Best Public Golf Courses in Venice

by Hunt Brothers Realty

The best public golf courses in Venice, Florida give golfers several very different ways to play, from the Gulf-side 27 holes at Lake Venice Golf Club to championship layouts at Jacaranda West, Pelican Pointe, Waterford and Capri Isles. Venice East Golf Club adds a shorter and more budget-conscious option for golfers focused on casual rounds and short-game practice. The important distinction is access: some prominent Venice golf communities are private, while the courses in this guide currently allow public or non-member play. Golfers should still confirm current tee-time availability, seasonal rates and renovation schedules directly with each course before playing.

For home buyers, this public-golf inventory is also useful because living in a private golf community is not the only way to make golf part of daily life in Venice. Buyers can live near downtown, the Gulf, Wellen Park or another Venice neighborhood and drive to several courses without making a mandatory private-club membership part of the real estate purchase. Hunt Brothers Realty's Venice golf communities buyer guide explains the alternative for buyers who do want golf tied more closely to home ownership.

Quick Answers About the Best Public Golf Courses in Venice

What Are the Best Public Golf Courses in Venice?

Leading public and public-access choices include Lake Venice Golf Club, Jacaranda West Country Club, Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club, Waterford Golf Club, Capri Isles Golf Club and Venice East Golf Club. Each serves a different golfer, from championship-course players to those who want an inexpensive and shorter round.

Which Venice Public Golf Course Is Closest to the Gulf?

Lake Venice Golf Club is the standout for Gulf Coast setting. The City of Venice identifies it as a public 27-hole course on Venice Island adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico and notes that it is not part of a residential development.

Which Venice Course Offers 27 Public-Access Holes?

Lake Venice, Pelican Pointe and Waterford each offer 27 holes, although their operating structures are different. Lake Venice is fully public, Pelican Pointe currently accepts non-member play subject to availability, and Waterford operates as a semi-private course with public tee-time booking.

Which Public Course Is Best for a Championship-Style Round?

Jacaranda West is one of the strongest options for golfers seeking a traditional 18-hole championship layout with public access. Pelican Pointe is another important choice for golfers who want championship-length golf combined with three different nine-hole layouts.

Which Venice Course Is Good for Beginners or Shorter Rounds?

Venice East Golf Club is particularly relevant for beginners, short-game practice and golfers who do not want a long championship round. The club describes the course as largely par 3 in character and also offers a driving range, instruction and public leagues.

Do You Need a Membership to Play Public Golf in Venice?

Not at the courses in this guide when public play is available. Some offer optional memberships, but daily-fee or non-member access is available under their current policies. That is different from private Venice clubs where membership, residency or guest status controls access.

Should Golfers Book Early During Winter?

Yes, when the course accepts reservations. Venice's seasonal population increases during the cooler months, and public tee times can become more competitive. Lake Venice is unusual because it currently does not take tee times, while other courses have their own advance-booking policies.

1. Lake Venice Golf Club: Best for Gulf Coast Scenery and Straightforward Public Access

Lake Venice Golf Club is the most distinctly public course in Venice. The City of Venice identifies it as a municipal-style public facility at 1801 South Harbor Drive on Venice Island, adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico and separate from any residential golf development.

The course has 27 holes designed by Mark Mahannah, with holes 19 through 27 later redesigned by Jan Bel Jan. That gives golfers more variety than a standard 18-hole facility and allows different combinations depending on course operations.

Another unusual feature is the tee-time policy. Lake Venice currently states that it does not take tee times, with golfers able to walk or ride. For players accustomed to booking online days in advance, that makes Lake Venice a notably different public-golf experience.

27 public holes
Venice Island location
Adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico
Walking and riding permitted
No advance tee-time system under the current policy
Driving range, pro shop and grill room

Why it stands out: Golfers who want a genuinely public course, a Venice Island location and an environment not wrapped inside a housing development should put Lake Venice near the top of the list.

2. Jacaranda West Country Club: Best for Traditional Championship Golf With Public Access

Jacaranda West Country Club offers a different public-golf experience from Lake Venice. It operates more like a traditional country club, but its current website explicitly welcomes both members and public golfers.

The club has an 18-hole championship course with five sets of tees. Golf Digest currently classifies Jacaranda West as public and lists the course at 6,574 yards, providing a full-length test without requiring golfers to join the club.

The club emphasizes course conditioning, classic design and playability for multiple skill levels. A driving range and practice facilities also make Jacaranda West useful for players who want more than an occasional vacation round.

18-hole championship layout
Public and member play
Five sets of tees
Driving range
Optional membership opportunities

Why it stands out: Jacaranda West makes sense for golfers who want the feel and challenge of an established country-club course without requiring private membership for every round.

3. Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club: Best for 27-Hole Variety and Practice Facilities

Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club is a 27-hole Venice facility designed by Ted McAnlis. Its three nine-hole courses, Meadows, Preserve and Hatchet Creek, can be combined into multiple 18-hole rounds, providing more variety for frequent players.

Non-members are currently permitted to reserve tee times four days in advance, based on availability. Pelican Pointe also publishes daily-fee rates, confirming that non-member golf remains part of its present operating model.

The practice facilities are a major strength. The club identifies turf hitting stations, an 8,000-square-foot putting green, separate chipping and pitching space and a greenside practice bunker.

Golfers should pay particular attention to current course availability in 2026. Pelican Pointe has been renovating its three nines in phases. The Meadows renovation has been completed, while the Preserve nine closed in May 2026 with reopening targeted for October, and Hatchet Creek is planned for a later renovation phase. Current conditions and available combinations should be confirmed directly with the golf shop.

27 holes across three nine-hole layouts
Non-member tee times currently available
Extensive practice facilities
Multiple tee options
Lakes, wetlands and preserve scenery
Optional golf memberships

Why it stands out: Pelican Pointe is especially attractive to frequent golfers who want course variety and serious practice facilities, provided the desired nine-hole combinations are open when they plan to play.

4. Waterford Golf Club: Best for Three Nine-Hole Layouts and Repeat Play

Waterford Golf Club is another 27-hole option in Venice. The three nines, Turnberry, Gleneagles and Sawgrass, can be combined to create three different 18-hole experiences.

Waterford describes its layout as combining rolling fairways, undulating greens, water hazards and substantial natural landscaping. The club also notes that individual holes are not contiguous with one another, contributing to a more separated golf environment as the course winds through surrounding residential development.

Public golfers can currently reserve tee times up to seven days ahead by telephone or online. Practice facilities include a full driving range and putting green, and rental clubs and carts are available.

27 holes
Turnberry, Gleneagles and Sawgrass nines
Public advance tee-time booking
Driving range and putting green
Semi-private operating model

Why it stands out: Waterford is particularly useful for golfers staying in Venice for weeks or months because three interchangeable nines provide more variety than repeatedly playing the same 18 holes.

5. Capri Isles Golf Club: Best for Convenient Full-Length Venice Golf

Capri Isles Golf Club is an established par-72 course at 849 Capri Isles Boulevard in Venice. It operates within the same Golf in Venice organization as Waterford and Calusa Lakes and currently accepts public tee-time bookings by telephone or online.

The course is designed as a conventional full-length round rather than a short executive experience. Capri Isles describes the layout as suitable for both serious and casual players, with water, bunkering and Florida landscaping contributing to the challenge.

Facilities include a full driving range, oversized putting green, rental clubs, carts and pro shop. Tee times can currently be booked seven days in advance.

Par-72 layout
Public tee-time booking
Driving range
Large putting green
Central Venice location

Why it stands out: Capri Isles is a practical choice for golfers who want a traditional full-length public round in Venice without making a country-club membership part of the equation.

6. Venice East Golf Club: Best for Affordable and Shorter Public Golf

Venice East Golf Club provides a noticeably different experience from Venice's championship courses. The course dates to 1961 and was designed by Roy Albert Anderson, according to the club's history.

The facility is largely par 3 in character, making it useful for beginners, short-game practice, casual rounds or golfers who do not want the time commitment of a full championship course. The club also maintains a driving range, offers instruction and runs leagues that are open to the public.

Published 2026 summer rates illustrate the course's value-oriented approach, with separate walking and riding prices for nine and 18 holes. Rates change by season, so golfers should review the club's current schedule before arriving.

Public golf
Primarily shorter holes
Walking-friendly option
Driving range
Public leagues
Optional memberships

Why it stands out: Venice East fills an important niche for golfers who value affordability, short-game practice and faster rounds more than championship-course length.

Honorable Mention: Calusa Lakes Golf Club in Nearby Nokomis

Calusa Lakes Golf Club is technically in Nokomis rather than Venice, but it is close enough to deserve consideration from Venice golfers. It is part of the same Golf in Venice group as Waterford and Capri Isles and currently accepts public tee-time bookings.

The 18-hole course winds through wooded terrain with pine and oak trees, lakes and Florida wildlife. Homes are set back from much of the course, helping preserve more of the natural golf setting.

Why it is worth the short drive: Golfers based in North Venice or Nokomis may find Calusa Lakes just as convenient as several courses carrying a Venice address.

Which Well-Known Venice Golf Courses Are Not Public?

Some prominent Venice golf names should not be placed on a routine public-course list. The distinction matters because an online course directory may display a course without explaining whether an ordinary golfer can actually book a tee time.

The Venice Golf and Country Club

The Venice Golf and Country Club identifies itself as a private, member-owned equity club. Membership is integrated with property ownership in the community, so it is not a normal public daily-fee course.

Plantation Golf & Country Club

Plantation has two 18-hole championship courses, but it is a private country club rather than a routine public-golf facility. Buyers interested in the surrounding residential community can review Hunt Brothers Realty's Plantation Golf & Country Club real estate guide.

Sarasota National During Winter

Sarasota National is sometimes described online as offering public access, but the club's published golf rules state that public play is not available from November 1 through April 30. That makes it unreliable as a public winter-golf recommendation, particularly for seasonal visitors. Access policies should be checked directly for summer or other periods.

How Should You Choose Among Venice Public Golf Courses?

The best course depends less on a universal ranking than on the kind of round you want. Venice's public-access courses fill noticeably different roles.

For Gulf-side atmosphere: Start with Lake Venice Golf Club.
For traditional championship golf: Consider Jacaranda West.
For 27-hole variety and practice: Consider Pelican Pointe.
For repeat play across three nines: Waterford is particularly useful.
For a conventional public par-72 round: Capri Isles is a practical option.
For affordability and a shorter round: Venice East deserves consideration.
For a nearby wooded alternative: Add Calusa Lakes in Nokomis.

Course conditions, pricing and access change throughout the year, so golfers should use these categories as a starting point and confirm current information directly with the course.

What Should Seasonal Golfers Know About Venice?

Winter is an important golf season in Southwest Florida. Seasonal residents and visitors increase demand at the same time cooler weather makes outdoor activity particularly attractive.

That can affect both rates and tee-time availability. A course that is easy to book during summer may operate very differently in January or February. Advance-booking windows also differ by course, making it useful to learn the policy before the season begins.

Golfers considering a seasonal home can also compare Venice with Sarasota using Hunt Brothers Realty's broader Sarasota golf course guide.

Should Golfers Live in a Golf Community or Near Public Courses?

Living near public golf can provide more flexibility than buying inside a private club community. A homeowner can play different courses, change playing frequency over time and avoid making one specific club's membership structure central to the property purchase.

Golf-community living offers a different benefit. The course may be close to home, social and recreational amenities may be integrated with the neighborhood, and frequent golfers may value the convenience enough to justify club dues or bundled-golf obligations.

The right choice depends on how often you realistically play. Hunt Brothers Realty's guide to Venice golf communities compares Pelican Pointe, Plantation, The Venice Golf and Country Club, Sarasota National, Wellen Park Golf & Country Club, Venetian Golf & River Club and Waterford from a home-buying perspective.

Does Wellen Park Expand the Golf Options Near Venice?

Yes. The expanding Wellen Park area adds another cluster of golf opportunities south and east of traditional Venice, including golf-oriented residential communities and nearby courses.

However, public access should still be verified course by course. Bundled golf, private membership, semi-private access and ordinary daily-fee golf are different arrangements even when the courses are geographically close to one another.

Golfers considering homes in southern Sarasota County can use Hunt Brothers Realty's best golf courses near Wellen Park guide to compare public, semi-private, private and bundled-golf options.

Additional Questions About Public Golf in Venice

Can You Walk Public Golf Courses in Venice?

Walking policies vary. Lake Venice specifically allows golfers to walk or ride, and Venice East publishes walking rates. Other facilities may have cart requirements or restrictions at particular times, so golfers should confirm the current policy before booking.

Do Venice Public Courses Have Driving Ranges?

Several do. Lake Venice, Jacaranda West, Pelican Pointe, Waterford, Capri Isles and Venice East provide practice facilities of various types. Golfers who plan to practice frequently should compare the specific range, putting and short-game facilities rather than assume they are identical.

Can Non-Members Play Pelican Pointe?

Under the current policy, yes. Pelican Pointe allows non-members to reserve available tee times four days before play. The club is also changing its membership structure, so future public availability should always be checked directly.

Does Lake Venice Require a Tee Time?

No advance tee times are currently taken. The City of Venice and Lake Venice Golf Club both describe the facility as allowing golfers to walk or ride without the usual reservation system. Golfers should still check current course operations before traveling to play.

Are Public Golf Rates the Same All Year?

No. Seasonal rates are common in Southwest Florida, and some courses publish different morning, afternoon, winter and summer pricing. Always confirm the current rate with the course rather than relying on an older article or previous season's fee.

Where Can Buyers Search for Venice Homes Near Golf?

Buyers can explore Hunt Brothers Realty's Florida Gulf Coast communities, review the Venice golf communities guide and compare properties near both public and private courses before deciding whether club membership should be part of the home search.

Venice Gives Public Golfers More Than One Way to Play

Public golf in Venice is more varied than a single ranking suggests. Lake Venice delivers the city's most distinctive Gulf-side public setting. Jacaranda West provides a traditional championship course with public access. Pelican Pointe and Waterford add 27-hole variety, Capri Isles provides a conventional full-length daily-fee round, and Venice East offers a shorter and more affordable alternative.

That variety also benefits home buyers. A golfer can choose where to live based on beaches, downtown Venice, Wellen Park, housing style or everyday convenience and still have several public courses available. Buyers who prefer a club-centered residential lifestyle can then compare Venice's private and bundled-golf communities separately.

Explore Venice Golf Communities and Real Estate With Hunt Brothers Realty

If golf is an important part of your Venice home search, Hunt Brothers Realty can help you compare living near public courses with buying inside a golf community. Start with the best golf communities in Venice, explore golf courses near Wellen Park, use the Florida Buyer Resource Center, or contact Hunt Brothers Realty to discuss Venice and southern Sarasota County real estate.

Informational notice: Golf-course access, public tee-time availability, rates, membership options, renovation schedules and operating policies can change. Golfers should verify current information directly with each course before planning a round. Real estate buyers should separately review property condition, HOA or condominium obligations, golf or club membership requirements, insurance and other ownership costs with the appropriate licensed real estate professional, association, golf club, insurance professional, lender, inspector, attorney or other qualified professional before making a purchasing decision.