For some active adults, it wouldn’t be a Florida retirement without a lot of golf.
But even golf enthusiasts who love hitting the long ball might hesitate before living in a golf course community. While that sort of lifestyle does come with greens privileges and views of the back nine, it can also include extra traffic, increased prices, and noise. Not to mention the fear of balls flying through windows and patio doors.
Sarasota has 32 golf courses, and there are more than 50 courses when neighboring cities such as Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch are included in the count. If you want to live in the Sarasota/Bradenton area but you’re not thrilled with the idea of your backyard being a driving range, check out some of these 55+ communities that don’t have golf courses.
Cascades at Sarasota – Sarasota
Mid $200s – Mid $400s
When tennis is more of your sport than golf and you’re looking for Sarasota, Florida real estate to support that activity, Cascades at Sarasota may be worth a look. Not only are there six lighted Har-Tru tennis courts; there’s also a tennis director on-site to coordinate classes, clinics, and tournaments. There’s an activities director at the community as well, ensuring residents enjoy amenities such as the fitness center, library, pickleball courts, and pool. The horseshoe pits and well-landscaped pond areas offer great reasons to get outside.
Single-family homes are spacious and available in more than 10 different models and floor plans. Buyers can choose between two and three bedrooms, and many homes have dens or offices. They are between 1,429 and 2,489 square feet and have attached two-car garages. Instead of golf, it’s easy to enjoy the fitness center, clubhouse, and indoor pool.
LakeRidge Falls – Sarasota
Low $300s – High $300s
There’s no golf course at LakeRidge Falls, but there is a giant waterfall at the entrance to this attractive 55+ community. The clubhouse includes a fitness center and a grand salon, and there’s also a library, card rooms, and an arts and crafts studio. Residents are often found at the heated outdoor pool or enjoying yard chess; a feature you don’t find at too many Florida retirement communities. Monthly parties, bingo nights, and holiday events are frequently scheduled. The community has its own television station and publishes a monthly newsletter.
It’s an intimate community at LakeRidge Falls, with only 399 single-family and attached homes covering the well-landscaped property that includes walking trails and lakes. Villas are between 1,391 to 1,576 square feet and they come in attached townhome models or garden villas in clusters of four or six units. Single-family homes are a bit larger, with between 1,500 and 2,100 square feet. They have two or three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Some of Sarasota’s most popular beaches, including Siesta Key, are only 15 minutes away.
Strathmore Riverside Villas – Sarasota
Low $100s – High $200s
Who needs golf when you can live on the water? Strathmore Riverside Villas offers affordable, low-maintenance living in condominiums on Phillippe Creek. This 55+ community has docks for both fishing and boating, leaving residents with several options for enjoying its waterfront location. You’ll want to show up for a sunset once in a while. Condos are between 864 and 1,810 square feet and have one or two bedrooms. There’s plenty of parking and a marina.
Residents who aren’t too busy kayaking out to the Intracoastal Waterway or spending the day with a fishing pole can enjoy other activities and amenities at Strathmore Riverside Villas, including the pool, shuffleboard courts, an exercise room, and a library. The community is close to Sarasota’s Tamiami Trail, a scenic stretch of old Florida highway that includes eclectic shops, local restaurants, and Phillippi Estate Park, which features nature, history, and archeology all in one well-landscaped place.
Mirabella – Bradenton
Low $300s – High $400s
Buyers looking for new construction homes for sale in Bradenton might want to consider Mirabella, where there’s no golf course but a lot of pickleball. There’s also an outdoor pool and a large spa. An exercise room and meeting room are in the clubhouse, and outside there’s a dog park and a lot of scenic trails that are great for walking, jogging, or biking.
Builders are completing a total of 160 new and resale attached homes for active adults at Mirabella. Buyers can choose two or three bedrooms, and all homes have a den and two bathrooms. They’re between 1,524 and 1,764 square feet and have upgraded features like large master suites, walk-in closets, and covered lanais. Bradenton has its own selection of fetching coastline, and residents at Mirabella won’t be far from local treasures like Coquina Beach and Longboat Key.
Esplanade at Artisan Lakes – Palmetto
Low $200s – Low $400s
Just off Interstate 75 and close to Bradenton is Palmetto and the golf course-free 55+ community of Esplanade at Artisan Lakes. This community offers newer construction, and there are new and resale single-family homes available for purchase. Dozens of floor plans ranging in size from 1,689 to 3,144 square feet are available. Buyers can choose between two or three-bedroom homes, and most of them have dens and attached garages. Open floor plans, separate dining rooms, and huge master suites are especially interesting to active adults looking for value and comfort.
The Artisan Lakes Clubhouse covers 6,000 square feet and includes a fitness center, lounge, and library. There’s a concierge to help with any arrangements that residents may need to make, and there is even a day spa as well as a conference room. Outside, there’s a pool and a spa as well as a fire pit and an event lawn. Residents can play tennis or pickleball and take their dogs to the pet park. Palmetto is close to Tampa and Sarasota as well as all of the beaches, shopping, and seafood dining that the Gulf Coast is known for.
