7 Best Golf Clubs in Sarasota

For many Sarasota residents, golf is part of what makes living here so enjoyable. A morning round, lunch at the clubhouse and a familiar group of playing partners can turn a favorite pastime into a weekly routine.

The Sarasota area offers several ways to enjoy that lifestyle, from traditional private golf clubs to semi-private courses that welcome daily-fee players. Some put the game at the center of the experience. Others combine golf with tennis, fitness, dining and activities for the whole family.

If you are exploring golf clubs or considering a home in a Sarasota golf community, these seven destinations belong on your shortlist. The selections span Sarasota and nearby University Park and Longboat Key, offering different approaches to both the game and club life.

1. The Founders Golf Club

Best for: A private club centered on golf and course architecture
Access: Private

The Founders Golf Club features an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones Jr. signature course within The Founders Club’s gated residential community. The club limits golf membership to 275, creating a deliberately smaller membership setting.

For golfers who appreciate thoughtful course design, Founders is especially worth exploring. The layout incorporates the native Florida landscape and rewards strategic decisions, making it appealing to players who enjoy studying a course over repeated rounds.

The club’s dining, wellness offerings and social opportunities add to the experience beyond the fairways. For prospective homebuyers, the appeal is the possibility of bringing golf and community life close to home.

If you are considering a property in The Founders Club, discuss membership availability and requirements directly with the golf club as part of your search.

Explore The Founders Golf Club.

2. University Park Country Club

Best for: Golfers who want membership options and daily-fee access
Access: Semi-private

Located just north of Sarasota, University Park Country Club offers 27 holes of Ron Garl-designed golf and welcomes both members and daily-fee players. That flexibility makes it a useful option for golfers who want to experience the course before considering membership.

The club also offers tennis, pickleball, fitness amenities and dining at The Park Grille & Café. For couples and families with different interests, those additional activities can make a membership more valuable throughout the week.

University Park is worth exploring if you want a golf community in the northern part of the Sarasota area. Consider how the course location fits your everyday plans alongside shopping, dining and other destinations.

For occasional players, daily-fee access offers flexibility. For frequent golfers, ask the club about membership benefits, booking privileges and organized play.

View University Park Country Club golf information.

3. TPC Prestancia

Best for: A private golf experience in Palmer Ranch
Access: Private

TPC Prestancia offers two 18-hole championship courses in Sarasota’s Palmer Ranch area: the Stadium Course and the Players Course. The club is part of the TPC Network and sits within the gated Prestancia community.

For golfers who play often, access to two layouts provides welcome variety. The Players Course offers a traditional Florida design with oak-lined holes, doglegs and shots over water.

TPC Prestancia is a strong candidate for buyers who want golf to become part of their regular routine in south Sarasota. Explore the courses, practice facilities and membership structure to understand how the club would fit the way you play.

If you are considering a home in Prestancia or a surrounding Palmer Ranch neighborhood, confirm golf membership separately from the property purchase. Ask about current availability, categories and any applicable transfer arrangements.

Explore TPC Prestancia golf and membership.

4. Laurel Oak Country Club

Best for: Golf alongside family recreation and social activities
Access: Private

Laurel Oak Country Club features two championship golf courses, 12 Har-Tru tennis courts, a swim center, dining and year-round family activities. Located in east Sarasota, it offers a broad country club experience for households with several recreational interests.

The two-course setup gives frequent players variety, while the other amenities offer reasons for the rest of the family to spend time at the club.

When comparing Sarasota country clubs, think about how everyone would use the membership. A golfer may prioritize course design and tee-time access, while another family member may care more about tennis, swimming or the social calendar.

Laurel Oak states that membership is available to people who do not live in Laurel Oak Estates. That gives prospective members the flexibility to explore the club while considering homes in other nearby neighborhoods.

Explore Laurel Oak Country Club.

5. Sara Bay Country Club

Best for: Traditional golf architecture and a historic club setting
Access: Private

Founded in 1926, Sara Bay Country Club is a private, member-owned club just north of downtown Sarasota. Its walkable Donald Ross-designed course makes it especially appealing to golfers who appreciate classic architecture and enjoy playing on foot. www.sarabaycc.org

For players who like learning the subtleties of a course, Sara Bay deserves consideration. A traditional layout can provide lasting interest as you become more familiar with its challenges and develop different ways to approach a hole.

The club also offers a social setting and clubhouse dining, allowing golf to become part of a wider circle of friendships and activities.

For homebuyers exploring north Sarasota, visiting Sara Bay can help clarify the type of club experience you want. Ask about membership opportunities, regular games and the club calendar before deciding whether it fits your lifestyle.

Learn about Sara Bay Country Club.

6. Longboat Key Club

Best for: Golf paired with a coastal club lifestyle
Access: Private club, with golf access also available to resort guests

Longboat Key Club offers 45 holes of championship golf across the Links on Longboat and Harbourside courses. Golf is available to club members and resort guests, making it a distinctive option within the greater Sarasota area.

Its appeal extends beyond the course. Depending on the membership category, club privileges can include tennis, beach and pool facilities, dining, fitness, spa access and social events.

For buyers drawn to Longboat Key, the club brings several parts of the coastal lifestyle together. A round of golf can sit alongside time at the beach, a tennis match or dinner with friends.

Compare membership categories carefully to understand which amenities and golf privileges each includes. If you are purchasing a nearby property, confirm the relationship between ownership and club access directly rather than assuming membership comes with the home.

Explore Longboat Key Club membership.

7. Misty Creek Country Club

Best for: Golf in a natural setting in southeast Sarasota
Access: Semi-private

Misty Creek Country Club is set on 350 acres of preserve with lakes and hammock forests. The natural surroundings make it an appealing choice for golfers who enjoy a quieter landscape as part of their round.

The club offers memberships as well as daily-fee play, providing options for both regular golfers and people who want to try the course before making a commitment.

Misty Creek also offers weekly league opportunities for men and women. For someone new to the area, organized play can be a useful way to meet other golfers and establish a routine.

For buyers exploring southeast Sarasota, consider both the course and the surrounding neighborhood. Visit at the times you would normally play and see how the location fits your other everyday destinations.

Explore Misty Creek Country Club.

How to Choose a Sarasota Golf Club

The best golf club for you depends on how you plan to use it.

Start with the game itself. Consider whether you prefer walking or riding, how often you practice and whether you want one course or multiple layouts. Ask about instruction, organized games and tournaments if those will be part of your routine.

Next, look at access. Understand how tee times are booked, how far in advance members can reserve and what guest privileges are available. At a semi-private club, ask how member access works alongside daily-fee play.

Finally, consider the broader experience. Dining, fitness, racquet sports and social events may be important to your household, even if golf is the main reason you are joining.

Request a complete explanation of initiation fees, dues, cart charges, spending requirements and other applicable costs so you can compare clubs accurately.

Buying a Home in a Sarasota Golf Community

A fairway view is only one part of choosing a golf course home. Membership arrangements, privacy and the property’s position on the course can all affect your experience.

Confirm whether membership is optional or required, whether it is available when you purchase and whether any existing membership can transfer. Buying inside a golf community does not automatically establish playing privileges.

Visit the property during golf hours. A home near a tee box, green or cart path may experience activity differently from one overlooking a quieter stretch of fairway. Spend time on the lanai and around the pool to understand how the setting feels.

Think about the days you will not play, too. The right community should support your whole lifestyle, including access to friends, restaurants, beaches and other activities.

Find Your Sarasota Golf Lifestyle

Whether you are drawn to classic course architecture, a family country club or golf near the beach, the Sarasota area offers several compelling options.

At Thompson Group Sarasota, we help buyers connect their home search with the way they want to live. That includes exploring golf communities, understanding nearby amenities and finding a location that makes everyday routines easier.

Contact Thompson Group Sarasota to explore homes in and around Sarasota’s private and semi-private golf communities.