If you love golf and you're shopping for a home in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, you are in the right place. Lakewood Ranch is one of the top master-planned communities in the entire country, and it's also home to some of the best golf communities in the Suncoast region.

But here's the challenge: not all golf communities are the same. Some include golf in the price of your home. Others require a separate private membership. Some have 18 holes. Others give you 72. Knowing the difference before you buy makes sure you live in the community that fits your lifestyle.

Two Ways Golf Works in Lakewood Ranch

Before we dive into specific communities, you need to understand one key concept. Golf membership in Lakewood Ranch works in two different ways, and the model a community uses affects what you pay and what you get.

Bundled Golf

In a bundled golf community, golf membership is tied directly to your home. When you buy, golf access is included. You don't apply separately or pay an initiation fee to join the club. Your home and your golf membership are one package.

Private Membership Golf

In a private club community, golf membership is separate from homeownership. You buy your home and then choose whether and how to join the club. These memberships typically involve initiation fees and annual dues, in addition to your homeownership costs. The tradeoff is usually more courses, more prestige, and a larger club experience.

Keep this distinction in mind as you read through each community below.

Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club: 72 Holes of Private Championship Golf

The Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club is a private, members-only golf club. As one of the largest private club golf operations in the entire state of Florida, it operates four championship courses totaling 72 holes. Residents of the surrounding neighborhoods join this club separately through non-equity membership.

The Courses

LWRG&CC expanded to its current form in late 2024 when The Legacy Golf Club was fully integrated into the private club. Members now have access to all four courses across the property.

Cypress Links

An Arnold Palmer Signature design with wide fairways, strategic bunkering, and a classic Florida feel. This course rewards smart course management over raw power, a favorite for members who like to think their way around.

King's Dunes

Also an Arnold Palmer Signature design, but a very different experience. King's Dunes plays links-style with more exposed terrain and wind exposure. It offers a genuine challenge for experienced golfers and a completely different test than Cypress Links.

Royal Lakes

Designed by Rick Robbins, Royal Lakes is the water course of the group. Expect dramatic water features, tight approach shots, and stunning views throughout the round. The Lodge clubhouse sits alongside Royal Lakes inside the Country Club East neighborhood.

The Legacy Golf Club

Originally a public course, The Legacy was fully integrated into the private club in late 2024. Its addition brought LWRG&CC to 72 total holes, a significant upgrade that gave members four distinct course experiences under one membership.

The Neighborhoods That Use This Club

The Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club serves residents of the surrounding neighborhoods within Lakewood Ranch with the courses themselves located in Country Club and Country Club East. Residents have the option to join LWRG&CC separately to access all four courses.

Country Club

Country Club is the original residential neighborhood built in and around the golf club. These are established, mature neighborhoods with tree-lined streets, a range of home styles, and the character that comes with being the foundation of Lakewood Ranch itself. If you want a well-established community with deep roots in the area, Country Club is worth a serious look.

Country Club East

Country Club East is a newer, fully gated community that sits adjacent to the Royal Lakes course and the Lodge clubhouse. It offers luxury homes in a more private, secluded setting. Like Country Club residents, homeowners here join LWRG&CC separately, giving them access to all 72 holes across all four courses.

Lakewood National Golf Club: 36 Holes, Bundled, and Home to the Korn Ferry Tour

Lakewood National is where the golf club and the residential community are one and the same. When you buy a home here, your golf membership is included. There is no separate initiation process, no surprise fees. What you're getting access to is genuinely exceptional: 36 holes designed by the Arnold Palmer Design Company, including one of the only Korn Ferry Tour host courses in Southwest Florida.

The Courses

The Commander

The Commander is the signature course at Lakewood National and the one that puts this community on the national map. It hosts the LECOM Suncoast Classic, a professional tournament on the Korn Ferry Tour, the official developmental tour for the PGA Tour. When you live at Lakewood National, you are playing the same course where tomorrow's PGA Tour pros compete. Very few residential communities anywhere in the country can say that.

The Piper

The Piper is the community's second 18-hole course. It offers a slightly different playing experience than The Commander while maintaining the same high-end design quality. Having two courses also means tee time availability is far better than you'd find at a single-course community.

Living at Lakewood National

Lakewood National is a resort-style community in every sense. The clubhouse, amenities, and social scene all revolve around the golf lifestyle. If you want unlimited access to world-class golf built directly into your homeownership costs, and you love the idea of professional golf in your backyard, this community deserves a close look.

Esplanade Golf & Country Club at Lakewood Ranch: 18 Holes, Bundled

Esplanade Golf & Country Club at Lakewood Ranch is the original Esplanade community in Lakewood Ranch, located off 70th Terrace East. Do not confuse it with the newer Esplanade at Azario; they are two completely separate communities. Both are developed by Taylor Morrison under the Esplanade brand, but they offer different courses, different locations, and different experiences.

The Course

The Esplanade Course is a single 18-hole championship course in a bundled format. Golf access is tied to the deed on specific homes, so when you are shopping here, it is important to confirm whether the home you are looking at includes bundled golf. Not every home in the community does.

Living at Esplanade Golf & Country Club

Beyond the golf course, this is a full resort-style community with a resort pool, wellness amenities, and an active social calendar. It is much more than just a golf community, making it a strong fit for buyers with households that include both golfers and non-golfers. The community is well-established, and the lifestyle here is relaxed and social.

Esplanade at Azario: 18 Holes, Bundled, and Built for All Skill Levels

Esplanade at Azario is the newest golf community in Lakewood Ranch, and it brings something genuinely different to the table. Like the original Esplanade, it is developed by Taylor Morrison and operates as a bundled golf community. But the course, the setting, and the overall feel are distinct.

The Course

The Azario Course is an 18-hole design by Chris Wilczynski, known for creating layouts that are both visually striking and accessible across all skill levels. Unlike most courses in Southwest Florida, the Azario Course features a rolling landscape. 

Wilczynski designed each hole with "easy/hard" angles, so casual golfers and competitive players can enjoy the same round without either group feeling overwhelmed or bored. Golf is included with select homes, so confirm bundled status when shopping here as well.

Living at Esplanade at Azario

Azario is the newest and most modern Esplanade community in Lakewood Ranch. If you want a fresh community with a distinctive course and a resort lifestyle, this is the one to watch. The rolling terrain and architectural character of the Wilczynski design make it a standout option.

Calusa Country Club: 30 Holes, Bundled, and Built for Modern Golf

Calusa Country Club is the newest golf community in Lakewood Ranch. It was developed by Lennar, which is the same builder behind Lakewood National. With an 18-hole championship course and a 12-hole companion course, Calusa brings a flexible and modern model to the Lakewood Ranch golf scene.

The Courses

Both courses were designed by Gordon Lewis, one of Florida's most prolific golf course architects, who has designed more than 73 courses across the state.

The 18-Hole Championship Course

This is a par-72, links-style layout stretching up to 7,404 yards from the tips, making it one of the longer courses in the area. It features Tif Eagle greens, Bimini grass fairways, and white sand bunkers, with water in play on all 18 holes. 

Six sets of tee markers make it accessible for players of all skill levels, from beginners to scratch golfers.

The 12-Hole Course

Gordon Lewis designed it with a full mix of par-3, par-4, and par-5 holes. The concept is flexible, social golf: a course that provides a complete and challenging experience that fits into a shorter window of time.

Beyond the two courses, Calusa has a nearly one-acre putting course with a snack bar and fire pit, an aqua driving range, a short game area, and a golf simulator in the clubhouse.

Living at Calusa Country Club

Calusa is a bundled community with two membership tiers: a full golf membership and a social membership that includes pool, pickleball, tennis, and clubhouse access without priority tee times. All homes and condos come with full bundled golf membership. Some Villas only come with a social membership.

Quick Comparison: All Lakewood Ranch Golf Communities

Frequently Asked Questions About Golf Communities in Lakewood Ranch

How many golf courses are in Lakewood Ranch? 

As of 2026, Lakewood Ranch is home to eight 18-hole championship courses across five golf operations with 144 total holes of golf.

What is the difference between bundled and private golf membership in Lakewood Ranch? 

In a bundled community, golf is included with your home purchase at no separate initiation cost. In a private club community, you buy your home and join the club separately, which typically involves initiation fees and annual dues.

What is the difference between Esplanade Golf & Country Club and Esplanade at Azario? 

They are two separate communities by the same developer, Taylor Morrison. The original Esplanade is located off 70th Terrace East and has been established for years. Azario is the newer community with a course designed by Chris Wilczynski. Both are bundled golf communities.

Does Lakewood Ranch host any professional golf tournaments? 

Yes. The LECOM Suncoast Classic, a Korn Ferry Tour event, is played at Lakewood National Golf Club on The Commander course.

What is the difference between Country Club and Country Club East? 

Both are residential neighborhoods served by the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club. Country Club is the original, more established neighborhood. Country Club East is a newer, fully gated luxury community adjacent to the Royal Lakes course. Residents of both join LWRG&CC separately for golf access.

Can I live in Lakewood Ranch without joining a golf club? 

Absolutely. Lakewood Ranch has many non-golf neighborhoods. Golf membership is optional unless you purchase a home in a bundled community where it is tied to the deed.

Which Lakewood Ranch golf community has the most courses? 

The Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club operates the most courses, with four championship courses totaling 72 holes. Both the Country Club and Country Club East neighborhoods have access to all four through separate membership.

Ready to Find Your Golf Course Community? We Can Help.

Choosing the right golf community is about more than just the course; it's about your lifestyle, your budget, and your long-term investment. The right fit for one buyer can be completely wrong for another, and the details matter. That's where we come in.

Mike Novak has over 28 years of experience in Lakewood Ranch and is a proud resident of the community himself. As a member of The Joe Murphy Team at Coldwell Banker, Mike's team has received recognition every year from 2005 to 2025 as a Five Star Professional and as part of the Top 1% of all Coldwell Banker agents worldwide.

Whether you're drawn to the prestige of the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club or the bundled convenience of Lakewood National, Azario, Esplanade, or Calusa, we can help you find the right fit at the right price.

Contact Mike Novak today at 941-899-5466 or through the website to schedule your consultation. Let's find your perfect Lakewood Ranch golf home.