Sarasota National: Venice's Gated Golf and Country Club Community

If you are looking for a brand-new or newer home in the $750K+ range with golf, lakes, and a full calendar of country club life, Sarasota National deserves a close look. This gated, all-ages master-planned community sits in the Wellen Park area of Venice, and it pairs a championship course with more than 1,300 acres of preserves and water. Here is what I tell buyers who are deciding between Sarasota National and the other gated communities I show across Venice and Nokomis.

The Setting: 2,400 Acres with Room to Breathe

Sarasota National spans roughly 2,400 acres off River Road near Jacaranda Boulevard, with about 1,584 homes spread across general, executive, manor, patio, villa, and coach-style residences. Home sizes run from about 1,375 to 3,100 square feet, so there is a floor plan for nearly every stage of life, from a low-maintenance coach home to a generous estate. What sets the community apart is the land that is not built on: more than 1,300 acres are set aside for preserves, lakes, and open space, including an Audubon-certified bird sanctuary. That is the difference between living on a golf course and living inside a nature preserve with a golf course.

Golf Village vs. Lake Village

One detail buyers appreciate is that Sarasota National is really two neighborhoods with two different ways to join. In Golf Village, golf club membership is bundled with the home, which makes the price per square foot look higher up front but simplifies the math: your golf is paid for. In Lake Village, homes skip the golf buy-in but still get full use of the community amenities through a social membership. If you know you will play a few times a week, Golf Village is often the cleaner value. If you want the resort lifestyle without committing to a golf membership, Lake Village gives you the same lakes, trails, and clubhouse at a lower entry point.

Country Club Life Without the Season Crowds

Because Sarasota National is an all-ages community rather than an age-restricted one, it draws full-time families and working owners as well as seasonal residents. That means the clubhouse, fitness center, and dining room feel alive year-round, and it is easy to build a genuine circle of neighbors instead of waving at people who vanish every May. For buyers who split time between two homes, the gated security and low-maintenance exterior options make it a practical choice, and the drive to Venice's beaches or the Legacy Trail is quick and easy.

How It Fits Into the Wellen Park Story

Sarasota National is part of the larger Wellen Park development, which continues to add the shopping, dining, and medical services that make this part of Venice so livable. CoolToday Park, home to Atlanta Braves spring training, is minutes away, and the expansion around Downtown Wellen keeps adding restaurants and gathering spots. For buyers who want a gated, resort-style community today with a growing town around it, that combination is hard to beat.

Who Should Consider Sarasota National

I recommend Sarasota National to luxury buyers who want the country club package, golf included or not, without paying barrier-island premiums. You trade a few minutes of drive time to the beach for more house, more lake views, and a larger community for the money. If that trade sounds right to you, I would love to walk the two villages with you, tour the models, and compare it against the other gated communities in the $750K to $1.5M range.

Let's Tour Sarasota National Together

Whether you are ready to buy this season or still building your short list, I would be happy to arrange a private tour and talk through which village fits your lifestyle. Tell me what you are looking for and I will line up the right homes for you. Thanks so much, and warmly, Julie.