Reimagined Guest Rooms, Enhanced Meeting Spaces & Golf Course Renovation
A renovation that honors the resort’s athletic history & nature-first design. Set across 480 acres of natural beauty, Saddlebrook Resort feels more like a walkable village than a hotel 30 minutes from a major Florida city. Here, guests can stroll along scenic trails shaded by cypress trees and towering palms as sandhill cranes flock nearby. Even its guestrooms (330 of which are full suites) are arranged in clusters across the Tampa Bay-area property to offer easy access to the resort’s many amenities.
The resort’s iconic sports legacy and expansive athletic facilities — which include 41 tennis courts featuring all four Grand Slam surfaces, eight pickleball courts, a state-of-the-art fitness center, 27 holes of golf, a 13-acre driving range, and Saddlebrook’s renowned golf and tennis academies — collectively set the resort apart as a premier destination for sport and performance. Saddlebrook has been a training ground for beginner and pro athletes for more than 40 years, with tennis and golf stars like Pete Sampras, Andy Roddick, Martina Hingis, K.J. Vilips, and Aline Krauter among those who have honed their skills there. Most recently, former tour professional and renowned coach Thomas Blake joined as director of performance tennis to further elevate the resort’s programming.
This unmatched lineup is just part of the draw for corporate and incentive groups whose guests are just as likely to talk business in a boardroom as they are on the green. As Saddlebrook celebrated nearly 45 years, the resort found itself on the cusp of transformation.
Guestrooms were fully refreshed with new paint, carpeting, and furnishings.
A NEW SADDLEBROOK ERA TO HONOR ITS SPORTS LEGACY
In November 2025, Saddlebrook debuted a $92 million renovation that revitalized the resort, including a reimagination of its lobby, guest rooms and suites, pool experience, dining, golf, meeting spaces, and more. Saddlebrook’s extensive 40,000+ SF of indoor meeting space was refreshed with all new carpets, paint, and lighting — enhancing this portion of the resort’s more than 200,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor event space across the property.
The exteriors, including the updated deck that frames the 500,000-gallon Super Pool, received updated landscaping — a process that’s planned to continue through 2026. The resort’s signature dining concept, RARE 1981, debuted in November, alongside BREW, an all-day coffee shop and marketplace in the lobby, and the poolside PALMHAUS. A sports tavern is planned for spring 2026.
Golf at Saddlebrook Resort remains a standout experience, now enhanced with their own renovation.
SADDLEBROOK’S GREENS & OTHER SUSTAINABILITY FEATURES
A key element of Saddlebrook’s renovation is the reimagination of the golf experience. The two existing 18-hole courses were transformed into three interchangeable 9-hole courses designed by Rees Jones, allowing for a variety of play. The resort also relocated the driving range closer to the main building for easier guest access. Unlike other resorts, where the greens are off-limits to events, Saddlebrook’s courses also double as popular outdoor venues for sunset receptions and dinners — fully plated, naturally.
Saddlebrook’s commitment to green goes beyond its golf courses. The resort is a certified Florida Green Lodging property, signifying its use of eco-conscious practices in everything from its landscaping, laundry, and cooling systems, and extending to its car-free initiative.
Saddlebrook’s walking village layout also maintains a car-free policy. While parking is valet, guests can access their rooms and various facilities via Saddlebrook’s 24-hour shuttle service powered by a fleet of electric golf carts.
The pre-function space has been brightened and refreshed.
SADDLEBROOK’S SPORTY ALTERNATIVES FOR GROUP ACTIVITIES
Once they’ve arrived, groups will find plenty to fill their agendas at Saddlebrook. Guests can schedule personal coaching sessions with the resort’s expert instructors from Saddlebrook Golf Academy, play a foursome with a golf pro, or set up a competitive pickleball tournament. (Saddlebrook recently became home to the Professional Pickleball Registry, where coaches are educated and certified based on industry standards.) The resort’s team can even create large-scale indoor putting challenges that beginners and non-golfing enthusiasts can both enjoy.
Another option unique to Saddlebrook involves a new partnership with Play By Play, which can host private, fully customized sports broadcasting workshops on-site for groups. Inquire about arranging your own session on topics like how to do live radio, be a broadcaster, or provide live commentary.
THE RENOVATION IS ‘JUST A STARTING POINT’
New interiors, new restaurants, new landscaping — it’s a new era at Saddlebrook. While some aspects like landscaping are ongoing and will continue to be updated throughout 2026, much of the $92 million dollar revitalization is finished and ready for groups to enjoy. Now’s the time to experience the legendary sports resort, which is still planning to bring even more activities and ideas, including a new dining concept and group options.
Says Mayers, “Saddlebrook will continue to evolve. Everything is just a starting point.”
Contact your Teneo Sales representative to learn more about how Saddlebrook can fit your next program or submit your RFP to get started booking your next event.
