One of the first questions I get from buyers relocating to Sarasota — after school zones and waterfront access — is some version of "how's the golf?" The answer, every time, is the same: exceptional. Sarasota County and the surrounding area have approximately 60 golf courses across every category — municipal, semi-private, private, bundled, and resort — making it one of the most golf-dense markets in Florida. October through May, when the weather is perfect and the courses are at their best, this is one of the finest places in the country to play. Here's the complete breakdown.
The golf and real estate connection: In Sarasota, golf isn't just a lifestyle amenity — it's a real estate driver. Communities like Lakewood Ranch, Palmer Ranch, The Meadows, Heritage Oaks, and Laurel Oak are built around their courses, and membership access and bundled golf are primary purchase motivators for a significant share of our buyer pool. When you're buying in a golf community, understanding what type of membership comes with the home — and what it costs — is one of the most important conversations to have before you go under contract.
Bobby Jones Golf Club — The Crown Jewel of Sarasota Public Golf
📍 1000 Circus Blvd, Sarasota · Public · City of Sarasota facility
Bobby Jones Golf Club is the anchor of Sarasota's public golf scene — and its recently completed $20 million restoration has made it one of the most significant municipal golf stories in Florida. The project, led by architect Richard Mandell, reinstated the original 1926 Donald Ross-designed 18-hole championship course (par-71, 4,583 to 6,714 yards) and added the brand-new John Hamilton Gillespie Course — a 9-hole adjustable par-three short course that honors the Scottish-born founder of golf in Sarasota.
The restoration downsized the total layout from 45 to 27 holes and built a 25-acre practice facility with a full driving range and short-game and putting greens. The project also integrated a 100-acre public nature park with walking trails, 20 acres of new wetlands, and stormwater filtration systems that protect local drinking water aquifers and filter runoff for Sarasota Bay. The entire nearly 300-acre property is permanently protected via a conservation easement managed by the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast.
For relocating buyers, Bobby Jones is the answer to "where do I play when I don't want to join a club?" — a beautifully restored historic layout on one of Sarasota's most treasured properties, open to the public daily.
Key details: Donald Ross original 1926 design · $20M restoration by Richard Mandell · 27 holes (18 + 9-hole par-3) · 25-acre practice facility · 100-acre nature park · Open to the public
Public & Semi-Private Courses
Tatum Ridge Golf Links — Semi-Private
📍 421 N Tatum Rd, Sarasota · 18 holes · Par 71
One of Sarasota's most popular semi-private layouts — consistently well-regarded for its condition and playability. Located in the east Sarasota corridor, Tatum Ridge is a natural fit for residents of Skye Ranch, Lakewood Ranch, and the surrounding east-of-I-75 communities. The course plays through preserved Florida wetlands and offers a varied, challenging round for players of all skill levels.
Serenoa Golf Club — Semi-Private
📍 6773 Serenoa Dr, Sarasota · 18 holes
A well-maintained semi-private course in south Sarasota with a loyal local following. Serenoa offers a fair, enjoyable round in a relaxed setting — one of the better value semi-private options in the market for players who want access without a full club commitment.
Sarasota National Golf Club — Semi-Private / Bundled
📍 25510 National Blvd, Venice · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,330 yards · Gordon Lewis design (2008)
An Audubon-certified championship course in the Sarasota National community in Venice — 7,330 yards of Gordon Lewis design set against beautiful wetlands and preserves. The course is bundled with homes in the Sarasota National active adult community, making it one of the primary purchase motivators in that market. Wide, generous fairways and TifEagle Bermuda greens make for a challenging but approachable round. Primarily a bundled community course — public tee times are available but limited.
Oak Ford Golf Club — Semi-Private
📍 1552 Palm View Rd, Sarasota · 27 holes · 3 courses · Par 36 each
Three distinct 9-hole courses — the Moccasin, Panther, and Gator nines — that can be combined for a full 18-hole round in a variety of configurations. Oak Ford plays through a natural Florida landscape with moss-draped oaks, wetlands, and wildlife sightings throughout. A highly-rated layout in Golf Digest's Places to Play and consistently one of the area's better semi-private values.
Stoneybrook Golf & Country Club — Semi-Private
📍 8801 Stoneybrook Ln, Sarasota · 18 holes
A semi-private club in the east Sarasota corridor offering a well-maintained championship course with a friendly atmosphere. A natural fit for buyers in the surrounding east Sarasota communities who want semi-private access without full country club commitment.
Golf in Venice — Capri Isles, Calusa Lakes & Waterford Golf Club
📍 Multiple locations · Venice/Nokomis area · All open to the public
Three "anyone can play" courses managed by Golf in Venice in the South County corridor. Capri Isles Golf Club (849 Capri Isles Blvd, Venice) is one of the oldest courses in Venice with rolling greens and sparkling lakes. Calusa Lakes Golf Club (1995 Calusa Lakes Blvd, Nokomis) plays through natural Florida wetlands. Waterford Golf Club (1454 Gleneagles Dr, Venice) offers a water-influenced layout at a fair price point. All three are accessible, well-maintained options for South County residents.
Bird Bay Golf Club — Semi-Private
📍 602 Bird Bay Dr W, Venice · 18 holes
A well-established semi-private course in Venice that's been a South County staple for years. Popular with the year-round Venice resident golf community.
Boca Royale Golf & Country Club — Semi-Private
📍 Englewood · 18 holes
An elegant semi-private club four miles from Manasota Key's Gulf beaches. One of the more scenic courses in the South County/Englewood corridor with a lush, distinctive coastal setting.
The Meadows Country Club — Semi-Private
📍 3101 Longmeadow, Sarasota · 27 holes · 3 courses
Three courses within The Meadows community in north Sarasota — one of the area's most established planned communities. A tennis village, multiple restaurants, and an active social calendar make The Meadows one of the most complete community lifestyles in the Sarasota market. Golf here is part of a larger lifestyle equation.
Private Golf Clubs — Membership Required
The Concession Golf Club — 2026–2028 Senior PGA Championship Host
📍 Bradenton (Sarasota-Manatee border) · Private · Jack Nicklaus & Tony Jacklin design · 520 acres
The Concession Golf Club is widely regarded as the finest private golf course in the greater Sarasota-Bradenton market — and one of the most significant private club addresses in all of Florida. Designed by Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin and named for the famous concession Nicklaus made to Jacklin in the 1969 Ryder Cup, The Concession sprawls across 520 acres with a layout that tests even the best players. In 2026, The Concession was named host of the Senior PGA Championship for 2026, 2027, and 2028 — the most prestigious championship in Champions Tour golf. The 2026 championship was won by Stewart Cink at 19-under par.
TPC Prestancia — Private
📍 4409 Tournament Players Club Dr, Sarasota · Palmer Ranch · 36 holes · Opened 1985
Tucked into the heart of Palmer Ranch just minutes from Siesta Key, TPC Prestancia is one of Sarasota's most storied private clubs — the third private club ever admitted to the TPC Network, and a former host of eight Chrysler Cup Tournaments and five American Express Invitational Champions Tour events. Two 18-hole championship courses: the Stadium Course (Ron Garl, 6,941 yards, par-72) and the Club Course (Robert Von Hagge, 6,593 yards, par-72). A 35,000-square-foot full-service clubhouse, 12-acre practice facility, and reciprocal access to over 100 golf courses worldwide through the Heritage Golf Group network.
💡 Membership at TPC Prestancia is a primary driver of buyer demand in Palmer Ranch — proximity to the club is a meaningful value consideration for golf-focused buyers in that corridor.
Laurel Oak Country Club — Private
📍 Sarasota · 36 holes · Gary Player & Rees Jones design
Two 18-hole championship courses designed by Gary Player and Rees Jones — a pairing of two of golf's most celebrated course architects. Meticulously maintained and consistently cited among the top private clubs in the Sarasota market, with dining ranging from casual to fine and a full social and recreational program.
The Founders Club — Private
📍 Sarasota · 18 holes · Private member-owned
One of Sarasota's most exclusive private communities — an 18-hole private course woven through a luxury residential community with a member-owned club structure. Consistently rated among the top private clubs in the area and a primary destination for Sarasota's high-net-worth golf-focused buyers.
Heritage Oaks Golf & Country Club — Private
📍 4800 Chase Oaks Dr, Sarasota · 18 holes · Private member-owned
A private, member-owned community built around an 18-hole championship course consistently praised for its outstanding golf experience and friendly membership culture. Heritage Oaks attracts buyers who want genuine private club community without the formality of some of the larger clubs.
The Oaks Club — Private
📍 310 MacEwen Dr, Osprey · 36 holes · Eagle & Heron courses
Two 18-hole courses at a beautifully maintained private club in Osprey, just south of Sarasota. Full private club lifestyle with golf, tennis, dining, and social programming in a lush, wooded setting. A strong option for buyers seeking private club living in the south Sarasota / Osprey corridor.
Sara Bay Country Club — Private
📍 7011 Willow St, Sarasota · 18 holes · Founded 1926
One of Florida's most venerable private golf clubs — founded in 1926 with the active involvement of golf legend Bobby Jones, who helped promote Sarasota as a golf destination in the club's early years. A piece of Sarasota history as much as a golf club.
Palm-Aire Country Club — Private
📍 Sarasota · 36 holes · Champions & Lakes courses
A private club offering two 18-hole courses within the Palm-Aire community in north Sarasota. A well-established private club community with a loyal membership base and full social and recreational programming.
Golf Communities and Real Estate — What Buyers Need to Know
Purchasing a home in a Sarasota golf community typically means one of three membership structures:
Bundled golf— membership included with the home purchase. Common in active adult communities like Sarasota National. The golf cost is built into your purchase price and HOA fees — no separate initiation fee.
Equity membership — you purchase a share in the club, often separately from the home. Common in private clubs like The Founders Club and Heritage Oaks. Initiation fees vary significantly by club and by current demand.
Optional membership — you choose whether to join after purchasing the home. Common in semi-private communities. No obligation, but non-members typically pay higher green fees.
Understanding which structure applies, what the current initiation fees and monthly dues are, and whether the course has a membership waitlist are all critical buyer questions we address in every golf community transaction. If golf is central to your lifestyle in Sarasota, it's worth a dedicated conversation before you start touring homes.
If you're looking for a home near great golf in Sarasota — whether you want a bundled community, a private club neighborhood, or simply proximity to great public courses — The LaMaida Group at Douglas Elliman can match you with the right community for your game and your lifestyle.
