Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club Plans Expansions

Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, Inc. the developer of Lakewood Ranch, the master-planned community that seems to be endlessly expanding, has announced an expansion plan at the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club. The latest round of expansions and improvements, made necessary by the rapid expansion of the Lakewood Ranch community, will be made at the Club’s Athletic Center and at the Royal Lakes Golf Course.

The members of the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club, located within the Lakewood Ranch Country Club village, was surveyed earlier this year to determine the specifics of the improvements to be made. That survey found heavy demand for classes at the club as well as crowding at the currently 11,000 square foot fitness center. The Athletic Center building will be expanded by 6,900 square feet along with lighting and HVAC upgrades. Pickleball courts will also be installed.

For those not familiar with the third course added to the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club, the Royal Lakes golf course bcame the third course added after the Cypress Links course opened in late 2001 and the King's Dunes course opened in 2005. Royal Lakes course measuring 7,320 yards, was designed to be challenging to the most skilled players, yet comfortably playable for beginners from the Par 3 tees.

The Royal Lakes golf course which has been operaing out of a temporary building will see an addition of a 10,000 to 12,000 square foot permanent clubhouse with a golf shop, bar and grill. Royal Lakes will also get a driving range and practive area. Construction of the driving range is planned for 2014. The fitness center expansion and the construction of the Royal Lakes clubhouse will both be started in 2014 and expect to be finished in 2015.

Intro to Country Club East in Lakewood Ranch

  Country Club East, like The Country Club, is a private, gated community that surrounds lakes, nature preserves and an 18-hole golf course. This "village" offers buyers upscale Florida living in one of the most exclusive villages in Lakewood Ranch.

  Country Club East consists of eight distinct neighborhoods. Belleisle has homes priced in the $100's, Hazeltine, Leopard Creek, Valderrama and Secret Harbor offers homes priced in the $300's and Haddington, Camargo and Royal Valley contains homes priced from the $400's to over a million dollars.

  Families with children will appreciate the top-rated Willis Elementary School just outside the gates of Country Club East with and equally top-rated Nolan Middle School nearby. There's also a beautiful community park next to the school.

  Residents of this Lakewood Ranch "village" may join the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club and enjoy all of the amenities of this prestigious country club including an athletic fitness center with a heated pool, 18 tennis courts and the 54 holes of championship golf. The clubhouse includes dining lounges and card rooms, a pro shop, locker rooms, steam room sauna, whirlpool and cart storage.

  ASll homes built in Country Club East meet the Florida Green Building Coalition's standards for energy efficiency, clean indoor air, sustainability and drought resistant landscaping.

  Providing you with accurate and helpful information on golf course homes for sale in Sarasota, Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch in your preferred price range is my goal. Contact Me for a free information package or call me directly at 941.266.2512.

The Lakewood Ranch Medical Center

Located right in Lakewood Ranch, two miles from I-75 is the 120-bed acute care Lakewood Ranch Medical Center with an extensive system of fully-integrated in-patient and out-patient services that share the single purpose of providing compassionate, quality patient care to residents of Lakewood Ranch and the surrounding communities of Bradenton and Sarasota.

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center (LWRMC) has a medical staff of over 400 physicians and allied health professionals with a wide range of specialties. The medical center is complimented by an adjacent 60,000 square foot Medical Office building which houses primary and specialty care physicians, the Lakewood Ranch Imaging Center and the Lakewood Ranch Blood Center. LWRMC is one of just 620 hospitals in the United States to have earned "Top Performer on Key Quality Measures" designation.

Brian Ward, a well-known buyer's agent in the Sarasota real estate area, who also lives in Lakewood Ranch, reports that the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center is a state-of-the-art health care facility.

One of the many outstanding features of the LRMC is a new screening tool for detecting breast cancer. Breast tomosynthesis, or "3-D mammography" allows physicians to examine breasts with more precision during the first screening saving patients time, worry and exposure to radiation. Unlike traditional two-dimensional breast images, 3-D mammograms allow physicians to examine breast tissue one layer at a time, giving them increase ability to detect very small cancers.

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center is one of the many reasons why health care in the Sarasota, Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch area is rated so highly. If you are interested in investigating other facets of living in Lakewood Ranch, one of the many luxury Sarasota condos, or a golf course home and condo in the Bradenton Florida real estate market, please call Brian Ward at 941-228-2321 or Dick Plumb at 941-266-2512 for answers to all your questions.

Comfortable Lakewood Ranch Condo Available in Popular Watercrest Community

  Now available in Watercrest, one of the nicest Lakewood Ranch condominium communities, is this 1,732 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2 bath unit with a private oversized 2 car garage now priced at just $349,000.

  Enjoy stunning views of scenic Lake Uhilein from this unit at 6330 Watercrest Way in Lakewood Ranch. The interior of this home is perfect for entertaining as is the spacious screened patio. Upgrades throughout this lovely, "move in ready" home include crown moldings, designer tile, plantation shutters, custom pillars, and a gourmet kitchen with granite countertops and GE appliances including the Advantium oven/microwave.

  The master bath includes double sinks, separate garden tub and shower. This home offers volume ceilings, a laundry room with washer and dryer and a formal dining room.

  Located just off of Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Watercrest is a gated condominium community consisting of 19 buildings with many enjoying panoramic views of the 160-acre Lake Uihlein and/or the Legacy Golf Course. Condos at Watercrest range from about 1,900 to about 2,500 square feet of air-conditioned living space. The amenities at the Watercrest condo community also include a beautiful 2-story clubhouse including full kitchen, meeting, social, fitness and media rooms with internet access and a heated pool and spa.

  Watercrest residents can comfortably walk or bike to the shopping and dining amenities on Lakewood Ranch's Main Street. If you seek the maintenance-free lifestyle but still love golf, you'll like the fact that Watercrest is close to Legacy golf courses as well as several other challenging Sarasota and Bradenton golf courses. This unit is poriced in the middle price range of residences at Watercrest where prices range from the high $200,000's for to over $550,000 for largerst 3/3 units with outstanding features and outstanding views.

  If you think Watercrest in Lakewood Ranch may be the place you'd like to own either a second home or your permanent home, please call me at 941-266-1799 to view this and other attractive condominium and single-family homes in Lakewood Ranch. To learn more about Lakewood Ranch or the Sarasota real estate market in general, including the full range of Downtown Sarasota condos, I invite you to visit my website at Sarasota real estate website.

The Newest Addition to Lakewood Ranch - Greenbrook

The village of Greenbrook is located in the northeast section of Lakewood Ranch and has neighborhoods set amidst pristine lakes and nature preserves and wildlife habitats. The newest addition to Lakewood Ranch, Greenbrook is a community within a community with neighborhoods dedicated to a comfortable Florida lifestyle.

With numerous home styles to choose from, everyone from the first-time buyer young families to retirees can find the perfect home for their lifestyle in Greenbrook. There are maintenance-free condominiums, villas, cottages and town homes as well as single-family homes and estate-size properties. Homes in Greenbrook are within a comfortable walking distance of both elementary and middle schools.

One of the features that draws many young families to Greenbrook is Adventure Park where you'll find active play areas, an obstacle course, in-line skate/hockey rink and a dog park. Pedestrian trails cross the Braden River Preserve to Heron's Nest Nature Park and Braden River Nature Trail.

As in all Lakewood Ranch villages, the homes in Greenbrook East are built to Florida Green Building Coalition standards. Homes in the Banks neighborhood begin in the $100's while homes in the Ravines neighborhood range from the 200's. The larger homes in the Preserve are priced in the range from the $300's to the high $500's.

Brian Ward, an expert Sarasota homes for sale expert, would be delighted to introduce you the homes for sale in Greenbrook neighborhoods. For an immediate response to your questions, call Brian directly at 941-228-2321 or visit his Sarasota real estate website at your convenience.

Another Lakewood Ranch Country Club Home Recently Sold

Located at 7326 Wexford Court, this lovely single-family home built in 2006 by Neal Homes in the exclusive Country Club area of Lakewood Ranch sold in August for $348,000. Sitting on luscious landscaping on a private corner lot, this unique maintenance-free home with a community pool is perfect for either a second home or a retirement home for those who live and breathe the game of golf.

The gated Country Club community within Lakewood Ranch, presents a wide variety of homes in 7 separate neighborhoods, all built around the 54-hole private Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club and its attached Athletic Center. The club house offers dining lounges and card rooms, a pro shop, locker rooms, steam, sauna and whirlpool rooms and cart storage. The fitness center has state-of-the-art equipment, a heated pool and 18 lighted tennis courts. The distinctly upscale Country Club "village" includes miles of sidewalks and trails encouraging its residents to stroll the area and meet your neighbors in surroundings left largely in their natural state.

This Neal Homes "Carmel" model has 2 spacious bedrooms and 2 full baths in just over 2,150 square feet of living space with a beautiful décor and lots of upgrades including 18" tile, crown moldings, coffered ceilings and newer carpet throughout. The living area has a very desirable southern exposure. Entering the home through the mirrored cove walls of the foyer leads you to a desirable great room floor plan with a separate, spacious dining room, multi-purpose den, and a fabulous gourmet kitchen with staggered walnut cabinetry, center island, newer stainless steel gas appliances, upgraded sink and granite counter tops with an extensive bar making entertaining your friends and neighbors a delight either here or on your extended lanai outside.

The master suite, as in all Neal Homes, has many outstanding features. This homes has upgraded cherry cabinetry, a garden tub and glass block shower enclosure. To see other Lakewood Ranch homes like this one, call me today at 941-266-2512. I see other homes for sale in Sarasota Florida, I invite you to visit my website to review other golf course, waterfront and in-town communities and neighborhoods throughout the Sarasota Florida, Lakewood Ranch and Bradenton Florida real estate markets.

Intro to Riverwalk

Located in the master-planned community of Lakewood Ranch, the Riverwalk "village" is comprised of five neighborhoods; Grove, Hammock, Meadow, Oaks and Ridge.

The village of Riverwalk offers miles of serene nature trails, parks, and sidewalks that wind through the community and lead from one neighborhood street to another as well as to the new Main Street shopping district. This atmosphere of relaxed connectivity makes Riverwalk one of the most popular family-oriented communities in Lakewood Ranch. Golfers love the easy access to the River Club, Lakewood Ranch Country Club and The Legacy golf courses.

Single-family homes are the hallmark of this neighborhood and there are a multitude of these residential opportunities to explore. A variety of premier builders, and unique floor plans make this a neighborhood with a home to suit every lifestyle. There are single family homes from about 2,000 to 3,000 square feet priced from the low $200’s to the mid $400’s in 3 and 4 bedroom floor plans. As an added bonus, most of the Riverwalk homes come with a pool included in the base price.

These homes are located in a district with excellent schools including Willis Elementary School, Nolan Middle School and Lakewood Ranch High School. In addition to a Fitness Center at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club there is golf and tennis, so everyone can exercise the way they prefer. Herons Nest Nature Park, a 110 acre park is located off of The Braden River Nature Trail, which also connects 2 lakes, so there is room for kids to play or just have a quiet picnic for two in a beautiful setting. We know once you visit Riverwalk, you will never want to leave.

Whatever your needs, there are homes for sale in Sarasota, Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch that I'd be delighted to show you.

Elegant Home For Sale in Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch, the award-winning 8,500 acre master-planned community situated between Sarasota and Bradenton Florida is the location of an outstanding executive home. Within the Lakewood Ranch Country Club "village" this meticulously maintained, 3,880 square foot, 4 bedroom, 4 bath executive ranch-style home will definitely surprise you.

Locatged at 7918 Royal Birkdale Circle, the many features include an absolutely luxurious master bedroom retreat, a formal living room with coffered ceiling, a wood-burning fireplace, lighted niches and full pocketing-sliders opening onto a spacious enclosed lanai with a built-in outdoor grill area, crystal clear swimming pool, heated spa and water feature.

The gourmet cook in you will love the plentiful counter space, gas cooktop and large granite center island. The full-sized laundry room has room for a 2nd fridge, a wet-sink and lots of storage.

Although this well-equipped home is perfect for the lifestyle of an affluent family, it is also well-suited for an extended family. One of the four bedrooms has a separate side entrance with jack-and-jill bath, perfect as an in-law suite or work-at-home office.

Other notable touches include surround sound, security system, wall-sconces and built-in outdoor grill area. Optional country club memberships available.

Living in a country club community of similarly nice Lakewood Ranch homes brings to you everything you could want or need to enjoy Florida's Sun Coast lifestyle regardless of your age or income level; beautiful homes, friendly neighbors, gourmet and casual restaurants, top notch schools, unique shopping opportunities, a hospital and medical facility, 54 holes of delightful golf courses, a fitness center that includes 18 lighted tennis courts, 9 polo fields at the Sarasota Polo Club, over 150 miles of sidewalks and trails, community parks, lakes and nature preserves.

I would be delighted to show you this gorgeous home, priced now at $750,000, a really good price for such a beautiful executive home in a well-established neighborhood of similarly beautiful homes. If you prefer another type of setting, please visit my Sarasota homes for sale website to review many other Sarasota Florida area neighborhoods.

The Lake Club - a Tuscan-Inspired Private Club Community

As I was showing a couple moving here from New Jersey homes for sale in Sarasota, I took them to Lakewood Ranch and introduced them to the peaceful and serene settings of the homes in The Lake Club "village" in Lakewood Ranch. They were very impressed with the attractiveness of this particular part of Lakewood Ranch.

The Lake Club is a Tuscan-inspired, private club community features scenic lakes, decorative bridges, and a unique one-mile long park. Use of the Grande Clubhouse facilities are an exclusive amenity for owners of homes in The Lake Club where families and their guests can relax, mingle with neighbors and enjoy a myriad of activities all in the privacy of a fully-gated neighborhood.

This couple was especially impressed by the London Bay homes available on the 35 maintenance-free home sites in the Villas at Matera area of The Lake Club. Custom homes being built by London Bay Homes in the Villas at Matera section of The Lake Club range from just over 2,900 square feet starting at about $600,000. Other builders in The Lake Club include John Cannon Homes, Nutter Custom Construction and Todd Johnston

Homes in The Lake Club must meet Lakewood Ranch’s strict standards for energy efficiency, clean indoor air, and sustainability. If you'd be interested in seeing the fine homes in The Lake Club or other portions of the Sarasota FL real estate market, feel free to call me at 941-266-2512

Lennar Homes to Open a New "Village" in Lakewood Ranch - Bridgewater

Lennar Homes, Inc. hosted a groundbreaking ceremony today, July 24, to mark the start of a new neighborhood in Lakewood Ranch. The new 172 acre community called Bridgewater at Lakewood Ranch will be located just north of SR70 and south of Esplanade, and east of Lakewood Ranch Blvd. According to Lennar, the new community will not have significant amenities or a large community center in order to keep costs lower for prospective residents.

Lennar announced plans to build 281 new homes from Lennar’s Manor Homes and Estate Homes collections. Lennar's representative said the price point will be below that in Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club, but with homes in sizes and prices above those in Central Park. The new community, according to Lennar, will be geared towards families

Manor Home models will be priced from $299,990 and range in size from the 2,245 square foot ranch style Princeton floor plan with 4 bedrooms, 2 baths a 3-car garage to the Oxford floor plan, a NextGen® “home within a home” concept for families with multiple generations living under one roof. There will also be a two-story version of the Oxford with 3,828 square feet of living space and 5 bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths in the main family living area with a 2-car garage. The "home within a home" one-bedroom, one-bath NextGen® living area will feature a separate kitchen and dining areas, a private living room and a one-car garage. The Oxford Ne3xtGen® homes will be priced from $399,990.

Lennar also plans to build Estate Homes at Bridgewater in six different designs ranging from the Cambridge floor plan, priced from $369,990 with 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths in 2,394 square feet of living space with a 3-car garage, to the Chapel Hill floor plan that offers 5 bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths in 3,800 square feet of living space. There will also be a two=-story version of the Chapel Hill floor plan with a 600 square foot bonus room and a 3-car garage.

If you'd be interested in discussing these new Lennar models with a Accredited Buyer Representative, Brian Ward, a well regarded Sarasota Realtor, is familiar with all of the villages in Lakewood ranch as well as Sarasota homes for sale in other communities throughout the Sarasota and Bradenton area.

Summerfield Village - One of the Original Lakewood Ranch Villages

    The village of Summerfield, located just south of State Road 70 off Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, was one of the original villages when Lakewood Ranch was first established.  With the 27 acre Lake Summerfield in the middle of the village and the Braden River runs along the southern border of the village, residents are treated to some interesting viewing as well as boating and canoeing access.

    A family-oriented neighborhood with lots of recreational activities and events, Summerfield is made up mostly of single-family homes although there is one condominium development within the village. Most of the homes in Summerfield were built in 1995 with the most recent constructed in 2001 and 2002.       

    Young families appreciate the fact that the excellent elementary school, Willis Elementary School and Nolan Middle School are located within a comfortable walking distance of their homes.

    Another lure that attracts families to Summerfield is the pristine natural surroundings. There’s a 15-acre Summerfield Community Park with ball fields, open playgrounds, a picnic pavilion, lighted tennis courts and basketball courts.  Participating in other sports like soccer and football is likewise an attraction. The Summerfield village features its share of the 150 mile network of Lakewood Ranch nature trails for walking, biking, and jogging or leading you to fishing lakes in everything from isolated fishing holes to an expansive 160 acre fishing and boating stretch of water. 

    Resale homes in Summerfield range in size from about 1,300 to 2,500 square feet and range in price from the high $100’s to the $400’s offering prospective buyers some of the most affordable home options in the 8,500 acre master-planned Lakewood Ranch development.

    If not in Summerfield village, itself, you can be certain that there is a home or condo in the Lakewood Ranch community of nine "villages" or elsewhere in the Sarasota real estate market that will fulfill your every wish.  Contact me for more information on Summerfield or any of the many attractive communities and neighborhoods in the Sarasota FL real estate market including Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Longboat, Lido and Siesta Key.  For an immediate response, call me at 941-266-2512.  I'd be delighted to hear from you.

Golf At Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch presents its residents with three very different golf country clubs to choose from.

The first, Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club is an exclusive members- only country club that first opened in the Spring of 2001 has 54 holes of golf spread over three distinctively different courses, the Cypress Links course which opened in 2001, the King’s Dunes course which was added in 2005, and the newest, the Royal Lakes course. The spectacular 44,000 square foot clubhouse offers a formal dining room, grille, and lounge, a pro shop a 13,000 square foot Athletic Center  with aerobics, pilates, yoga and other classes, steam room, sauna and whirlpools, two heated outdoor pools and massage therapy facilities. There are also 18 lighted clay tennis courts..

 The Legacy Golf Club is an 18-hole championship public course designed by Arnold palmer with no membership required. Daily fee, advance tee times, and discounted greens fees allow all golfers to experience this championship golf course at a reasonable price.

The Legacy course features elevated multiple tees, and virtually every hole is framed with sand and water. Our unique course has 360-foot wide fairways on all corridors, making the look very dramatic and visually challenging, while still approachable to all players

The third and most exclusive golf country club in Lakewood Ranch is the  Ritz Carlton's Members Club at 15150 70th Terrace East.  Situated on 315 acres of lush, tropical landscape, this immensely playable course is magnificently sculpted to reflect the natural beauty of its environment.  The course features abundant elevation changes and picturesque lakes throughout.

Beautiful wetlands, colorful flowering shrubs, informal native grasses, marshes with aquatic plants, and mature oak trees enhance the natural setting. The course is eminently walkable for those who enjoy playing the game on foot as the course winds through beautiful wetlands and colorful landscapes.

With 6 sets of tees, from a championship length of 7,417 yards to 5,175 yards from the most forward tees, golfers of all skill levels can play the Ritz Carlton Members Club course at a length that will challenge them.

With three to choose from, you will surely find one that fits you and your level of play as well as your interest in the social and athletic amenities offered by the two private clubs.  There are over 80 public, semi-private and private country clubs and golf courses to choose from in the Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Osprey and Venice Florida area.

If you'd like more information, call me, Bob Henley,  at 941-724-3352. You may also visit my Sarasota FL real estate website.   I'd be happy to answer all your questions.