Private Clubs in the Sarasota-Bradenton Area

Bradenton Country Club is a private 18-hole club founded in the 1920s in Bradenton, Florida, featuring an original Donald Ross design that reflects the architect's hallmark naturalistic style. Ron Garl updated the layout in 1999, preserving classic Ross elements such as strategic bunkering and undulating greens while modernizing the course to its current 6,748-yard, par-72 configuration. The club hosted the 1957 Florida State Amateur Championship and remains one of the Suncoast region's most historically significant private golfing destinations.

Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club is a private 54-hole golf facility set within the master-planned Lakewood Ranch community in Bradenton, Florida. The club's flagship Cypress Links course was designed by the Arnold Palmer Design Company and stretches to over 7,000 yards, complemented by two additional 18-hole championship layouts and a sprawling 42-acre practice facility. The club has hosted several Florida State Golf Association championships, including the 2012 Florida State Amateur Public Links Championship.

River Isles Golf Club is a semi-private 18-hole course established in the early 1970s within a residential community in Bradenton, Florida. Designed by prolific Florida golf architect Joe Lee, the par-72 layout stretches 6,400 yards and features water hazards on 11 of 18 holes, complemented by the tree-lined fairways characteristic of Lee's work across the state.

River Strand Golf and Country Club is a 27-hole semi-private golf and country club situated along the Manatee River in Bradenton, Florida. Designed by acclaimed architect Arthur Hills, the course offers multiple 18-hole combinations stretching over 7,000 yards, featuring sloping greens and strategically placed bunkers set against panoramic river views.

Esplanade Golf & Country Club at Lakewood Ranch is a private residential golf community established in 2014 within the master-planned Lakewood Ranch development in Sarasota County, Florida. The 18-hole course, designed by Chris Wilczynski, plays to 6,716 yards with a slope rating of 135, featuring strategic water hazards and natural wetlands woven throughout the layout. Membership is tied to residency within the Esplanade community, making it an exclusive amenity for Taylor Morrison homeowners in one of Florida's fastest-growing planned communities.

Lakewood National Golf Club is a 36-hole semi-private golf facility set within the master-planned Lakewood Ranch community in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, opened in 2016. Both the Commander and Piper courses were designed by the Arnold Palmer Design Company, with the Commander Course hosting the Korn Ferry Tour's LECOM Suncoast Classic in 2020. The layout incorporates natural wetlands throughout, offering a challenging championship experience across two distinct 18-hole courses.

The Venice Golf and Country Club is a private 18-hole club established in Venice, Florida, offering a challenging par-72 layout designed by Ted McAnlis. The course stretches to 6,708 yards with a slope rating of 133, and water hazards factor into play on 14 of its 18 holes. The club also holds certification as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, reflecting a longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship.

Jacaranda West Country Club is a private 18-hole golf club founded in 1976 in Venice, Florida, designed by architect Mark Mahannah. The par-72 course stretches 6,589 yards from the championship tees and presents a formidable challenge with water in play on 15 of 18 holes, more than 40 strategically placed bunkers, and a slope rating of 132. The club hosted the Florida Open Championship in 1983 and underwent a greens renovation in 2016 to maintain the integrity of Mahannah's original design.

The Resort at Longboat Key Club is a premier golf destination situated on Florida's Gulf Coast barrier island of Longboat Key, offering 45 holes across two championship layouts and a 9-hole course. The Harbourside Course was designed by Willard Byrd and the Links Course by Ron Garl, with the latter featuring views of the Gulf of Mexico amid natural mangrove surroundings. The resort has earned recognition from Golf Digest and hosted Florida State Golf Association championships, including the 2005 Florida State Senior Amateur and the 2012 Florida Women's Amateur.

The Oaks Club is a private 36-hole golf community in Osprey, Florida, situated near Little Sarasota Bay along the southwest Gulf Coast. The club's Eagle Course, originally designed by Willard Byrd in 1984 and comprehensively renovated by Jason Straka in 2015, plays to a 6,825-yard par 72 with a demanding slope rating of 137. A separately renovated Heron Course rounds out the facility, which holds Florida Green Building Coalition certification for its environmental stewardship practices.