What’s Happening to The Meadows Country Club?

What Happened to The Meadows Country Club?

Founded in 1976, The Meadows Country Club was one of Sarasota‘s most established golf communities — 54 holes, 85 lakes, 15 Har-Tru tennis courts, and 14 miles of trails spread across a 1,650-acre planned development. For decades, it was the anchor of neighborhood identity for more than 5,000 residents living in 52 sub-communities within The Meadows.

The decline was gradual, then sudden. Golf memberships fell from roughly 900 to about 300 over the years. Storm damage in 2024 accelerated the financial deterioration. On July 7, 2025, the club filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, listing between $1 million and $10 million in assets and liabilities, with nearly 1,580 creditors — most of them local residents and vendors.

The golf courses, restaurant, and clubhouse closed. A blue tarp covered the clubhouse roof. Google listed the club as permanently closed.

Who Owns the Land? The MCA’s Role

Here is where the story gets complicated — and where it matters most to homeowners.

The Meadows Community Association purchased the club’s 310-acre property in June 2018 for $6 million, according to Sarasota County Property Appraiser records. The MCA then leased the facilities back to the country club for $10 per year. The MCA has consistently said it will not sell the land to a developer — the purchase was meant to protect the community’s green space from outside development.

When the club terminated the lease and then filed for bankruptcy, all physical assets on the property reverted to the MCA under the terms of the original lease agreement. The MCA represents more than 3,500 residences and is the ultimate decision-maker for the land’s future use under Florida Statutes governing homeowner associations and common property rights.

The Benderson Lease: A 2026 Community Battle

In February 2026, the MCA board voted 6-3 to lease approximately 500 acres — including all three 18-hole golf courses and surrounding open space — to a subsidiary of Benderson Development, the company that owns the adjacent Mall at University Town Center. The deal was signed by MCA president Chris Perone on February 13, 2026.

Under the contract terms:

• Benderson must operate the golf courses for a minimum of three years

• Benderson would pay off the MCA’s mounting debts related to the club

• The developer may place conservation easements on portions of the land

• Portions could be converted into wetlands for mitigation credits

• The deal could tie the land to a special taxing district Benderson is pursuing at UTC

MCA director Donald Breece filed a lawsuit in Sarasota Circuit Court, arguing the contract amounts to a de facto land transfer that should require a community-wide vote of all property owners — not just a board vote. Circuit Judge Dana Moss denied an emergency injunction to block the deal, but the case remains active as of March 2026.

What Does This Mean for Home Values in The Meadows?

I get asked this constantly. The honest answer is: the neighborhood is holding up better than the headlines suggest, but the picture is nuanced.

The Meadows real estate market in early 2026 shows a median home sale price around $310,000–$360,000 depending on the data source and period. Days on market have softened — homes are averaging 56–82 days on market. Sellers are typically accepting about 6% below list price. These patterns reflect the broader Sarasota market slowdown, not necessarily a Meadows-specific collapse tied to the country club closure.

Here is what I watch closely as a Sarasota broker:

The important context: the MCA owns the land and has legally committed to not selling it for residential or commercial development. Green space and trails remain. The Racquet Club and fitness center stayed open through most of the transition. These are the amenity characteristics that actually drive property values in planned communities — not the private club model itself.

That said, uncertainty around the Benderson deal, ongoing HOA litigation, and the possibility of conservation easements being placed on 500 acres introduces real risk to the long-term character of the community. Buyers should understand exactly what they are buying into before making an offer here.

Should You Buy or Sell in The Meadows Right Now?

That depends entirely on your situation, your timeline, and how you weigh the legal uncertainty against the value opportunity.

For buyers: The Meadows offers some of the best price-to-lifestyle ratios in greater Sarasota right now. You are getting 14 miles of trails, mature tree canopy, proximity to UTC, and a 1,650-acre park-like setting — often at a meaningful discount to what comparable square footage costs in Lakewood Ranch or Palmer Ranch. The HOA situation deserves careful due diligence, and I would want to review the current financials, any pending special assessments, and the Benderson lease terms before advising a client to proceed.

For sellers: Pricing strategy is everything in this market. Homes that are priced correctly for current conditions are still selling. The average sale is closing around 93% of list price — that is workable. The homes sitting 80+ days are the ones that came in too high relative to comparable sales. Know your competition, price accordingly, and market aggressively.

For current residents thinking about staying: Watch the lawsuit. Watch the HOA board election results. The next 6–12 months will clarify whether the Benderson lease holds, gets modified, or gets unwound. That outcome will matter for the community’s identity — and potentially for assessed values.

The History of The Meadows: Why It Mattered

The Meadows was developed beginning in the mid-1970s as one of Sarasota County’s first planned-unit developments. At its peak, the country club offered 54 holes of golf across three courses, 15 Har-Tru tennis courts, pickleball courts, a junior Olympic-sized pool, a full-service restaurant, and a fitness center — all within a 1,650-acre community. The club had relationships with over 900 golf members and served as a social anchor for the surrounding residential neighborhoods.

The MCA’s 2018 purchase of the land for $6 million was a defensive move — the association’s own strategic plan from 2017 listed “failure of the country club” as a major threat. The purchase protected against outside development but transferred the financial burden of maintaining 310 acres of recreational infrastructure onto the HOA’s 3,500+ homeowners.

From 2020 through the bankruptcy, the MCA reportedly invested over $18 million in rehab and sustaining costs. The club still collapsed. That financial history is why the Benderson deal had any appeal at all — it offered a path to wipe the slate financially, even at the cost of developer control over 500 acres of community land.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Meadows Country Club permanently closed?

The original country club entity filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy and ceased operations in July 2025. The physical facilities — including golf courses, restaurant, and clubhouse — closed. One golf course has since reopened under arrangements tied to the Benderson lease. The Racquet Club, fitness center, and pool remained accessible to community members through much of the transition. The private club as it historically operated is gone.

Will the golf courses be developed into housing?

The MCA has stated it will not sell the land for development. The MCA has owned the 310-acre property since 2018. However, the Benderson lease introduced new variables — including potential conservation easements and wetland mitigation credits — that some residents believe could alter the land’s character even without traditional residential development. The lawsuit filed by director Donald Breece is specifically challenging those provisions.

How does the Benderson lease work?

Under the signed February 2026 contract, a Benderson Development subsidiary takes control of approximately 500 acres of golf courses and open space. Benderson is required to operate the courses for three years minimum. In exchange, Benderson pays off the MCA’s accumulated debt from the country club’s collapse. After the three-year operating period, Benderson can exit — potentially after having placed conservation easements and converted portions to wetlands. Critics argue this structure gives Benderson significant leverage and control with limited long-term commitment.

What are HOA fees in The Meadows?

HOA fees vary by sub-community within The Meadows. The MCA master association charges a base fee, with individual sub-community fees layered on top. Fees have increased in recent years — a direct result of the costs associated with maintaining the club properties and managing the bankruptcy aftermath. Any buyer in The Meadows should review the full fee structure, any pending special assessments, and MCA financial statements before closing. I do this analysis for every client I work with here.

What is the best way to buy in The Meadows today?

Start with a clear understanding of the HOA situation, then identify which of the 52 sub-communities fits your lifestyle and budget. The condo and villa segments currently offer the most value. Single-family homes with golf course frontage range from the mid-$400Ks to over $1 million. Work with someone who has walked this community and understands what the Benderson lease means for different property types. That is exactly what I do for every buyer I represent in Sarasota.

Are there good deals available in The Meadows right now?

Yes. Elevated inventory and longer days on market mean negotiating leverage that did not exist in 2021–2022. Price-per-square-foot has softened 13–20% depending on the property type. For buyers who do their homework on the HOA, there are real opportunities in The Meadows today — particularly for those planning a 5–10 year horizon who are comfortable riding out the current legal and governance uncertainty.

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