Esplanade Golf & Country Club vs Sarasota National: Golf Community Comparison

Esplanade Golf and Country Club and Sarasota National are two of the premier golf communities in the Sarasota-Manatee area. Esplanade is located in Lakewood Ranch, built by Taylor Morrison. Sarasota National is in Wellen Park, built by Lennar. Both carry an extraordinary amenity level and offer 18-hole championship golf, full-service dining, and spa facilities. Here is how they compare.

Builders

Esplanade Golf and Country Club is built by Taylor Morrison, a national builder known for their Esplanade brand of resort-lifestyle communities. Sarasota National is built by Lennar, one of the largest homebuilders in the country. Both builders have a strong presence in Southwest Florida.

Pricing and home types

Esplanade offers single-family homes, condos, and villas starting in the $500s and ranging above $1 million. Floor plans include 2 to 4 bedrooms, 2 to 4 bathrooms, and 2- to 3-car garages.

Sarasota National offers single-family homes starting in the $300s and ranging above $1 million, making it the more accessible entry point of the two. Floor plans include 2 to 4 bedrooms, 2 to 4 bathrooms, and 1- to 3-car garages. With approximately 1,600 planned homes, it is one of the larger golf communities in the region. Sarasota National is currently offering new construction.

Golf programs

This is the biggest difference between the two communities. At Esplanade, golf is bundled and deeded with the home. There is no equity buy-in. Every homeowner has golf access through annual club dues. This means you are not paying a large upfront membership fee when you buy.

At Sarasota National, amenities including golf operate on optional club membership tiers. Not every homeowner is required to join the golf club, which gives flexibility but means the golf experience and costs depend on the membership tier you select. It is worth reviewing the tier structure against how you plan to use the club before buying.

Esplanade amenities

• 18-hole bundled golf course, deeded with the home
• Two activity campuses
• Three resort-style pools
• Eight pickleball and six tennis courts
• Full-service spa and salon
• Barrel House Bistro and Bahama Bar

Sarasota National amenities

• 18-hole championship golf course
• Full-service clubhouse with dining
• Resort-style pool
• Full-service spa and salon
• Tennis, pickleball, fitness, and yoga
• Optional club membership tiers

Location

Esplanade is in Lakewood Ranch, which means proximity to Main Street, Waterside Place, UTC Mall, and the established infrastructure of the Ranch. It is centrally located between Sarasota and Bradenton.

Sarasota National is in Wellen Park (formerly West Villages), closer to Venice and the southern Gulf Coast beaches. Downtown Wellen is a growing walkable hub with shops and dining. If proximity to Venice beaches and a newer, developing area appeals to you, Sarasota National offers that setting.

Which one fits

If bundled golf with no separate buy-in is important to you, and you want condos and villas as options alongside single-family homes, Esplanade is the natural choice. If you want a lower entry price point, prefer new construction by Lennar, want optional golf membership flexibility, and like the Wellen Park and Venice location, Sarasota National is worth a close look.

Both communities offer an extraordinary lifestyle with golf, dining, spa, and fitness. I can tour you through both on the same trip. Reach out and I will build a comparison around your specific priorities.