Islandside helps meet demand for the desirable morning time slots. To help shift that demand, the club began offering more programs in the afternoons, in the way of Cardio tennis, singles strategy, doubles strategy, and live-ball drills.
Activities like those allow people to just drop in. But LBK’s success can also be traced to the changing demographics, with younger members playing afternoons while their kids are in school And because there are kids, the resort also stages junior clinics during the summer and major holidays.
Among the staff is Sammy Aviles, a near legend on Longboat Key for his years with the Bollettieri tennis academy and then the now sadly shuttered Colony Beach & Tennis Club.
Court Complex: There are 20 Har-Tru courts at Harbourside Tennis Gardens and another eight at Islandside.
Court fees: None for hotel guests
Off Court
Beach: The resort lies near the southern end of the 14-mile-long white-sand beach that lines the Gulf of Mexico coast of the island of Longboat Key. The dunes remain intact at this end, so to reach the beach you use any of several walkways. Once there you’ll find beach watercraft, lounge chairs, umbrellas, and cabanas.
Golf Courses: The resort has 45 holes of golf.
Links on Longboat Course: Water hazards come into play on all 18 holes of this 6,748-yard, Par 71 course laid out along the Gulf of Mexico. Pink and white oleander and more than 5,000 palm trees line the fairways, which trail through a bird sanctuary. Harbourside Course: Willard Byrd of Atlanta originally designed the three nine-hole courses—Red Hawk at 3,314 yards, White at 3,342 yards, and the Blue Heron at 3,314 yards—that make up Harbourside. These were later reconfigured by designer Ron Garl, who added more contour and elevation and improved the putting surfaces. Situated on the Sarasota Bay side of the island, these 27 holes trail through stands of live oak, sabal palms, palmetto, and southern pine. Playing here is a different experience from Islandside, at once more open and more trap riddled.
Spa & Fitness Center: The 4,000-square-foot Fitness Centre stands just a short stroll from the Islandside lodging at one end of the building containing the golf pro shop and Spike’n Tees open-air restaurant overlooking Islandside’s Links on Longboat course. The fitness center consists of an aerobics room with windows on three sides and a mirror on other and views of the Islandside golf course. There are three adjoining rooms offering high-tech cardio equipment, free-weights, and strength training equipment.
There is a beachfront swimming pool at the Resort Center, where they occasionally screen movies outdoors. There is also a 291-slip marina on Sarasota Bay in the Harbourside development.
Dining: Several dining options are available ranging from formal to poolside casual. At The Resort you will find Sands Pointe, which merges Florida, Mediterranean, and European culinary traditions (e.g., pan-seared black grouper, veal chop with mushroom sauce, Kansas City strip loin) from its perch overlooking the pool and beach. There is also poolside and beachside service from Barefoot’s Bar & Grille, and Spike ‘n Tees, which overlooks the Islandside Links on Longboat golf course serves breakfast, lunch, and fresh fruit smoothies. Within Harbourside, the choices are Portofino Ristorante and Bar for northern Italian cuisine overlooking the marina and The Tavern & Whiskey Bar in the Harbourside golf clubhouse for farm-to-table fare.
Accommodations
The resort lodging consists of a cluster of seven white concrete towers rising from four to 10 stories and constructed in a halo around the Resort Center just behind the dunes lining the Gulf of Mexico beach. Their unprepossessing appearance is deceptive: The rooms themselves turn out to be very spacious—none smaller than a suite—with broad deep balconies or terraces and handsome interiors. The best have views of the beach; the rest overlook the lagoon or golf course. All have full kitchens, washer-dryers, and wired and wireless Internet access.
Getting there
Seasons: Year-round, however busiest from November into April.
Travel Instructions: The nearest airport is Sarasota Bradenton International (SRQ), which is 9 miles away and accessible on several national and commuter airlines as well as Canadian Airlines. The alternative is to fly into Tampa International Airport (TPA), 72 miles to the north. Rental cars and shuttles are available at both airports.
We were at a corporate event and they prepared a group pickle ball clinic for attendees of different levels. Exceptional job by the club pros, wonderful snacks and drinks. I intend to return as a private guest.
GG
Amazing winter getaway for tennis lovers! My partner and I enjoy 5 tennis packed days, playing in clinics, drills, and the New Year’s Eve round robin. We met very kind and thoughtful members as well as other guests staying at the resort who love tennis. We will be back for sure!
SM
I love this resort for pickleball. They assess you and put you in the right open play so you don’t skip a beat on your vacation. Great 3.5-4.5 open play on Monday. Katellinn in the pro shop is lovely and helped me find the best pickleball skirts. Everyone is so positive and helpful. Mirage, the pro, gave me a fun tip I can implement in my game.
JA
The tennis garden at longboat key resort is life changing!
The professional staff especially Jason is a gifted pickle ball instructor.
The professional and pro shop staff of Katelinn and Alli were patient, informative and so helpful.
Service and customer care are standard setting.
Cant wait to come back
KD
We just arrived back home after vacationing again on the gorgeous Longboat Key. We stayed at our favorite place, The Resort at Longboat Key Club. The resort and the Tennis Gardens are impeccable! I played tennis everyday, and even took a pickleball lesson. I cannot say enough about how impressed I am every time that I am at their facility. The courts, grounds, & all other amenities are simply the best! The staff at the Tennis Gardens is top notch and very experienced. They go out of their way to accommodate players at all levels. I have played tennis for many years at various places, and can honestly say that this is my favorite place to play. I look forward to going back very soon again! Thanks again to all the staff that makes playing here so much fun!
DS
We play at the tennis gardens every year as a guest at the resort at longboat key. It is a top notch tennis facility with wonderful pros and a staff ready to set you up with a game or clinic. Courts are beautifully maintained and the pro shop always has the latest in tennis apparel. I hope it is still open after the hurricanes.
LJ
Briana with pickleball was AMAZING for our bridal party pickle tournament. Couldn’t ask for a better experience. She was so welcoming and enthusiastic to welcome us!!! We cannot thank you enough for kicking off our wedding weekend the best way possible.
MM
Briana was amazing
ER
My wife and I took a private lesson with Maraj on Friday. He was absolutely superb. We have each been playing tennis for 50 years and perhaps we learned more in the one hour with Maraj than we have in all the prior lessons we have taken. On Saturday we took a morning group clinic with Sammy and this was also a great experience. We would highly recommend Long Boat Key Club and the tennis. If you are looking for a beautiful resort that also offers great tennis facilities and tennis options this is your place.
JW
Sammy was our private instructor. He was incredible! Funny, knowledgeable, encouraging, supportive! I’ve been playing sports for 39 years and this is one of the best private lessons I’ve received! The pro shop was well appointed and the staff was friendly and so helpful! 5 stars!!!!
SM
Wonderful tennis facility, but a couple of miles from the main resort. Great staff, lots of Har-Tru courts that were in great condition. The resort is on a beach that goes on forever. The water is wonderful and crystal clear.
PD
We have a boat at the Marina and I have enjoyed the pickleball group and courts very much. The instructors generally are very young and very nice. The beach at the resort is magnificent. The food excellent, a bit pricey, but good. I was disappointed in that I took one tennis lesson and got no assistance in meeting other tennis players or attending clinics. I felt like a stranger that had no where to go.
SA
ED
Resort has all the desired amenities. While I rated the hotel exceptional, I think the atmosphere was a slightly pretentious. The tennis part of the resort was very welcoming and I think overall the staff did their best to accommodate the changes in time for the lessons I wanted. There’s no doubt I would tell friends and family alike about the experience. The instructors – Randy / Jason were excellent. Resort at TRS Coral in Cancun is the nearest I can compare this to, but the proximity of the beach here – gives this one the edge.
SP
Literally had the best time at this resort primarily because it was so near the beach. The tennis courts were both bayside and beachside and instruction was excellent. Randy fixed my backhand and slice – Katelinn at the proshop ensured that the Sofi Bella shorts I purchased were ready. Immaculate facilities and amenities and there was a shuttle there to pick my group up afterwards. I highly recommend.
SR
This is a great resort. The staff is incomparable, the pro shop has items that you will not be able to get anywhere. The director is excellent and highly skilled.
RH
I attended the live ball clinic and had an amazing time. Thank you for the coaching cues Randy. Will definitely be joining again on my next trip.
366 Reviews on “The Resort at Longboat Key Club”
We were at a corporate event and they prepared a group pickle ball clinic for attendees of different levels. Exceptional job by the club pros, wonderful snacks and drinks. I intend to return as a private guest.
Amazing winter getaway for tennis lovers! My partner and I enjoy 5 tennis packed days, playing in clinics, drills, and the New Year’s Eve round robin. We met very kind and thoughtful members as well as other guests staying at the resort who love tennis. We will be back for sure!
I love this resort for pickleball. They assess you and put you in the right open play so you don’t skip a beat on your vacation. Great 3.5-4.5 open play on Monday. Katellinn in the pro shop is lovely and helped me find the best pickleball skirts. Everyone is so positive and helpful. Mirage, the pro, gave me a fun tip I can implement in my game.
The tennis garden at longboat key resort is life changing!
The professional staff especially Jason is a gifted pickle ball instructor.
The professional and pro shop staff of Katelinn and Alli were patient, informative and so helpful.
Service and customer care are standard setting.
Cant wait to come back
We just arrived back home after vacationing again on the gorgeous Longboat Key. We stayed at our favorite place, The Resort at Longboat Key Club. The resort and the Tennis Gardens are impeccable! I played tennis everyday, and even took a pickleball lesson. I cannot say enough about how impressed I am every time that I am at their facility. The courts, grounds, & all other amenities are simply the best! The staff at the Tennis Gardens is top notch and very experienced. They go out of their way to accommodate players at all levels. I have played tennis for many years at various places, and can honestly say that this is my favorite place to play. I look forward to going back very soon again! Thanks again to all the staff that makes playing here so much fun!
We play at the tennis gardens every year as a guest at the resort at longboat key. It is a top notch tennis facility with wonderful pros and a staff ready to set you up with a game or clinic. Courts are beautifully maintained and the pro shop always has the latest in tennis apparel. I hope it is still open after the hurricanes.
Briana with pickleball was AMAZING for our bridal party pickle tournament. Couldn’t ask for a better experience. She was so welcoming and enthusiastic to welcome us!!! We cannot thank you enough for kicking off our wedding weekend the best way possible.
Briana was amazing
My wife and I took a private lesson with Maraj on Friday. He was absolutely superb. We have each been playing tennis for 50 years and perhaps we learned more in the one hour with Maraj than we have in all the prior lessons we have taken. On Saturday we took a morning group clinic with Sammy and this was also a great experience. We would highly recommend Long Boat Key Club and the tennis. If you are looking for a beautiful resort that also offers great tennis facilities and tennis options this is your place.
Sammy was our private instructor. He was incredible! Funny, knowledgeable, encouraging, supportive! I’ve been playing sports for 39 years and this is one of the best private lessons I’ve received! The pro shop was well appointed and the staff was friendly and so helpful! 5 stars!!!!
Wonderful tennis facility, but a couple of miles from the main resort. Great staff, lots of Har-Tru courts that were in great condition. The resort is on a beach that goes on forever. The water is wonderful and crystal clear.
We have a boat at the Marina and I have enjoyed the pickleball group and courts very much. The instructors generally are very young and very nice. The beach at the resort is magnificent. The food excellent, a bit pricey, but good. I was disappointed in that I took one tennis lesson and got no assistance in meeting other tennis players or attending clinics. I felt like a stranger that had no where to go.
Resort has all the desired amenities. While I rated the hotel exceptional, I think the atmosphere was a slightly pretentious. The tennis part of the resort was very welcoming and I think overall the staff did their best to accommodate the changes in time for the lessons I wanted. There’s no doubt I would tell friends and family alike about the experience. The instructors – Randy / Jason were excellent. Resort at TRS Coral in Cancun is the nearest I can compare this to, but the proximity of the beach here – gives this one the edge.
Literally had the best time at this resort primarily because it was so near the beach. The tennis courts were both bayside and beachside and instruction was excellent. Randy fixed my backhand and slice – Katelinn at the proshop ensured that the Sofi Bella shorts I purchased were ready. Immaculate facilities and amenities and there was a shuttle there to pick my group up afterwards. I highly recommend.
This is a great resort. The staff is incomparable, the pro shop has items that you will not be able to get anywhere. The director is excellent and highly skilled.
I attended the live ball clinic and had an amazing time. Thank you for the coaching cues Randy. Will definitely be joining again on my next trip.