The Concession

Most communities are named for a landscape feature. The Concession is named for a moment. At the 1969 Ryder Cup at Royal Birkdale, Jack Nicklaus picked up Tony Jacklin's marker and conceded a missable putt — 'I am certain you would make it' — ending the matches in a tie and creating one of golf's most quoted gestures. In 2006, Nicklaus and Jacklin partnered on a course commemorating it, and Golf Digest named it the year's Best New Private Course. The community that grew up around the club, developed by Core Development, spans roughly 1,200 acres east of I-75 in Bradenton, directly adjacent to Lakewood Ranch. It is deliberately low-density: sources cite between 233 and 255 estate home sites in total, on lots from a half acre to more than an acre, and the course itself was routed through its own 500-plus acres with no homes lining the fairways — a rarity among Florida golf communities. The gates, the tree canopy, and the tournament-grade course give The Concession a settled, countryside character that feels distinct from the newer villages nearby, while Lakewood Ranch's town centers and University Town Center sit a short drive west.

The Concession is a custom-home community, built out gradually rather than in production phases. Its neighborhoods include Lindrick, Nicklaus Manor, Birkdale, and Birkdale Court, and area builders associated with the community include John Cannon Homes, Anchor Builders, John Neal Homes, and Lee Wetherington Homes. Homesites run from a half acre to over an acre — generous by regional standards — with views over lakes, preserve, and woodland rather than over other rooflines. The land itself does much of the work: the 1,200 acres were planned around century-old oaks, towering pines, and protected wetlands, so streetscapes read as established rather than newly planted. Because the golf course occupies its own acreage with no residential frontage, homes here are estate properties in a preserve setting first and golf real estate second.

The centerpiece is The Concession Golf Club, whose 18 holes were designed by Jack Nicklaus in association with Tony Jacklin. The club's 33,000-square-foot clubhouse overlooks the 18th hole, with dining rooms, a grill room, card and billiard rooms, verandahs, and locker rooms; the grounds include a roughly 21-acre practice facility with a dual-ended range, a par-3 short course, and member lodging. The club runs a caddie program and encourages walking play. Its tournament résumé is unusual for a private club: the 2015 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Championships, the 2021 WGC-Workday Championship won by Collin Morikawa, the 2023 World Champions Cup, and the Senior PGA Championship beginning in April 2026 — the first professional major played in Florida in over 25 years, scheduled to return through 2028. Note that the club is separately owned and membership is separate from home ownership. On the residential side, community amenities described by area brokerages include a fitness center, tennis courts, and a resort-style pool.

Days here tend to orbit the club — a walking round with a caddie, practice sessions on the range, dinner in the grill room overlooking the 18th. Beyond the gates, Lakewood Ranch Main Street and Waterside Place offer restaurants, farmers markets, and events, while University Town Center handles serious shopping. Nathan Benderson Park's rowing venue and trails are nearby, and downtown Sarasota's theaters, galleries, and dining — plus the Gulf beaches of Lido and Siesta Key — round out the wider orbit. In tournament weeks, the golf world comes to you: the Senior PGA Championship tees off here each spring through 2028.