Contact Us

Sara Bay Country Club

7011 Willow Street
Sarasota, FL  34243


Phone

941.355.7658 (Clubhouse)
941.355.6544 (Golf Shop)


Fax

941.351.8728

Administration

General Manager/COO
Title

John Spiess, PGA Master Professional

John is a Certified Club Manager through the Club Management Association of America and is also one of the few PGA Master Golf Professionals in the country. His almost forty years of industry experience includes the management of semi-private, private and resort clubs. Prior to joining us in 2021 at Sara Bay, he was the General Manager at The Country Club of Roswell in Atlanta, Georgia. His previous management experience includes roles at The Heritage Club in Wake Forest, NC., The McLemore Club in Chattanooga, TN. and TPC Southwind in Memphis, TN. Originally from Archbold, Ohio; he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Golf Management and Marketing from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan. John is excited to be part of the Sara Bay CC family and helping us to achieve our mission of being one of the best Donald Ross designed Golf Clubs in America. John resides in Sarasota with his wife Diane. They have two adult children, Ryan and Courtney.

Comptroller
Title

Natalie Everhart

Administrative Assistant
Title

Angela Duncan

Membership

Director of Membership
Title

Dennis J. Budny, Sr.

Golf

Head Golf Professional
Title

Daren King, PGA

Daren was born in Zanesville, Ohio and raised in Sarasota, Florida on Longboat Key. He began his golf career at The Longboat Key Club in 1994, before becoming the Assistant Golf Professional at Sara Bay Country Club. He continued his career as an Assistant Golf Professional at Edgewood Valley Country Club in suburban Chicago, before returning to Sara Bay Country Club as the Head Golf Professional in 2002. He holds his Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology from Florida Atlantic University, where he was co-captain of the baseball team. Daren has received several awards including Merchandiser of the Year for the North Florida PGA Section 2007, NFPGA Southwest Chapter Merchandiser of the Year 2006 & 2015 and was awarded the distinguished Acushnet PGA Apprentice Scholarship in 2000. Daren resides in Bradenton with his wife Kimberly. They have three children, Tyler, Ali and Payton.

Golf Course Maintenance

Golf Course Superintendent
Title

Carlyle Merring, Class A Superintendent

Carlyle Manning was born and raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He started working on golf courses in high school and received his B.S. in Turfgrass Science from the highly renowned program at Penn State University in 2010. Carlyle has worked in many regions of the country to learn different climate zones, grasses, and course conditioning practices. His resume includes several prominent golf courses where he gained experience creating tournament quality conditions. Carlyle worked at Whistling Straights during the 2010 PGA, Cherry Hills during the 2012 U.S. Amateur, the Club at Carlton Woods during the 2014 U.S. Jr. Amateur, and Tiburon during the 2017 CME LPGA. Carlyle joined Sara Bay in November, 2018. He and his wife, Britney, and their two children Milo and Penelope, live in the neighborhood surrounding Sara Bay Country Club.

Food & Beverage

Dining Manager
Title

Wendy Wallis

Executive Chef
Title

John Scritchfield

C.E.C. John has worked in various kitchens over the past 40 years. He has since gained experience in different dining venues including restaurants, university dining, catering, and private clubs. 2005 to 2022, John served as the Executive Chef at the Twin Oaks CC in Springfield, Mo. During his time at Twin Oaks, he obtained his Certified Executive Chef certification with the American Culinary Federation. Additionally, John served as an adjunct instructor at Ozarks Technical Community College the past 19 years, where he has taught culinary fundamentals in the Culinary Arts program. Chef John enjoys spending time in the kitchen and participating in the local American Culinary Federation chapter where he has helped raise scholarship funds for culinary and hospitality programs. John is married to Missy and together they have 2 sons, 6 daughters, 6 grandkids and more on the way. In his free time, John enjoys spending time with family, going to local farmers markets and fishing.