The Country Club at Lakewood Ranch pays homage to the vision that American circus magnate John Ringling had for his beloved Sarasota a century ago. John Ringling was inspired by the Venetian and Tuscan architectural designs, and this sensibility is reflected by the grand clubhouse at the Country Club at Lakewood Ranch.

Each master-planned development in Florida has at least one neighborhood that seeks to evoke refinement and luxury. In Lakewood Ranch, the Golf and Country Club fits this description perfectly. There are three 18-hole championship courses for golf lovers to enjoy; the Tennis Center features 16 modern courts and a pro shop plus two old-fashioned clay courts. Other amenities of this gated community include the state-of-the-art Athletic Center, an aquatic complex, a ballroom and a lake fountain.

The residential focus at the Golf and Country Club is on grand single-family homes; to this end we find the Mediterranean collection at Stone Ridge comfortably priced in the low $200K’s. At Silverwood, three-bedroom and two-bathroom homes start around $300K. Princely estates with four bedrooms and four bathrooms can be found at Greystone and Highfield, and they start at $600K.

Depending on the neighborhood, house hunters will find French Country designs, Key West mansions, Southern Plantation architecture, and Caribbean styles. There is also the Miramar neighborhood, where residents can enjoy living a maintenance-free lifestyle in gorgeous townhomes that start at $200K.

The Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club is located close to Main Street’s collection of shops and restaurants. All it takes to get to the beaches of Manatee and Sarasota counties is a short drive. School-age residents can attend Robert E Willis Elementary, Nolan Middle and Lakewood Ranch High Schools.