Country Club East

Country Club East is one of Lakewood Ranch's signature gated villages, set on roughly 1,200 acres along the east side of the master plan in Manatee County. Development got underway in the late 2000s — home construction here dates back to about 2009 — and the village has since grown into a collection of around twenty named enclaves with approximately 1,200 to 1,300 home sites, depending on the source you consult. Today it is essentially built out, so buying here generally means buying resale rather than new construction. What sets the village apart is the way it balances two kinds of amenity life. Every resident, member or not, has access to The Retreat, a private clubhouse overlooking a lake, plus additional community pools and a network of walking and biking trails. Layered on top of that, the Royal Lakes golf course winds through the neighborhoods, and residents who want the full club experience can pursue a separate, optional membership in Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club. Add 24-hour gated access, lake and preserve views throughout, and a location just minutes from I-75, and you have a village that feels tucked away without actually being remote.

Homes in Country Club East span a wide range — from carriage homes and villas of around 1,700 square feet up to single-family and estate residences of 5,000 to 6,000-plus square feet — most built between roughly 2009 and the early 2020s. The roster of builders reads like a who's-who of the region: John Cannon Homes, Lee Wetherington Homes, Arthur Rutenberg Homes, Neal Signature Homes, Stock Signature Homes, Cardel Homes, WCI, and others contributed over the years, which gives the village more architectural variety than a single-builder community. Styles lean Mediterranean and contemporary Florida, and many homes carry private pools and golf, lake, or preserve views. The village is organized into named enclaves — among them Belleisle, Haddington, Collingtree, Prestbury, Hazeltine, Valderrama, Leopard Creek, Secret Harbor, Highlands, and Windy Hill — each with its own streetscape and housing character, from maintenance-included attached homes to custom estates.

The centerpiece for residents is The Retreat, a residents-only clubhouse overlooking a lake with a resort-style pool with lap lanes, a fitness center, an outdoor kitchen and bar with barbecue area, and meeting spaces. Two additional community pools, pickleball courts, and walking and biking trails round out the amenities that come with homeownership itself. Golf works differently, and it's worth understanding: the Royal Lakes course, designed by Rick Robbins, runs through Country Club East, but it belongs to Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club, whose membership is separate and optional. That club — acquired in 2024 by Heritage Golf Group from Lakewood Ranch's developer, Schroeder-Manatee Ranch — includes three 18-hole courses (Royal Lakes, Cypress Links, and King Dunes), a tennis center with Har-Tru courts, and The Lodge clubhouse with dining and a pro shop. So you can live here and simply enjoy the resident amenities, or join the club for the full golf and tennis life.

Days here tend to orbit the outdoors: a morning at The Retreat's pool, a loop of the village's walking and biking trails past lakes and preserves, or a round on Royal Lakes for club members, with tennis, pickleball, and dining at The Lodge as part of club life. Beyond the gates, Lakewood Ranch's town centers offer restaurants, shops, and a year-round calendar of community events, while University Town Center handles the bigger shopping trips. When the Gulf calls, Sarasota's beaches and the arts and dining of downtown are a manageable drive west.