Four Friends Reunite for a Golf Round at The Meadows Country Club

© FRANCIS X. GALLAGHER

While visiting our Florida office, I took the chance to play a round of golf with Wayne Tallman (FXExpress Advisory Board), and former Bucks County neighbors Jan Young and John Cary. Both Jan and John relocated from Pennsylvania to western Florida after years of commuting to New York City. John’s long residence in China brought a fresh perspective to our conversation about current events, which I found particularly enjoyable.

The Meadows Country Club, a private club near downtown Sarasota and the University Town Center Mall, features 54 holes across three courses: The Meadows, The Highlands and The Groves. The Meadows is reserved for members, while the other courses offer public play. Beyond golf, the club provides 17 Har-Tru tennis courts, pickleball courts, a junior Olympic pool, a fitness center, two restaurants and event space—making it a full-service destination for members and visitors alike.

We played The Meadows Course, designed by Ron Garl, who has created more than 250 courses, mostly in Florida. Garl’s portfolio includes Golden Ocala, which hosted an LPGA event and popularized tribute holes modeled after iconic layouts such as Augusta and St. Andrews. For anyone familiar with his work, Traditions Golf Club in Myrtle Beach is another standout example of his design approach and was recognized as South Carolina’s Golf Course of the Year in 2020.

After warming up on the driving range and catching up, the four of us—Pennsylvanians now enjoying Florida life—set out for a friendly round of golf and a few earnest conversations about the state of the world.

HOLE 5
489 yards, par 5

This hole, rated the No. 1 handicap, presents a clear challenge: water runs along the right side of the fairway, and shots that catch that side tend to feed toward and often into the pond. Thick tree growth also occupies the right landing area, so even successful drives can leave you negotiating around trunks and branches for your second shot. I found myself stuck among trees, and my approach clipped a branch that derailed the hole for me. John and Wayne both encountered trouble on the left with heavy undergrowth pushing them back to the fairway. Jan executed an excellent drive left-center and followed with two precise shots to the green, saving par and keeping momentum for the group.

HOLE 7
139 yards, par 3

This deceptively short hole sits on a peninsula with bulkheads in front, which makes club selection critical despite the modest yardage. All of us underestimated the carry and found our balls in the bulkhead or the water, prompting a casual re-hit. Better club choices turned the tide: I hooked my tee shot slightly left but managed to chip up and save a bogey. Wayne found the green and two-putted for par. John fell short and carded a bogey like me, while Jan suffered another lost ball in the water.

HOLE 9
362 yards, par 4

The ninth is a strong closing hole for the front nine, with water lining the left side and an intimidating feel off the tee. Our group’s tee shots were biased to the right; Jan’s drive disappeared and was later declared lost. Wayne chipped back into play, while my ball nestled a few inches from a coconut tree. From what looked like an impossible lie, I was able to swing freely and hit a long 6-iron that reached the back of the green. John’s tee shot came up short but in a favorable spot; he executed a bold approach and landed in great position. Both John and I two-putted for par, thankful for solid recovery play.