Not all house hunters interested in the country club lifestyle of Southwest Florida are avid golfers; some only want to play occasionally in the off-season while others are more interested in tennis and fitness facilities. If you are one of these home buyers, you should consider including the Tara Golf and Country Club as well as the Tara Preserve neighborhoods in Bradenton.

The Tara residential development is located south of State Road 70 and west of I-75. This is a large residential community that takes up more than 1,000 acres of land. The north section of the development is the Tara Golf and Country Club, where the homes are neatly arranged around an 18-hole championship golf course that doubles as a nature preserve. The architectural design in this neighborhood is a modern take on the Southern Plantation style.

The Preserve at Tara also features a golf course as the centerpiece of the neighborhood, but there is an even greater focus on nature conservation in this section. The residential style architecture at The Preserve is a modern version of the Mediterranean style that is predominant in Southwest Florida.

Between The Preserve and the Tara Golf and Country Club, house hunters have more than 2,000 residences to choose from. There are condominium units, attached golf villas and single-family homes starting from $116K to $395K. Choosing between the two sections of Tara is not simply a matter of price; each neighborhood presents a different lifestyle.

Whereas the lifestyle at Tara Golf and Country Club is exclusive and refined, the Preserve at Tara features a semi-private golf course and lots of protected nature areas. Residents in both Tara neighborhoods enjoy considerable amenities. The golf course at the Country Club is highly rated at par 72 with a 136 slope and 6,845 yards of challenging play; the clubhouse, swimming pool, lounge, restaurant, tennis courts, and fitness centers. The amenities at The Preserve are very similar, and both neighborhoods have social memberships available for homeowners who want to enjoy the amenities, but who may not play golf all the time.