Soleta Golf Club unveils plans for new Florida course

Soleta Golf Club has unveiled plans for a Nick Price golf course and David Leadbetter practice facility within a newly approved private residential club community in western Florida, an hour south of Tampa.

Holes on the 7,400-yard, par-72 course will wind through 500-plus acres of preserved land, home to two miles of the Myakka River and freshwater marshes.

The club says great importance will be placed on the preservation of wetlands, water conservation, enhancement of wildlife habitat and sound environmental stewardship.

“It’s an honour to have the opportunity to design the golf course at Soleta,” said Nick Price. “We’re part of a great team assembled to create a special place for golfers to play, spend time with friends and have fun. The property has wetlands, uplands, open grassland and some great trees. We’ve laid out the golf course to take advantage and incorporate those natural features into the design of holes. I am also really happy that no wetlands have been impacted or eliminated anywhere on the property. These natural elements will be part of what gives the golf course its natural look and feel.”

Heritage Links are expected to begin construction in autumn, with a view to the golf course being ready to play by late 2024.

David Turner, the club’s managing partner and developer, said: “The golf experience, with a must-play course in a pristine setting and unparalleled practice facilities, will be unmatched.”

The 30-acre practice facility will include an indoor centre with biomechanics studio, club fitting, a putting studio and other training technologies. “I really feel it has tremendous potential to be one of the country’s leading new private clubs,” said Leadbetter. “The thing I am most pleased about is that we are designing a world-class practice facility which is something I always have wanted to do. This state-of-the-art practice facility or ‘field of dreams,’ as I like to call it, will be comprised of extensive long game, short game and on course situations with all the latest technology to improve performance. We want Soleta to be known not only for its great golf course but also for its phenomenal practice complex.”

Plans for the development include 93 custom-built homes, 14 club cottages, a clubhouse and other amenities including a spa and tennis courts.