3737 Founders Club Drive, Sarasota
+19415801362
Grace Bonaccorso
The Founders Club is a private, 24-hour guard-gated golf community east of I-75 in Sarasota, with about 260 custom homesites woven through roughly 700 acres of lakes, fairways and nature preserves. It centers on a Robert Trent Jones Jr. championship course and a club that deliberately limits its golf memberships. That makes it one of the most exclusive golf addresses in Sarasota. Below is what I tell my own buyers, plus every Founders Club home currently for sale.
By Grace Bonaccorso, Realtor, Preferred Shore Real Estate. Updated October 2026.
The Founders Golf Club caps full golf memberships at about 275. Members enjoy easy tee-time access year-round, which is a real luxury during Sarasota's busy winter season. The 18-hole course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. to work with the native Florida landscape, and the club offers a caddie program, a rarity in this area. Off the course, the classic Golf Hall clubhouse, at about 24,000 square feet, anchors a full social calendar with fine and casual dining. The community also has a fitness center, Har-Tru tennis, pickleball, basketball and miles of boardwalks and paved walking paths through the preserves.
Club membership is optional for homeowners, and the club offers both golf and social categories.
As of mid-October 2026, 7 homes are listed for sale in The Founders Club, priced in a tight band from about $2.8 million to $3.25 million. They average close to $3 million, around 4,700 square feet, or about $660 per square foot. Most were built in 2007 and 2008, with a couple of newer custom homes completed in 2023 and 2024. These figures change often, so treat them as a snapshot, not a guarantee.
Size vs. age is the real decision. The 2007 and 2008 estates often offer 5,000 to 6,000 square feet. The newest custom homes are closer to 3,300 to 3,500 square feet at a similar price. With a newer home you get current building code, newer roofs and systems, and often better insurance pricing. With an older estate you get more space and a chance to renovate to your taste. I'll lay out the true cost of both.
If golf is the reason, ask about membership first. Because golf memberships are limited, availability, timing and transfer terms matter. Some sellers can offer advantages tied to their membership, so it's worth asking about before you write an offer. I'll help you get current details straight from the club.
Every home is custom. The community was built by some of the area's top luxury builders, including John Cannon Homes. Quality and finishes vary from home to home, so a careful walk-through and inspection matter more here than in a production-built community.
Inventory is small. With only about 260 homesites, there are usually just a handful of homes for sale at once. Set up a listing alert, and tell me what you're looking for so I can watch for homes before they reach the market.
Life here is quiet, green and private. Homes are set back from the fairways and surrounded by preserves and lakes, so wildlife sightings are part of daily life. The club's social calendar keeps things lively for golfers and non-golfers alike. You're also just east of I-75 in Sarasota's 34240 zip code, a quick drive to downtown Sarasota, the hospitals, University Town Center, Lakewood Ranch and Siesta Key Beach.
The Founders Club is in Sarasota County and is served by Sarasota County Schools. Always confirm current school zoning for a specific address with the district.
The Founders Club is ideal if you want a guard-gated, custom-home community with easy access to an uncrowded private course, deep privacy and a central Sarasota location. If you'd like more golf variety, look at Lakewood Ranch Country Club's four courses. For larger homesites in Manatee County, compare it with The Concession.
The Founders Club is in Sarasota, zip code 34240, just east of I-75.
Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed the 18-hole championship course.
About 260 custom homesites on roughly 700 acres.
No. Membership is optional, with both golf and social categories. Golf memberships are limited to about 275, so ask about current availability.
As of October 2026, homes for sale range from about $2.8 million to $3.25 million.
I'm a full-time Sarasota and Manatee Realtor with 35 years of experience and a love for luxury homes. I give local and out-of-town buyers concierge-level service, from private tours to a clear comparison of each home's size, age, insurance and club options. Call or text Grace Bonaccorso at 941-580-1362 or email Graceluvs2sell@gmail.com.
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