Sarasota’s lengthy coastlines and acres of natural beauty are perfect for picnics and quiet meditation. But the competitors in the crowd look at the idyllic scenery and see record-breaking tarpon, big-air kitesurfing and miles of emerald-green fairways.

The area is known far and wide for its numerous golf courses—including championship courses designed by champions like Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer—and our golf status continues to grow with each new tin cup. This past year, Sarasota saw the opening of three much-anticipated and ultra-luxurious private courses: The Concession (its name commemorates the 1969 Ryder Cup, when Jack Nicklaus graciously conceded the final putt to Tony Jacklin), the Founders Club and the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club.

Tennis players can feel the love on Har-Tru or clay at the award-winning Colony Beach and Tennis Resort or any number of courts around. But you may be surprised by the opponent you’re serving to: IMG Academies’ celebrated tennis and golf programs draw flocks of nationally ranked professional athletes to the area.

Beyond the links and the nets, sporting Sarasotans can hit the water year-round to surf, sail, skimboard or snorkel. Or if sitting in the stands is more your speed, take yourself out to the ballparks: the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates play their home spring training games in Sarasota and Bradenton, respectively.

BASEBALL

Cincinnati Reds, Ed Smith Stadium, 12th Street and Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota. 954-4101. The Major League team calls Sarasota home for spring training games in March.

Pittsburgh Pirates, McKechnie Field, 1611 Ninth St. W., Bradenton. 747-3245. Bradenton hosts the Major League’s Pirates during spring training games in March.

Cincinnati Reds/Florida State League Affiliate, 954-4464. Class A minor-league ball at Ed Smith Stadium spring through fall.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg. (727) 825-3137. Regular-season Major League Baseball in St. Pete’s domed stadium.

BOATING, FISHING

A sampling of the area’s many options. Check your Yellow Pages for more.

Adventure Charters, 923-2605. Sport fishing, half and full day.

Cannons Marina, 6040 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. 383-1311. Boat rentals, sales.

Captain Action Charter Service, 955-4524. Gulf and bay fishing.

Capt. Bob Smith Sport Fishing Guide, 366-2159. Half-day and full-day fishing trips.

CB’s Saltwater Outfitters, 1249 Stickney Point Road, Siesta Key. 349-4400. Bay, backcountry and coastal Gulf fishing.

Dockside Marine, 1265 Old Stickney Point Road, Sarasota. 349-8880. Boat rentals.

Flying Fish Fleet, Marina Jack, Sarasota. 366-3373. Half-day, six-hour and all-day trips.

Hart's Landing, 920 John Ringling Causeway, Sarasota. 955-0011. Bait, tackle, fishing equipment rentals.

Le Barge Tropical Cruises, 2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota. 366-6116. Daily sightseeing tours, sunset cruises; private charters available.

Midnite Son Charter Fishing, 349-7677. Sport fishing: half-day, full-day, overnight.

Snook Haven Fish Camp, 5000 Venice Ave. E., Venice. 485-7221. Motorboats, canoes and tour-boat rides on the Myakka River.

Spindrift Yacht Services, 410 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. 383-7781. Sailboat, fishing and pleasure cruise charters.

CANOE AND KAYAK RENTALS

Economy Tackle/Dolphin Dive & Kayak, 6018 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 922-9671. Canoe and kayak supplies, lessons and guided tours.

Island Style Wind and Watersports, 2433 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 954-1009. Kayak tours, wind- and kitesurfing lessons.

Silent Sports Outfitters, 2301 Tamiami Trail N., Nokomis. 966-5477. Ocean kayak specialists. Tours, sales and rentals.

Walk on the Wild Side. 351-6500. Eco-tours.

DIVING, SNORKELING

Dolphin Dive Center, 6018 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 924-2785. Sales and rentals.

Florida West Scuba School, 509-B N. Tamiami Trail, Venice. 486-1400. Lessons, rentals, charter dives, trips.

Ocean Pro Dive Shop, 2259 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota. 924-3483. Dive charters, instruction, dive trips. PADI five-star training facility.

Scuba Quest, 1129 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 366-1530; 2357 Tamiami Trail S., Venice. 497-5985; 3318 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton. 745-2511. Charters, rentals, sales.

West Coast Divers, 7826 49th Ave. E., Bradenton. 730-0889. Instruction.

SURFING

West Coast Surf Shop, 3902 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. 778-1001. Boards, sportswear and more.

Windflight Surf Shop, 722 Albee Road W., Nokomis. 484-2794. Surfboards, wet suits, accessories.

FOOTBALL

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, (813) 879-2827. NFL team plays at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.

Tampa Bay Storm, (813) 301-6600. Five-time Arena Football League champions play at the St. Pete Times Forum.

GOLF
Call for tee time availability.

Bird Bay Executive Golf Club, 602 Bird Bay Drive W., Venice. 485-9333. Eighteen-hole course, tennis courts. Public.

Bobby Jones Golf Club, 1000 Circus Blvd., Sarasota. 365-4653. Forty-five-hole complex. Public.

Boca Royale Golf and Country Club, 1601 Englewood Road, Englewood. 474-7475. Eighteen-hole course (nine additional holes under construction), tennis courts. Private.

Calusa Lakes Golf Club, 1995 Calusa Lakes Blvd., Nokomis. 484-8995. Eighteen holes. Public.

The Concession Golf Club, S.R. 70, six miles east of I-75. (866) 357-3349. Exclusive course, newly opened. Designed by Jack Nickalus to commemorate the 1969 Ryder Cup. Private.

Edwin Watts Golf Shop, 4014 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 922-1006; 6230 Lake Osprey Drive, Sarasota. 907-1060. Golf equipment and accessories.

IMG Academies at El Conquistador, 4530 El Conquistador Parkway, Bradenton. 758-1466. Eighteen holes, recently renovated by Gene Bates Golf Design of Palm Beach. Private.

The Founders Club, 3001 Founders Club Drive, Sarasota. 378-0900. Exclusive course opened January 2005. Private.

Foxfire Golf Club, 7200 Proctor Road, Sarasota. 921-7757. Twenty-seven-hole course, driving range. Public.

Gator Creek Golf Course, 9000 Gator Creek Drive, Sarasota. 924-1111. Eighteen-hole course. Private.

Heritage Oaks Golf and Country Club, 4800 Chase Oaks Drive, Sarasota. 926-7600. Eighteen-hole course. Semi-private.

Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club, 7650 Legacy Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. 907-4700. Twenty-seven holes designed by Palmer Course Design Company. Elegant 42,000-square-foot clubhouse with pro shop, locker rooms, dining area, meeting rooms and ballroom. Members only, but membership is open to non-residents. Private.

Laurel Oak Country Club, 2700 Gary Player Blvd., Sarasota. 378-3608. Two courses designed by Gary Player. Twelve Har-Tru tennis courts. Private.

Legacy Golf Club at Lakewood Ranch, 8255 Legacy Blvd., Sarasota. 907-7920. Arnold Palmer-designed 18-hole course with a pro shop and restaurant. Public.

Links at Greenfield Plantation, on S.R. 64 two miles east of I-75, Bradenton. 747-9432. Eighteen-hole layout, golf club rentals. Public.

Mission Valley Country Club, 1851 Mission Valley Blvd., Laurel. 488-9683. Eighteen-hole walking course, three Har-Tru tennis courts. Private.

Misty Creek Country Club, 8954 Misty Creek Drive, Sarasota. 922-2188. Eighteen-hole course, clubhouse. Private.

Oak Ford Golf Club, 1552 Palm View Road, Sarasota. 371-3680. Twenty-seven-hole championship course, practice range. Public.

Palm Aire Country Club, 5601 Country Club Way, Sarasota. 355-9733. Two championship 18-hole courses, five tee boxes on each hole. Private.

Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club, 499 Derbyshire Drive, Venice. 496-4653. Twenty-seven-hole, Ted McAnlis-designed championship course with a driving range and pro shop. Semi-private.

Peridia Golf & Country Club, 4950 Peridia Blvd. E, Bradenton. 753-9097. Eighteen holes. Private.

The Plantation Golf and Country Club, 500 Rockley Blvd., Venice. 493-2000. Two 18-hole courses, tennis courts. Private.

The Preserve Golf Club at Tara, 7310 Tara Preserve Lane, Bradenton. 756-2944. Semi-private.

The Resort at Longboat Key Club, 301 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. 383-8821. Forty-five holes of golf (Islandside and Harbourside courses) open to members and guests of The Resort at Longboat Key Club. Private.

The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club, Lakewood Ranch off Lorraine Road. 309-2000. Newly opened, Tom Fazio-designed, 18-hole championship course with 16 lakes, framed by the Braden River. Private.

River Club Golf Course, 6600 River Club Blvd., Bradenton. 751-4211. Eighteen-hole course. Public.

River Wilderness Country Club, 2250 Wilderness Blvd. W., Parrish. 776-2602. Ted McAnlis-designed 18-hole course. Private.

Rolling Green Golf Club, 4501 N. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota. 355-7621. Eighteen-hole course. Public.

Rosedale Golf and Country Club, 5100 87th St. E., Bradenton. 756-0004. Eighteen-hole course with Har-Tru tennis courts. Semi-private.

Sarasota Golf Club, 7280 N. Leewynn Drive, Sarasota. 371-2431. Eighteen-hole course, driving range. Public.

Serenoa Golf Course, 6773 Serenoa Drive, Sarasota. 925-2755. Eighteen-hole course, driving range. Public.

Stoneybrook Golf & Country Club, 8801 Stoneybrook Lane, Englewood. 966-1800. Eighteen-hole course. Semi-private.

Tara Golf & Country Club, 6602 Drewry’s Bluff Road, Bradenton. 758-2203. Private.

Tatum Ridge Golf Links, 421 N. Tatum Road, Sarasota. 378-4211. Par-72 Ted McAnlis-designed course; practice range. Public.

Tournament Players Club at Prestancia, 4409 Tournament Players Club Drive, Sarasota. 922-2800. Two of the area’s most prestigious courses for a total of 36 holes. Practice area and driving range. Private.

University Park Country Club, 1.8 miles west of I-75 on University Parkway. 359-9999. Twenty-seven-hole championship course. Semi-private.

Waterford Golf Club, 1454 Gleneagles Drive, Venice. 484-6621. Eighteen-hole championship course. Public.

Waterlefe Golf & River Club, 10705 Waterlefe Blvd., Bradenton. 744-9771. Eighteen-hole course. Public.

GREYHOUND RACING

Sarasota Kennel Club, 5400 Old Bradenton Road, Sarasota. 355-7744. Brand-new card room opened in November 2006. Greyhound season runs November through April; simulcast horse and dog racing the rest of the year.

HEALTH CLUBS

Bath & Racquet Club, 2170 Robinhood St., Sarasota. 921-6675. Renowned for its tennis facility, Bath & Racquet also has free weights, group exercise classes, personal trainers, a cardiovascular center and junior Olympic swimming pool.

Curves for Women, 10 locations from Bradenton to Venice. Female-only weight and cardiovascular training. Call 379-3385 for center details.

Evolution Health and Fitness, 1990 Main St., Sarasota. 955-9300. Members only. Certified personal trainers and state-of-the-art metabolic evaluations and fitness equipment, including infrared saunas and a virtual reality yoga studio.

Gold’s Gym, 3762 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota. 923-4653. Along with the weight training that has defined its reputation, Gold’s also has a ladies-only second level, full nutritional counseling, full cardio area and childcare.

Lifestyle Family Fitness, five locations: 8383 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 921-4400; 935 N. Beneva Road, Sarasota. 953-5250; 4836 14th St. W., Bradenton. 782-0420; 4901 Cortez Road W., Bradenton. 794-2090. 7385 52nd Place E., Bradenton. 758-6020.

Manatee YMCA, three locations: BRADENTON BRANCH, 3805 59th St., Bradenton. 792-7484. Provides fitness programs, aquatic classes, youth and preschool programs, adult and youth sports, aerobics and aqua-aerobics classes, childcare and camp for elementary school children. Indoor gymnasium, indoor heated pool and fitness center. SOUTH BRANCH, 3675 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton. 753-0954. Indoor gymnasium, fitness center, babysitting room for kids, outdoor pool, two tennis courts and a park for outdoor events. LAKEWOOD RANCH BRANCH, 5100 Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton. 782-0220. Indoor gymnasium, fitness center, locker rooms with saunas, family locker rooms, babysitting and an outdoor heated swimming pool.

Sarasota Family YMCA, three locations: THE EVALYN SADLIER JONES BRANCH, 8301 Potter Park Drive, Sarasota. 922-9622. Three racquetball courts, elevated track, aerobics, fitness center and pool. THE BERLIN CENTER, 1075 S. Euclid Ave., Sarasota 955-8194. Several racquetball courts, aerobics, fitness center, pool and state-of-the-art indoor spinning room. THE BABE WEILER BRANCH, 1819 Main St., Sarasota. 366-6778. Weight training, aerobic equipment and fitness classes.

Shapes/Southside Athletic Club, three locations: 935 N. Beneva Road, Sarasota. 953-5250; 4105 Cortez Road W., Bradenton. 739-9799; 4825 Cortez Road W., Bradenton. 794-2090. Popular for its women-only facilities at Shapes. Members can enjoy a heated lap pool, whirlpool and sauna, as well as personal fitness trainers. Southside is co-ed.

South County YMCA, 701 Center Road, Venice. 492-9622. In addition to aquatics and childcare, the South County YMCA has a gymnastics program, cardio and strength training and pre- and after-school programs for kids.

HOCKEY

Tampa Bay Lightning, The St. Pete Times Forum, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. (813) 301-6500. The NHL’s 2004 Stanley Cup Champions.

Ellenton Ice & Sports Complex, 5309 29th St. E., Ellenton. 723-3663. Home of the Gulf Coast Flames travel youth hockey program. Ice and figure skating, clinics and adult hockey leagues for all experience levels.

POLO

Sarasota Polo Club, 8201 Polo Club Lane, Sarasota. 907-0000. Sunday afternoon matches December through April.

TENNIS & RACQUETBALL

Bath & Racquet Club, 2170 Robinhood, Sarasota. 921-6675. Twenty-seven tennis courts, several racquetball. Private, but memberships available.

Bollettieri Tennis Academy, IMG Academies, 5500 34th St. W., Bradenton. 755-1000. Tennis instruction available for children and adults.

The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort, 1620 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. 383-6464. Tennis, pool, health club.

Longboat Key Public Tennis Center, 590 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key. 316-8367. Ten soft clay courts.

Payne Park Tennis Center, 2050 Adams Lane, Sarasota. 954-4884.

Plantation Racquet Club, 500 Rockley Blvd., Venice. 497-1479. Thirteen lighted Har-tru courts, tennis shop. Private, memberships available.

Longboat Key Club and Resort, 301 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. 383-8821. Thirty-eight Har-Tru tennis courts, six lighted. Open to members and guests.

Serendipity Racquet Club, 3600 Torrey Pines Blvd, Sarasota. 922-1591. Located at the Country Club of Sarasota; 19 Har-Tru tennis courts, fitness center, pool and pro shop.

Tennis Center at The Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club, 8488 Legacy Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. 907-4700. Eighteen lighted courts, 16 Har-Tru, two red clay. Lessons, leagues, pro shop, locker rooms, deli. Members only, but open to non-residents.

Total Tennis of Siesta Key, 240 Avenida Madera, Siesta Key. 349-7742. Instruction for adults and children, racquet stringing.