Best Places to Live in Venice for Golfers

by Hunt Brothers Realty

The best places to live in Venice for golfers include Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club, Plantation Golf & Country Club, The Venice Golf and Country Club, Sarasota National, Wellen Park Golf & Country Club, Venetian Golf & River Club and Waterford Golf Club. The important difference is not simply the quality of the course. Venice buyers can choose among requisite private-club membership, bundled golf, optional private membership and semi-private golf. Hunt Brothers Realty's Venice golf community guide provides a useful starting point for comparing these different ownership models.

For a home buyer, there is no universal number-one golf community. A frequent golfer who wants club membership integrated with homeownership may reach a different conclusion from a seasonal golfer who prefers optional membership, newer construction or the flexibility to play several courses. Housing type, HOA obligations, club dues, location, insurance, taxes and the amount of golf you realistically expect to play all deserve consideration.

Quick Answers About the Best Places to Live in Venice for Golfers

Which Venice golf community has 27 holes?

Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club has 27 holes divided among three nine-hole layouts. Waterford Golf Club also has 27 holes, giving Venice golfers more than one residential option built around multiple course combinations.

Which Venice community has two full 18-hole courses?

Plantation Golf & Country Club has two 18-hole championship courses. The surrounding residential community also provides one of the broader housing selections, including condominiums, villas, patio homes and detached residences.

Which Venice golf community requires club membership?

The Venice Golf and Country Club uses a requisite-membership structure. The club states that every homeowner selects either a Golf membership or Club membership, and non-resident memberships are not currently offered.

Where can golfers find newer homes in Venice?

Wellen Park Golf & Country Club is one of the clearest options for buyers prioritizing newer construction. Current offerings include condominiums, carriage homes, coach homes and single-family residences in a community centered around an 18-hole course and resort-style amenities.

Does buying in every Venice golf community automatically include golf?

No. This is one of the most important buyer distinctions. Membership may be requisite, bundled, optional or completely separate from homeownership depending on the community and, in some cases, the specific property section.

Can buyers find condos or villas in Venice golf communities?

Yes. Venice golf living is not limited to detached houses. Plantation includes condos and villas, Venetian Golf & River Club includes villa-style residences, and Wellen Park Golf & Country Club currently offers multiple attached and condominium formats.

Which communities work well for golfers who do not want mandatory golf membership?

Plantation, Venetian Golf & River Club and Waterford are useful places to compare when buyers want residential golf surroundings without assuming the same requisite membership structure used by The Venice Golf and Country Club. Pelican Pointe also separates resident social privileges from golf membership, although the club is transitioning its membership structure and buyers should verify current terms.

What should buyers verify before choosing a Venice golf community?

Verify the golf membership attached to the property, initiation charges, recurring club dues, HOA or condominium fees, CDD or special assessments, cart charges, course-access rules and transfer requirements. Buyers should obtain current property-specific figures directly from the club, association, builder and appropriate real estate professionals before making a purchasing decision.

Why Is Venice Such a Strong Market for Golfers?

Venice gives golfers unusually broad choices in both housing and club structure. Established communities around central and east Venice provide mature landscaping, resale homes and longstanding clubs, while the Wellen Park area adds newer construction and newer golf-community development.

Course formats are equally varied. Buyers can compare 18-hole private clubs, 27-hole facilities, a 36-hole private club and communities where golf is bundled directly into selected homeownership packages.

Golf is also only part of the Venice lifestyle. Beaches, historic Downtown Venice, the Legacy Trail, boating, parks and the newer amenities around Wellen Park give buyers reasons to compare location as carefully as the course itself.

Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club: 27-Hole Variety Near Central Venice

Pelican Pointe is one of Venice's major established golf communities, with 1,355 homesites and villas according to the club. The 27-hole facility uses three nine-hole layouts, creating multiple 18-hole combinations for golfers who value course variety.

Residents receive a social membership providing access to amenities including tennis, pickleball, fitness, swimming and club social activities. Golf membership is separate. As of late September 2026, Pelican Pointe is also completing phased course renovation work and has announced a transition process toward private-club status, making current membership and course-access verification especially important.

Housing includes single-family residences and villas, with golf, lake and landscaped views depending on location. Pelican Pointe can be particularly relevant for buyers who prefer an established gated neighborhood relatively close to Downtown Venice and Gulf beaches.

Why do golfers compare Pelican Pointe?

The principal advantages are 27-hole variety, substantial practice facilities, established residential surroundings and the ability to separate residential social membership from golf membership. Buyers should confirm the club's current post-renovation operating and membership structure before purchasing specifically for golf access.

Plantation Golf & Country Club: Two Courses and Broad Housing Choice

Plantation Golf & Country Club is one of the largest established golf-community environments in the Venice area. The private club operates two 18-hole Ron Garl-designed championship courses, providing 36 holes within one club.

The residential side is equally varied. Hunt Brothers Realty documents more than 2,400 properties across multiple neighborhoods, including condominiums, villas, patio homes and single-family residences. Some overlook fairways, lakes or landscaped areas.

Private club membership is separate from residential ownership. Current club membership options include Full Golf, Executive and non-golf categories, while individual residential neighborhoods have their own association structures and fees.

Why do golfers compare Plantation?

Plantation is especially useful for buyers who want two full golf courses and numerous housing formats without automatically tying homeownership to one mandatory golf membership. The tradeoff is additional complexity because HOA, condominium and club costs can all vary.

The Venice Golf and Country Club: Requisite Private-Club Living

The Venice Golf and Country Club offers one of the area's most integrated relationships between homeownership and club membership. The club describes itself as Venice's only private, member-owned golf and country club and reports 587 homes within the community.

Membership is requisite. Every homeowner selects either a Golf membership or Club membership, and current club information states that non-resident memberships are not available. For a buyer who specifically wants golf and club life closely tied to the home, that structure can be an important distinction.

The club has an 18-hole par-72 championship course along with tennis, pickleball, aquatic, wellness, dining and clubhouse facilities. The community also reports no CDD fee, although owners have both Master Association and club membership obligations.

Who should investigate VGCC closely?

Buyers who actively want a private member-owned club to be part of everyday residential life may find VGCC particularly relevant. Buyers who want the ability to own in a golf neighborhood without joining the golf club should compare a different membership model.

Sarasota National: Championship Golf and a Preserve-Oriented Setting

Sarasota National is a 2,400-acre Venice-area community with 1,584 homes and more than 1,300 acres designated for preservation, conservation and open space. The community's 18-hole championship course was designed by Gordon B. Lewis and is surrounded by wetlands and preserve areas.

The golf structure requires particular attention. Official Sarasota National information states that homes in the Golf Village include golf membership, while Lake Village homes do not. That makes the property's exact section important when buyers compare otherwise similar Sarasota National residences.

Community amenities extend beyond golf and include a large clubhouse campus, dining, fitness, spa facilities, resort-style swimming, tennis, pickleball, bocce and additional recreation. Sarasota National also has a Community Development District, with CDD charges varying by neighborhood.

Why do golfers compare Sarasota National?

Sarasota National combines championship golf, substantial preserved open space and an established resort-style environment in the broader Wellen Park area. Buyers should determine whether they specifically want a Golf Village residence or prefer a home without the same golf-membership arrangement.

Wellen Park Golf & Country Club: Newer Homes and Bundled Golf

Wellen Park Golf & Country Club is one of the strongest options for golfers prioritizing newer construction. Wellen Park identifies the Lennar neighborhood as approximately 1,300 planned homes with a mix of condominiums, coach homes and single-family residences centered around an 18-hole championship course.

Current Lennar offerings span several collections, including attached homes and single-family residences. Membership structure can vary by collection and property, with current builder materials identifying both golf-bundled and social-bundled products. Buyers should verify the exact bundle attached to the home rather than assuming every residence carries identical golf privileges.

Amenities include a clubhouse, swimming pool, fitness facilities, tennis, pickleball, bocce and other resort-style recreation. Location near Downtown Wellen is another distinction from Venice's older golf communities. Hunt Brothers Realty's Wellen Park homebuyer guide explains the broader master-planned community and its individual neighborhoods.

Why do golfers compare Wellen Park Golf & Country Club?

The combination of new construction, multiple home formats, golf-oriented ownership packages and proximity to Downtown Wellen gives this community a substantially different profile from established Venice country clubs.

Venetian Golf & River Club: North Venice with Optional Golf Membership

Venetian Golf & River Club is a gated North Venice community of 1,377 homes on approximately 1,039 acres. The community includes single-family homes and villas, with golf, lake and preserve views available depending on the property.

Its 18-hole par-72 Chip Powell-designed golf course operates separately from the residential River Club structure. The Property Owners Association states that golf membership is optional, and the golf club currently offers resident and non-resident memberships.

Homeownership includes access to the River Club amenities, which include swimming, fitness, tennis and nature-oriented recreation. Venetian also has a CDD and a layered association structure, so buyers should evaluate the complete annual cost rather than focusing only on the optional golf dues.

Why do golfers compare Venetian?

Venetian can suit buyers who want a gated North Venice residential environment with substantial non-golf amenities and the choice of whether to add private golf membership. That optional structure is materially different from requisite or bundled-golf communities.

Waterford Golf Club: Established East Venice Golf Living

Waterford Golf Club provides another established residential golf option in Venice. Housing includes single-family residences and villas positioned around fairways, lakes and landscaped neighborhood streets.

The semi-private Waterford Golf Club has 27 holes arranged as the Turnberry, Gleneagles and Sawgrass nines. Golfers can play different combinations, and the course also provides a driving range, putting green and other practice facilities.

Waterford is particularly relevant for buyers who prefer an established east Venice neighborhood and want golf nearby without automatically choosing a requisite private-club structure. Residential association obligations and golf membership should still be verified independently.

What About Jacaranda West?

Jacaranda West deserves consideration from buyers who want to live near golf without necessarily choosing a residential club where membership is bundled into ownership. The Country Club of Jacaranda West operates an 18-hole championship course at 1901 Jacaranda Boulevard and offers both public play and several membership categories.

Current membership options include Full, Gold and seasonal programs. Because club membership and nearby residential ownership are separate questions, buyers have more flexibility to evaluate the home first and then decide how much golf access they want.

How Do the Major Venice Golf Communities Compare?

Community	Golf	General Membership Structure	Housing
Pelican Pointe	27 holes	Resident social membership, golf separate, verify current transition	Single-family homes and villas
Plantation	36 holes	Private club membership separate from residential ownership	Condos, villas, patio homes and single-family homes
Venice Golf and Country Club	18 holes	Requisite membership	Single-family homes
Sarasota National	18 holes	Golf Village includes golf, Lake Village does not	Single-family and multi-family residences
Wellen Park Golf & Country Club	18 holes	Golf or social bundles vary by home collection	Condos, carriage homes, coach homes and single-family homes
Venetian Golf & River Club	18 holes	Golf membership optional	Single-family homes and villas
Waterford	27 holes	Semi-private golf, verify residential and club arrangements separately	Single-family homes and villas

This comparison is a starting point rather than a substitute for current documents. Golf membership programs, dues, availability and association charges can change, while specific homes may fall under different neighborhood or condominium associations.

Should You Choose Established Venice or Wellen Park?

This is one of the most useful comparisons for a Venice golf buyer. Established communities such as Pelican Pointe, Plantation, VGCC and Waterford generally offer mature landscaping, resale housing and longstanding clubs closer to traditional Venice destinations.

The Wellen Park area provides a different experience. Sarasota National is already established, while Wellen Park Golf & Country Club continues to offer newer housing choices. Downtown Wellen, CoolToday Park, trails and newer commercial development can also influence where buyers prefer to spend their time away from the course.

Neither setting is inherently better. The appropriate comparison is the actual home, club arrangement, location, recurring expenses and destinations the buyer expects to use regularly.

What Should Golfers Calculate Before Buying?

Golf-community ownership costs can extend well beyond the home's purchase price. A lower-priced residence with mandatory club dues or multiple association assessments may have different annual carrying costs from a more expensive home with optional golf.

Buyers should verify:

Whether golf membership is requisite, bundled, optional or separate
Current initiation or capital-contribution charges
Annual or monthly club dues
Golf cart or trail fees
Food or beverage requirements, if applicable
HOA and condominium assessments
CDD or other special assessments
Club transfer or membership application procedures
Course availability and tee-time policies
Property taxes and insurance
Maintenance obligations for the individual home

Club dues, association assessments and ownership expenses can change. Buyers should obtain current written fee schedules from the relevant club, HOA, condominium association, CDD and builder before relying on projected annual costs. Financing, tax and insurance consequences should be reviewed with the appropriate qualified professionals for the buyer's individual circumstances.

What Else Should You Compare Besides Golf?

The course may start the search, but the home itself still needs to work when you are not playing golf. Buyers should compare floor plan, age, renovation history, garage space, outdoor living, association maintenance, insurance, flood information and proximity to everyday destinations.

Location within Venice can also change the experience. A buyer near central Venice may prioritize access to Venice Island and downtown, while a Wellen Park buyer may value newer neighborhoods and Downtown Wellen. North Venice places Venetian Golf & River Club closer to the Laurel Road and I-75 corridor.

Hunt Brothers Realty's Florida Gulf Coast community guide can help buyers compare Venice golf communities with other neighborhoods before narrowing a home search.

Which Venice Golf Community Fits Your Priorities?

The most useful way to choose among Venice golf communities is to start with the ownership model rather than trying to declare one community best for everyone. A golfer who plays several times per week may value requisite or bundled access differently from someone who expects to play occasionally.

For a requisite private, member-owned club: investigate The Venice Golf and Country Club.
For 27-hole variety in an established gated community: compare Pelican Pointe.
For two championship courses and broad housing choice: compare Plantation.
For an established preserve-oriented community near Wellen Park: compare Sarasota National.
For newer construction and bundled membership options: investigate Wellen Park Golf & Country Club.
For North Venice and optional private golf: compare Venetian Golf & River Club.
For established east Venice and 27-hole semi-private golf: compare Waterford.

Those descriptions are comparison frameworks, not individualized purchasing recommendations. Current membership availability, fees, association rules and property condition should be verified before choosing a community or making an offer.

Explore Venice Golf Communities and Homes for Sale

Hunt Brothers Realty can help buyers compare Venice golf communities based on home type, club structure, location, amenities and current real estate availability. Start with the 2026 Venice golf community guide, explore Pelican Pointe homes, Plantation Golf & Country Club homes, Venetian Golf & River Club homes and Waterford Golf Club homes, or contact Hunt Brothers Realty for help comparing current Venice properties.

Informational notice: This guide is provided for general real estate education and does not constitute individualized legal, financial, tax, insurance, lending, association or club-membership advice. Golf memberships, initiation charges, dues, HOA and condominium fees, CDD assessments, membership availability, property taxes, insurance and community rules can change and may differ by property. Buyers should verify current information with the applicable golf club, association, builder, licensed real estate professional, lender, insurance professional, tax professional, Florida real estate attorney or other appropriate qualified professional before making a purchasing decision.