Golf Living
Golf & Country Club Communities
If golf is your lifestyle, Southwest Florida delivers — from championship bundled-golf communities to private membership clubs. Below are standout golf and country-club communities I help buyers into across Lakewood Ranch, Wellen Park, Sarasota, and Bradenton.
The big thing to understand is how golf is structured — "bundled" (membership comes with the home) versus optional or private membership — because it changes both your dues and your buying strategy. I'll explain exactly how each community works before you commit. Tap any to learn more.
Lakewood Ranch
Lakewood National Golf & Country Club
Lennar’s Lakewood National is home to 36 holes of Arnold Palmer–designed golf — the Piper and Commander courses — with bundled golf deeded to the home, a grand clubhouse, a beach-entry lagoon pool, and a full spa. One of the best golf settings in Southwest Florida.
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Esplanade Golf and Country Club
Taylor Morrison’s flagship Esplanade — first-class country club living with 18-hole bundled golf deeded to the home, two activity campuses, three resort pools, eight pickleball and six tennis courts, a full spa, and the Barrel House Bistro.
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Country Club East
A newer, guard-gated extension of the Country Club with long views and a prestige address. Single-family homes from the $600s to $2M+, with golf and club amenities available by membership.
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Calusa Country Club
Now BuildingLennar’s newest LWR golf community, and the only one with a dual-course setup — an 18-hole championship course plus a 12-hole executive course, 30 holes in all. Resort pool, aqua driving range, pickleball, and a Lifestyle Director round it out.
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Wellen Park
Wellen Park Golf & Country Club
Now BuildingLennar’s flagship golf community — 1,500 homes across the widest variety of product types in Wellen Park (condos, coach, carriage & single family). Note: no golf deeds remain, and only ~half ever carried one.
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Sarasota National
Now BuildingA luxury Lennar golf community with an extraordinary amenity experience — 18-hole championship golf, full-service dining, spa, and one of the most complete lifestyle programs in Wellen Park.
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Boca Royale
Now BuildingOne of Wellen Park’s most established addresses — an original ~40-year-old golf community with a new Neal Communities section bringing fresh inventory behind a 1,000-acre gated enclave.
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Sarasota
Prestancia
An upscale, gated community on 565 acres anchored by TPC Prestancia — two 18-hole golf courses (Stadium & Players), built between 1986 and 2004. Features a full-service country club, resort pool, fitness center, tennis, and dining.
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Stoneybrook Golf & Country Club
One of Palmer Ranch's largest and most established communities — over 940 homes on an Arthur Hills–designed 18-hole championship golf course, built between 1994 and 1999. Features a resort pool, full fitness center, tennis, and miles of trails.
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Bradenton
River Strand
A bundled golf community within the Heritage Harbour master plan east of I-75 — 27 holes designed by Arthur Hills, a full-service clubhouse with formal and casual dining, resort pool, tiki bar, nine Har-Tru tennis courts, eight pickleball courts, and a fitness center. No separate membership required — all amenities are included.
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Rosedale Golf & Country Club
A gated golf community of approximately 1,100 homes built between the 1990s and 2020, centered on an 18-hole par-72 championship course. Builders include John Cannon, Ashton Woods, and M/I Homes. Features a junior Olympic-size pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, tennis, pickleball, and a clubhouse with full-service dining.
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Tara Golf & Country Club
A non-gated community of approximately 2,070 homes spread across 1,110 acres, established in 1989. The private, member-owned country club features a 6,800-yard par-72 golf course. Mediterranean, Tuscan, and contemporary architectural styles with a mix of single-family homes, villas, and condos.
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University Park Country Club
The private, resident-owned country club at the heart of University Park — 27 holes of four-star-rated Ron Garl golf, 11 lighted Har-Tru tennis courts, first-class dining, and a full fitness center. Membership options available to University Park homeowners; one mile from University Town Center Mall.
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This is a curated selection — there are more options across the region. Tell me what you’re after and I’ll match you to the right community.
Golf & Country Club Communities FAQ
What are the best golf communities in Southwest Florida?+
Top picks span the region: Lakewood National and Esplanade Golf & Country Club in Lakewood Ranch, Wellen Park Golf & Country Club and Sarasota National near Venice, Prestancia and Stoneybrook in Sarasota, and River Strand, Rosedale, and Tara in Bradenton — among others. The right one depends on whether you want bundled golf, the course caliber, amenities, and budget.
Do you have to play golf to live in a golf community?+
Not necessarily. Many golf communities offer social or sports memberships alongside golf, so you can enjoy the clubhouse, dining, pool, tennis, and pickleball without a golf membership. In "bundled" communities, golf is included with the home; in others it’s optional. I’ll clarify each community’s structure for you.
What is bundled golf?+
In a bundled-golf community, a golf membership is tied to the home and its fees — every owner is a member, which keeps golf costs lower but raises the HOA dues. Non-bundled communities make golf optional or require a separate (often private) membership. It’s a key factor in both monthly cost and resale, so I always flag it.
Let’s find your community
Tell me your budget, lifestyle, and timeline, and I’ll match you to the right fit — with current pricing, availability, and an honest read on fees and value.