Golfers just want to play golf—and Sarasota is the place!

"…in spite of everything else, people want to play golf," PGA of America's Chief Executive Officer Joe Steranka told reporters recently at the 2009 PGA Merchandise Show at the Orange County Convention Center. He said that despite the recession, golfers are still golfing consistently.

Sarasota golfers know this is true. But why? I recently asked my golfing friends why they love golf. Here are some of their answers.

Why I love golf:
1. Every shot is a challenge.
2. It’s competitive—I’m always trying to improve my game against my friends and myself.
3. I love sports—and this sport is easy on my knees and shoulders.
4. Wildlife, wide open spaces, lots of green grass and nature’s beauty.
5. Quality time with my friends and the chance to socialize at the club afterwards.
6. The first drive of every hole is like a brand new chance for doing something great.
7. The unhurried pace—it’s what retirement’s all about.
8. Requires concentration—so my mind gets a break from everything else.
9. The equipment—I love to get a new club.
10. The sweet feeling after a good shot.
11. Everything!

So why do you love golf? Or does that just about say it all?

For golfers, there’s nothing like living in a golf course home. A short walk or drive to the club, and then 18 holes of bliss—every day, if you’re up for it. Nick and Kathleen Herron of the Herron Group, RE/MAX Alliance Group, are ready to locate your ideal golf course home. Call the Herron Group at 941-308-6714. If you would like more information on golf course homes, country club amenities, or waterfront properties in the Sarasota, Florida area, email Nick Herron today!

Featured golf course home (click for a virtual tour):
158 Montelluna Drive, Venice
Reduced: $447,000
MLS #A351132

Wonderful Venetian Golf and River Club home with course views of second hole signature sand traps and green. Great outdoor living on lovely enlarged lanai, salt water waterfall lagoon style pool, spa & fire pit. So many upgrades: lighted tray ceiling, herringbone wood floors in the master bedroom, large ceramic tile on the diagonal in the living area, surround sound & extra speakers, granite kitchen counters, central vacuum, paver drive & lanai. Great room concept—The Correggio—with side load garage. Golf membership available at reduced rate! Call 941-308-6714 or email Nick Herron today to plan when you can move in!

New Years Hangover Open Golf Event Venetian Golf & River Club

I just received this photo from Brian Harrold that he took of our foursome on New Years day 2009 at the Hangover Open at Venetian Golf & River Club. In the picture is JC Craycraft, Steve Warren and myself (Nick Herron). Brian is from Great Britain out side of London and has returned home, but also has a home at the Venetian Golf and River Club, N. Venice Florida. Brian & his Family were on Holiday here during Christmas & New Years.

Brian and his wife Pat had invited our families to join them for Boxer Day. This is the day after Christmas day. This goes back to when wealthy in England had their servants work Chrismas Day, but let them off the day after. The servants were sent home with all the food left overs packaged up in the old Christmas boxes.

We sure didn’t feel like servants. We were fed a fantastic dinner and celebrated it with Crackers. Cracker bonbon is a small paper roll tied at both ends. Two people pull each end and it pops and the one with biggest part gets the small gift and reads the riddle that is inside and everyone tries to answer the riddle.

Speaking of Great Britain we have had a lot of interest in Sarasota Real Estate over the last year. Our web traffic has really picked up and buyers coming over to look for investment property or a Holiday home or condo. Both in golf course and country club communities, water front homes and downtown Sarasota condos

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Call the Herron Group with RE/MAX Alliance Group at 941- 308-6714. if you would like more information on Golf Course and Country Club or water front properties in the Sarasota, Florida area. Nick’s E-mail

Winter’s Chill and the Sweetest Spot

Today in sunny Sarasota and lovely Casey Key on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the locals got a taste of something our snowbird friends are all too familiar with: temperatures that dipped to 32°. Mind you, we’re used to average January temperatures of 72°! We’ve wrapped up our tropical plants to protect them from last night’s frost; our air conditioners are pretending to be heaters; and we’re seriously reconsidering our tee times. Sure, the sun’s out. But we’re not accustomed to seeing visible wisps of warm breath when we take the dogs out for our morning walk. (“Have you seen my leather gloves, dear? I’m sure I had them out last year…”)

Reminds me of a story. There’s a quaint, cultured, past-its-prime country club in a little town called Mingoville about 15 miles away from Penn State University. The golf course starts out in rolling, pristine greens but literally slopes up the ever steepening side of Blue Ball Mountain. (I am not kidding about that name. It must be chilly there!) One brisk March morning, the temperatures hovered around 38°. The sun was due to shine that day but it apparently hadn’t yet gotten the memo. Instead, there was a fine mist that looked like fog but felt like ice. A lone jogger made her customary way around the circumference of the golf course. She was the only person in sight—until she reached the crest of one of the rolling hills right around the 10th hole. There on the green was a solitary golfer, poised to swing into the cool mist.

Their eyes met. And connected.

“We must be crazy!” the jogger called out to the golfer, raising her arm to indicate the frigid elements.

“Either that, or everyone else is,” the golfer responded. They smiled, sharing the secret of passion for their pursuits. The jogger pushed herself up the slopes of Blue Ball Mountain and the golfer gripped the iron and found the sweet spot. It was good to be alive.

Back to southwest Florida and a chilly January morning on our incredible Gulf Coast. Sure, it was 32° earlier this morning. But we’re expecting 67° and sunny by tomorrow and 74° by the weekend, so our tee times are wrapped in sunshine and the mild, fragrant air of winter in paradise.

To our northern friends—are you dreaming of warmer air and year-round golfing to your heart’s content? Nick and Kathleen Herron of the Herron Group, RE/MAX Alliance Group, are 100% committed to matching your interests and passions with just the right golf course home. We know the area and have been established in real estate sales for years. We maintain an excellent network that assists you in finding real property gems, and there are some incredible values to choose from. You see, here in Sarasota’s barrier islands such as Casey Key, Siesta Key, Lido Key, and Longboat Key, we’ve found the sweetest spot on earth.

Email Nick or Kathleen to find out more. As for tee times—do you prefer 8:00 or 9:00? The sun’s shining—who cares that it’s a little chilly? After all, it could be Blue Ball Mountain.