University Park Country Club: Gated Golf Living on the Sarasota-Bradenton Line

University Park Country Club is one of the Sarasota area's most established gated golf communities: a secure, resident-owned neighborhood just west of I-75 on University Parkway, minutes north of the Sarasota County line. It offers 27 holes of championship golf designed by Ron Garl, one of the region's strongest tennis campuses, and homes from roughly $800,000 into the low $4 millions. For buyers who want the country club lifestyle with easy access to both Sarasota and the Lakewood Ranch corridor, this community deserves a close look.

The Community: Gated, Secure, and Resident-Owned

University Park Country Club is a master-planned community of roughly 1,200 single-family homes and villas spread across about 32 neighborhoods, all behind a staffed, 24-hour gate. Development ran from 1992 through 2016, which means the streets are mature, the landscaping is established, and you are buying into a finished community rather than a construction zone. Because it is resident-owned, the members are the ones who shape how the club evolves, which tends to keep both the finances and the calendar tightly managed.

The Golf: 27 Holes Designed by Ron Garl

The centerpiece is 27 holes of championship golf, laid out as three nines that play to a par 72 and stretch to roughly 7,001 yards from the back tees. The course was designed by Ron Garl and carries a four-star rating from Golf Digest, with a golf academy, driving range, and practice facilities on site. The 7,000-square-foot clubhouse anchors the social side of the community, and The Park Grille & Café serves lakeside dining that doubles as the neighborhood's default gathering spot. For golfers, having a highly regarded course steps from your garage is the whole point.

Tennis, Pickleball, and Everyday Amenities

Tennis is the quiet signature of this community: 11 lighted Har-Tru courts, which is more than most area country clubs offer, plus four pickleball courts that have become the social heartbeat of the neighborhood. There is a 3,000-square-foot fitness center, croquet lawns, and community pools spread across the neighborhoods, with the HOA covering security, the pools, and common grounds. Whether you are a competitive player or just want a lanai community with energy, the amenity package here is genuinely deep.

The Homes

Housing runs from about 1,344 to 8,553 square feet, with a median list price around $799,000 and recent listings averaging roughly $1.1 million. That puts the sweet spot squarely in the $750K+ range I work in: three and four-bedroom single-family homes from the high $700Ks into the $1.5 million range, with estate homes reaching into the low $4 millions. Floor plans span single-story ranches ideal for lock-and-leave living, two-story family homes, and larger custom estates on golf or lake frontage. The variety across 32 neighborhoods means buyers can match the size, style, and price point to the exact way they plan to live.

Location: The Best of Both Counties

Sitting just west of I-75 at University Parkway, the community is about a mile north of the Sarasota County line, which makes it genuinely convenient to both sides of the bay area. University Town Center's shopping and dining are barely a few minutes away, downtown Sarasota and the airport are an easy drive south, and Lakewood Ranch's dining and medical corridor sits right up the parkway. If you split time between Sarasota, Bradenton, and the airport, this is one of the best-positioned gated communities in the region.

How It Compares for Luxury Buyers

In the $750K+ segment, University Park competes with established golf communities like Prestancia and The Landings further south. What it adds is location on the north side of the market: immediate access to the parkway, UTC, and the airport, plus a rare combination of 27 holes and an 11-court tennis campus. If you are weighing where to land between Sarasota and the East County corridor, I would love to walk the community with you and compare the numbers in person.

Let's See It for Yourself

A community like University Park is best understood on the ground, over lunch at The Park Grille and a drive through the neighborhoods that match your budget. I would be happy to arrange a tour and show you what the current listings in your range actually buy, including the HOA picture and the membership options. Thanks so much, and warmly, Julie.