When playing golf in Southwest Florida expect to see a lot of hazards, in particular, water hazards. There are golf communities and clubs that are built around man-made waterways and lakes, then there are courses that utilize the natural rivers and ponds already present on the property. One thing is for sure, if you come to Fort Myers to play golf, be prepared for water hazards.
Higher End Public/Semi-Private
Unfortunately, there are not a lot of high-end resort or public options for golf in this great winter and spring destination. Although, there are a couple of nice courses close to Fort Myers that will give you a great sense of how golf is played in Florida.
Raptor Bay Golf Club is a great way to start your golf trip in the Fort Myers/Southwest Florida area. It is located in Bonita Springs off of Coconut Road, just south of the Coconut Point Mall on Route 41. Raptor Bay is affiliated with the Hyatt Regency and offers a high-quality Raymond Floyd designed par-71 championship golf course. Raptor Bay is an Audubon International Certified Signature Sanctuary that provides many pleasant and native sights and sounds. The golf course has 15 holes with water in play.
Raptor Bay Golf Club
23001 Coconut Point Resort Drive
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
(239) 390-4600
raptorbaygolfclub.com
Low Budget Public/Semi-Private
If you are not interested in paying a premium fee and would just like to experience playing golf in Florida golf, there are a couple low cost options. The following facility will not offer a championship golf course but it will offer a lot of fun and plenty of water.
Fort Myers Beach Golf Club is located on Fort Myers Beach, a top destination in the Fort Myers area. Fort Myers Beach is essentially an island with plenty of restaurants, nightlife and beaches. On the island, there is only this one golf course, it is a par-60 with a view of the Gulf of Mexico.
Fort Myers Beach Golf Club
4200 Bay Beach Lane
Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
(239) 463-2064
fmbgc.com
Private Club
Private golf is the way to play in southwest Florida and there are many options. In Fort Myers alone there are over 20 very fine private clubs, then move south to Estero, Bonita Springs or Naples and the number of private clubs increase significantly.
Gulf Harbour Yacht and Country Club is a great facility with a championship golf course and its own private yacht club as well. The social atmosphere as well as the physical atmosphere make it one of the top clubs in southwest Florida. The golf course is a par-72 measuring over 6,700 yards from the tips. Water comes into play on 16 of the holes.
Gulf Harbour Yacht & Country Club
14500 Vista River Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33908-7911
(941) 433-4211
gulfharbour.com
About The Author
Dan Lockhart is a PGA of America golf professional that specializes in teaching. He is based out of Naples, FL and teaches for the Rick Smith Golf Academy at Tiburon. Lockhart graduated from Ferris State University in Big Rapids Michigan. He has been teaching golf for eight years and has been working in the golf business since 1996.
