Lakewood Ranch just locked in a serious win. The Concession Golf Club, a name whispered with reverence among golf aficionados, will host the Senior PGA Championship for three consecutive years: 2026, 2027, and 2028. This isn't just a brief flirtation; it's a commitment, solidifying this slice of Florida’s Gulf Coast as a premier golf destination. The 2026 event, held April 16-19, saw legends like Stewart Cink claim the coveted Alfred S. Bourne Trophy with a stunning 19-under performance. Daily crowds, up to 7,000 strong, flocked to witness the spectacle.
The Concession earned its name from a moment of pure sportsmanship: Jack Nicklaus's famous putt concession to Tony Jacklin at the 1969 Ryder Cup. A joint Nicklaus-Jacklin design, the course itself opened in 2006. Instant acclaim. One of the country's best new private courses, they said. They weren't wrong.
As a spectator venue, The Concession truly excels. Immaculate grounds. Thoughtful crowd management. Wide, even pathways mean no frantic elbowing between holes. Viewing areas put fans close, genuinely close, to the action. None of that distant peering through a forest of phones.
An Intimate Affair on the Fairway
This is where the Senior PGA Championship differentiates itself. This tournament feels personal. The galleries are engaged, not overwhelming. You can actually hear the chatter between players and caddies. Walk the course. Settle into a viewing spot without a fight. It’s refreshing. A rare intimacy missing from larger PGA Tour events.
Sarasota has spent years being underestimated by visitors who arrived for one thing and left without understanding the rest of the city.
Club leadership is already planning. For 2027 and 2028, the goal is to deepen the championship's ties to Sarasota and Bradenton. A regional institution, not just an annual stop. That’s the ambition. Tickets for the 2027 tournament? Available now via SeatGeek. Book early. Trust me.
Sarasota's Culinary Secrets
But here's the kicker: The visitors who came for the golf and went home afterward missed the real story. Sarasota's dining scene, for instance, doesn't shout its arrival. Miami flaunts. Sarasota earns. Quietly. Restaurants here have perfected their craft over decades, alongside newer spots that just get it. Two distinct culinary experiences define the tournament visitor's map: St. Armands Circle and the Westin Sarasota’s rooftop.
St. Armands Circle. A short drive, or a convenient Westin shuttle, from downtown. This open-air district exudes a relaxed elegance. You’ll linger. You always do. The Columbia Restaurant, a Florida legend since 1905, anchors the Circle. Spanish-Cuban classics. A dining room that sets the perfect, unhurried tone.
For breakfast? The Cafe on St. Armands. Essential. It occupies a building John Ringling himself constructed a century ago. His office was here. That history, it’s felt, not performed. Al fresco dining, fresh pastries. The pace of a European sidewalk café. You forget you’re in Florida.
Order the eggs Benedict trio: lobster, mushroom, traditional. Or the Quiche Lorraine. These dishes demand a second cup of coffee. And a rearranged itinerary.
Evenings belong to The Roof Bar and Eats at the Westin. A rare combination: genuinely good food and a view worth savoring. After a long day on the course, the crab and mango salad. Light. Sharp. The herb-crusted chicken sandwich hit the spot. The city lights spread below. Nobody was rushing. Not a soul.
EVOQ, the Westin’s main restaurant, operates on its own, unhurried tempo. More formal, yet still comfortable. Elegant. Sleek. After a long travel day, the all-natural beef cheeseburger with sautéed mushrooms delivers. Honest comfort food. Straightforward. Satisfying. No pretense. For breakfast, the avocado toast. A solid choice. The house-made granola parfait from the Eat Well Menu, a thoughtful balance of health-conscious and satisfying.
Beyond the Green: Art, Gardens, and Beaches
Most visitors arrive in Sarasota fixated on the beach. Understandable. But incomplete. The legacy of John Ringling, the circus magnate, is woven into Sarasota’s very fabric. He chose Sarasota as his winter home in the 1920s. He then sculpted its cultural identity for a century to come. A surprise, really.
The Ringling museum complex? Demands a full day. The Museum of Art houses a serious European collection, particularly strong in Baroque painting. Ca’ d’Zan, Ringling’s Venetian Gothic mansion on the waterfront, is gloriously over-the-top, yet genuinely beautiful. The Circus Museum brings it all full circle, chronicling the spectacle that made his empire possible.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens merits its own afternoon. Right on Sarasota Bay. A research institution with serious horticultural cred. The grounds? Serene enough to make anyone slow down. Epiphytic plants. Orchids. Bromeliads. Extensive. Never overwhelming.
You’ll likely spot students from Ringling College of Art and Design sketching there. At The Ringling, too. The tradition Ringling started. It lives on. Still producing artists. Still drawing inspiration from his legacy.
The gardens connect to the Legacy Trail, a paved multi-use path. A scenic route. The on-site cafe, The Green Orchid, is the region’s first net-positive-energy restaurant. A nice touch.
The beaches here? Exactly as pictured. Lido Key Beach, closest to the Westin and St. Armands Circle, boasts that iconic pure white sand. Clean. Well-maintained. Wide enough that it rarely feels packed, even in peak season. Calm water. Soft sand. Not much more to say. That’s the highest praise.
The Westin Sarasota, rooms starting just over $400 a night, isn't directly on the beach. A trade-off. But a worthwhile one. Its location puts you near downtown, St. Armands, and Lido Key via shuttle. The rooftop pool offers spectacular views. The spa handles the rest. Complimentary bikes make the Legacy Trail accessible. For a tournament week – early mornings, long afternoons on the course, late dinners – the Westin is the perfect headquarters. I’d return. Without hesitation.
Sarasota has endured years of being underestimated. Visitors came for one thing. Left without seeing the whole picture. The Senior PGA Championship changes that. It's one of the finest private golf courses in the country, nestled in a city offering world-class museums, exceptional dining, botanical gardens on the bay, and beaches that live up to every promise.
Two more years of hosting. That’s two more Aprils. Two more chances for visitors to arrive for the golf. And discover everything else. The ones who stay curious, who wander St. Armands, who stroll Lido Key Beach in the morning, and finish their evening on a rooftop with the bay sparkling below – those are the ones who will truly understand Sarasota. The ones who get it.
In an age where professional sporting events often feel out of reach, louder, more distant, the Senior PGA Championship in Sarasota retains a remarkable closeness to the game itself. The tournament is your reason to come. Sarasota? That's your reason to stay.
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