The Founders Club opens first two of 13 exquisite golf cottages
Unique residences provide 'low-country architecture, high-style living' with maintained landscapes and lawns, courtyard and two-story plans

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Sarasota, FL—Less than a year after the March 21 groundbreaking and well ahead of schedule, The Founders Club has opened the first two of its 13 maintenance-free Golf Cottages, the courtyard plan Magnolia and two-story Jasmine, in the private, 700-acre community just three miles east of I-75 exit 210, off Fruitville Road. The low-country architectural design of the Cottages echoes that of Golf Hall, the 24,000-square-foot clubhouse that is within walking distance of the residences. The builder is The Founders Club Golf Cottages, a partnership formed by U.S. Assets Group and The Starling Group—the same team that has developed The Founders Club.

“There's nothing to compare with the Golf Cottages in this area,” says Tom Brown, a partner of U.S. Assets Group along with Jay Tallman. “They are absolutely in a class by themselves in every way. They are thoughtfully designed, ideally positioned, carefully built and exquisitely furnished. And the long vistas from these homes are magnificent.” The unique, single-family Cottages on 200-foot-deep homesites overlook the lush 10th fairway of the 18-hole, par-72 signature golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. for The Founders Golf Club.

Architect Stephen Smith, AIA, expresses delight with the outcome of his designs. A principal with the award-winning firm of Cooper Johnson Smith Architects of Tampa, Smith has done a great deal of work in the low-country style. He describes it as a fusion of two different architectural approaches: one that arrived in the northeastern United States from Europe and moved down and another that came from the Caribbean and moved up, gathering influences from Louisiana, Alabama and the Carolinas.

“As I watched the Cottages go up, I was knocked out by the view and the setting,” Smith says. “It's very satisfying to see how connected they are to the golf course and the natural environment.” He is also pleased with the volume and spaciousness inside the homes. “The amount of porches and outdoor spaces is refreshing as well,” he says. “There's a lot of area for outdoor living.”

The floor plans for the one- and two-story Cottages range from 3,089 to 4,835 square feet under air, and many include a guest suite. Additional space, which may exceed 3,000 square feet for some designs, encompasses front, rear and second-story porches; summer kitchens and outdoor fireplaces; and 2.5- or 3.5-stall garages.

Smith notes that the low-country styling is exemplified through open, breezy designs that include deep porches; tall, detailed ceilings; oversized windows; French doors; light-filled rooms; deep rich colors; superb finishes and wood floors. “It's delightful to see how well the interiors are in keeping with low-country traditions,” Smith says,  noting painted wood wainscoting, special ceiling treatments and detailed trim work.

The furnishings are also exceptional. For example, the kitchens provide Wolfe and SubZero appliances including a six-burner gas cooktop and warming drawer. Each Cottage has a separate guest suite with en suite bath and, in the master suite, a bubble massage bathtub.

Lori Fountain, IDS, of Sarasota-based FT Designs has turned her creative eye to the interiors and followed the same overall scheme for The Magnolia that she employed in fitting out Golf Hall—but with a difference. “We want the residences to have a cottage feel, relaxed but informally elegant,” she says. “We want them to be really, really warm so people get a nice sense of home.” One way she accomplishes this is with antique furnishings. “Lots of antiques give a home warmth,” she says.

While Fountain believes every space should be usable, she has surpassed her own philosophy by establishing dual uses for many of the spaces. “The cabana is fabulous,” she says. “It could be an artist's studio, an office, a children's wonderful playhouse or a guest house. For me, that's very intriguing. We've designed it as a little apartment and used an old antique pine table that could be a desk, workspace or dining table.

“The spaces inside and outside the homes have a very private feeling. There is a real sense of intimacy in the courtyard and around the pool of the Magnolia,” she says. “The outdoor spaces are wonderful for entertaining or quiet conversation.”

Fountain relies on colors, textures and woods to integrate the indoors with the outdoors. “We've used warm, russet browns, crisp whites and lots of grey textures in fabrics and finishes, along with pines, walnuts, mahoganies, and lots and lots of textures. You have an elegant feel, yet the décor is very laid back and usable. You don't have to worry about the grandkids harming anything.”

The Magnolia wraps its 3,998 square feet of living area around its magnificent courtyard, where an authentic brick terrace surrounds a custom pool and spa. The two-story Jasmine is more compact, with porches front and rear. “It has a very dramatic, high-volume foyer with a soaring ceiling line and natural light from a dormer high above,” Smith says.

David W. Young, ASLA, of award-winning DWY Landscape Architects in Sarasota, has provided landscape designs for The Founders Club, including Golf Hall and the Cottages. Known for his masterful ability to create a pleasing harmony between a residence and its setting, he has developed a landscape design that further unifies the relationship between the Golf Cottages and the nearby Golf Hall.

Prices for the Cottages begin in the $2 millions and include an Equity Golf Membership in The Founders Golf Club, according to Sharon Ross, director of sales. The Magnolia is offered furnished or unfurnished, either as a model-leaseback or a home for immediate occupancy. The unfurnished price is $2,790,000 and furnishings are an additional $205,000. The Jasmine is also available for immediate occupancy and is priced at $2,675,000.

The Founders Club is located off Fruitville Road, 3.1 miles east of I-75 exit 210 in Sarasota. At completion, this golf course community will contain just 262 homes, which will surround The Founders Golf Club course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Membership in The Founders Golf Club is open to only 275 golf equity members and select invitational members. Developers of The Founders Club are U. S. Assets Group, headed by partners Tom Brown and Jay Tallman, and The Starling Group, headed by Fred Starling. U.S. Assets Group has an extensive record of developing luxury homes and communities. In the Sarasota area, these include Beau Ciel, en Provence, Orchid Beach Club and the recently announced Wicker Beach. The Starling Group is highly regarded for its high-end commercial development.