Sarasota has five well-known private country clubs within a 20-minute drive of downtown: The Founders Club (7,094-yard Robert Trent Jones Jr. course, 700 acres), Laurel Oak Country Club (two 18-hole courses across 800 acres), the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club in Lakewood Ranch (Tom Fazio design), Sarasota National in Venice (Gordon Lewis design), and University Park Country Club (27 holes, Ron Garl). Membership rules, home prices, and clubhouse size vary widely between them.
Club | Course Designer | Holes / Length | Location | Clubhouse Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Founders Club | Robert Trent Jones Jr. | 18 holes, 7,094 yards, par 72 | 3001 Founders Club Drive, Sarasota, FL 34240 | 24,000 sq ft |
Laurel Oak Country Club | Gary Player (East), Rees Jones (West) | 36 holes total (two 18-hole courses) | 2700 Gary Player Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34240 | 45,000 sq ft |
Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club | Tom Fazio | 18 holes, 5,175 to 7,417 yards, par 72 | Off Lorraine Road, Lakewood Ranch, FL | Not publicly listed |
Sarasota National Golf Club | Gordon Lewis | 18 holes | 25510 National Blvd, Venice, FL 34293 | 32,000 sq ft |
University Park Country Club | Ron Garl | 27 holes (three interchangeable 9s) | 7671 Park Boulevard, University Park, FL 34201 | Not publicly listed |
Comparing memberships, or ready to see what's for sale?
These five clubs range from a 275-member course at The Founders Club to a 27-hole semi-private layout at University Park. If you already know which lifestyle fits:
By Melissa Gissinger
Buyers relocating to Sarasota ask about golf communities and private club amenities before they ask about anything else. Below are five of the area's best-known clubs, what each one actually offers, and what to weigh before choosing a neighborhood built around one.
Key Takeaways
- Sarasota has five well-known private golf communities, ranging from a 275-member course to a 27-hole semi-private layout.
- Course designers include Robert Trent Jones Jr., Gary Player, Rees Jones, Tom Fazio, Gordon Lewis, and Ron Garl.
- Clubhouse sizes range from 24,000 to 45,000 square feet, and membership structures differ by community.
- Country club living tends to hold buyer demand steady even when the broader market slows.
The Founders Club
The Founders Club is a private, 275-member community on 700 acres east of I-75, built around a Robert Trent Jones Jr. course.
- Address: 3001 Founders Club Drive, Sarasota, FL 34240
- Access: Private club, membership required; no public tee times
- Membership fee: not publicly disclosed; contact the club directly
- Distance from downtown Sarasota: about 10 miles, roughly 4 miles east of I-75
What Makes The Founders Club Stand Out
- Robert Trent Jones Jr. Golf Course: an 18-hole, par-72 layout stretching 7,094 yards, with rolling terrain, nearly two dozen lakes, and mature oaks.
- 275 total memberships across 700 acres, which keeps tee-time pressure low compared to public courses.
- 24,000-square-foot clubhouse with indoor dining, an outdoor verandah overlooking the 18th green, and a full-time caddie program.
- Home sites sit on half-acre-plus lots, many bordering lakes or preserve land.
Source: The Founders Club, official site.thefoundersgolfclub.com
Buyers who want a low-density membership and estate-sized lots tend to shortlist The Founders Club first.
Laurel Oak Country Club
Laurel Oak sits on 800 acres off Bee Ridge Road and offers two full 18-hole courses under one membership.
- Address: 2700 Gary Player Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34240
- Access: Private, member-owned club
- Membership fee: not publicly disclosed; contact the club directly
- Directions: from I-75 exit 207 (Bee Ridge Rd), go east about 1.75 miles
Amenities Members Appreciate
- East Course designed by Gary Player and West Course redesigned by Rees Jones, giving members two distinct 18-hole layouts.
- 12 lighted Har-Tru tennis courts, used for an active league and clinic schedule.
- 45,000-square-foot clubhouse with formal and casual dining plus a heated pool.
- Reciprocal privileges with the Bird Key Yacht Club for members who also want water access.
Source: Laurel Oak Country Club, official site.laureloak.com
Members who split time between golf and tennis tend to point to Laurel Oak's two-course, twelve-court setup as the reason they joined.
The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club
The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club is a Tom Fazio-designed course on 315 acres off Lorraine Road in Lakewood Ranch, tied to The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota resort brand.
- Address: off Lorraine Road, Lakewood Ranch, FL (no public street number listed)
- Access: Ritz-Carlton Members Club members and Ritz-Carlton Sarasota resort guests only, by advance booking
- Membership fee: not publicly disclosed; contact the club directly
- Distance from The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota downtown resort: about 13 miles
Features That Define the Club
- Tom Fazio-designed, 18-hole, par-72 course with six sets of tees from 5,175 to 7,417 yards.
- Nearly 2 million cubic yards of earth were moved during construction to create the course's elevation changes.
- Clubhouse includes a grille, formal dining room, pro shop, and attendant-serviced locker rooms.
- Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, recognized for environmental management practices.
Source: The Ritz-Carlton Members Club, Sarasota, official site.rcmcsarasota.com
The club attracts buyers who want a name-brand hospitality connection alongside the golf, in a Lakewood Ranch location minutes from Waterside Place and University Town Center Mall.
Sarasota National Golf Club
Located in Venice, Sarasota National is a Gordon Lewis-designed course inside a 2,400-acre master-planned community with 1,584 homes.
- Address: 25510 National Blvd, Venice, FL 34293
- Access: Golf Village (bundled membership) or Lake Village (no golf membership required)
- Membership fee: not publicly disclosed; contact the club directly
- Distance from downtown Venice: about 7 miles
Highlights of Sarasota National
- 18-hole Gordon Lewis championship course, an Audubon International Certified Signature Sanctuary surrounded by native wetlands.
- 32,000-square-foot clubhouse campus with formal and casual dining, a coffee lounge, and a poolside tiki bar.
- Resort-style pool with 25-meter lap lanes, a beach entry, and dedicated spa treatment rooms.
- Bocce, pickleball, and tennis courts, plus a dedicated dog park.
Source: Sarasota National Golf Club, official site.sarasotanationalgolf.com
Buyers drawn to newer construction and a non-golf membership option often land on Sarasota National over the older, closer-in clubs.
University Park Country Club
University Park Country Club offers 27 holes designed entirely by Ron Garl, rated four stars by Golf Digest since 1996.
- Address: 7671 Park Boulevard, University Park, FL 34201
- Access: Semi-private; daily-fee tee times available alongside resident membership
- Membership and daily-fee rates: not published; call the club for current pricing
- Distance: about 2 miles west of I-75, 15 minutes from Gulf beaches
Why Residents Love University Park
- 27 holes across three interchangeable nine-hole loops, all designed by Ron Garl, so any two nines combine into a full 18.
- Rated four stars by Golf Digest every year since 1996, and named Sarasota Magazine's "Best Place to Play Golf" for more than 20 years.
- Location near University Parkway, minutes from UTC Mall, Benderson Park, and Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
- Eleven lighted Har-Tru tennis courts and four pickleball courts.
Sources: University Park Country Club, official site, and Visit Sarasota County.universitypark-fl.com, visitsarasota.com
Its semi-private structure and proximity to I-75 make University Park one of the easiest of the five clubs to try before buying in.
Choosing the Right Country Club Community
Each club sets its own membership rules, so it helps to compare those before touring homes.
Factors Buyers Should Consider
- Membership Requirements: some clubs, like The Founders Club, cap total memberships (275); others, like University Park, are semi-private with daily-fee play.
- Golf Course Design and Difficulty: yardages here range from University Park's 27-hole layout to the Ritz-Carlton's 7,417-yard tips.
- Proximity to Beaches and Downtown: The Founders Club and Laurel Oak sit closest to downtown Sarasota; Sarasota National is in Venice, further south.
- Home Options: lot sizes and home types vary from Founders Club's half-acre estate lots to University Park's more varied inventory.
When I tour buyers through these communities, we usually visit two or three in a day so they can compare clubhouse feel and course difficulty side by side.
FAQs
Do all Sarasota country clubs require a golf membership?
No. University Park Country Club is semi-private and sells daily-fee tee times without requiring membership, while The Founders Club and Laurel Oak Country Club require membership to play.
Which Sarasota country club is closest to downtown Sarasota?
The Founders Club and Laurel Oak Country Club sit closest to downtown Sarasota, both roughly 10 miles away, while Sarasota National in Venice is the farthest south of the five.
Can I buy a home in a country club community without playing golf?
Yes. Sarasota National's Lake Village side does not require a golf membership, and several other communities offer social or sports memberships that include dining and fitness access without golf.
Contact Me Today
Exploring the best country clubs in Sarasota is about more than finding a golf course, it's about finding a community that fits your life. From estate lots near The Founders Club to a semi-private tee time at University Park, these five clubs cover a wide range of budgets and lifestyles.
If you're considering a move to Sarasota or exploring homes in one of these communities, reach out to me, Melissa Gissinger, and I'll walk you through memberships, home options, and what each club is really like day to day.
If you're considering a move to Sarasota or exploring homes in one of these communities, reach out to me, Melissa Gissinger, and I'll walk you through memberships, home options, and what each club is really like day to day.
