Esplanade Golf and Country Club at Lakewood Ranch Homes for Sale, Lakewood Ranch FL

About Esplanade Golf and Country Club at Lakewood Ranch

Esplanade Golf and Country Club at Lakewood Ranch sits on the north side of State Road 70 in the eastern part of Lakewood Ranch, inside Manatee County and the 34211 ZIP. It was one of the newer golf neighborhoods in the area when its course opened in 2014, and local coverage at the time noted it was the first new 18-hole course built in Manatee or Sarasota County since 2007. The streets are gated and the homes are newer construction, mostly single-family homes plus attached villas, built from the early 2010s onward. The defining feature for buyers is the membership model. Rather than a separate private club that sells memberships to outsiders, Esplanade was set up so that residents are the members and the golf cost is carried as an annual fee. That means a buyer should treat the golf fee as part of the carrying cost of the home, not as an optional add-on. Ask for the current fee schedule, the HOA budget and any CDD details for the specific section before going under contract.

The golf at Esplanade Golf and Country Club at Lakewood Ranch

The course is a par 72 layout of about 6,700 yards designed by Chris Wilczynski, a landscape architect with more than 20 course designs to his name. It winds through lakes and native landscaping, and the par 3 fourth hole has been described as the signature hole since opening day. The practice setup is strong for a community course: a driving range with a grass tee plus a synthetic hitting area for days when the grass tees are resting, a lesson tee, an expanded putting green, two chipping and pitching greens and several practice bunkers. The course is managed by Troon, which lists it as private. Because residents are the membership, tee sheets are built around the people who live inside the gates, and the golf calendar tends to be driven by resident leagues and events rather than outside play.

Is club membership required in Esplanade Golf and Country Club at Lakewood Ranch?

Required with home ownership. At the course opening, the community described its model as residents paying an annual fee for course access, with all residents as members. Confirm the current fee structure in the HOA documents.

Want the current HOA, CDD and club numbers for a specific home? Ask me and I will pull them from the listing and the association.

Living in Esplanade Golf and Country Club at Lakewood Ranch: location and lifestyle

State Road 70 is the main connector, so I-75 is roughly 10 to 15 minutes west and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard puts shopping, medical offices and dining a few minutes away. The Lakewood Ranch Main Street area and University Town Center are both reasonable drives for restaurants and errands. Myakka River State Park is about 20 minutes southeast for trails, kayaking and wildlife viewing. Sarasota Bradenton International Airport is about 25 minutes away, and Tampa International is about an hour. Because the community is newer, mature tree canopy is lighter than in older clubs, but lots, roofs and mechanical systems are younger, which can mean lower near-term maintenance. Inside the gates, the clubhouse, practice area and course give residents a built-in place to meet neighbors without driving anywhere.