Florida has plenty to brag about for luring people to live here full-time, part-time and to take vacation time in the Sunshine State.
Near the top of that list are golf courses.
Florida is home to the highest number of golf courses in the United States, with more than 1,250 to 1,264 golf courses, according to GolfNow and LINKS Magazine. A large majority of these are accessible to the public, including municipal and daily-fee options, including right here in Southwest Florida.
Speaking of SWFL, Golf Digest released its 40 best public golf courses in Florida and this part of the state is well represented in the list with two Collier County golf courses and two in Lee County, with one of those, Old Corkscrew, in a transition to members only status and a redesign of the layout. These are not member-only courses, but they are what could be called “high-end” golf courses.
Golf Digest used the most recent evaluations from its current America’s 100 Greatest and Best in State rankings to determine the best public courses in Florida. Golf Digest stopped this list at 40 courses but said it could’ve easily went to 50.
These SW Florida golf courses appear in order they were ranked in Golf Digest’s link, highest to lowest:
The Gasparilla Inn & Club
Location: Boca Grande
What Golf Digest said: Open to members and guests of the resort, Gasparilla Golf Club sits on an island near the picturesque coast of Charlotte Harbor. Though it perhaps lacks the overall ambiance and seriousness of the architecture, the proximity of the design to the water (five holes run directly along the island’s shore) and the exposure to the coastal winds puts Gasparilla in the same category of other Pete Dye seaside courses like Teeth of the Dog and The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island. Dye revamped an old 1930s-era course here in 2002, making it his own, though time, weather and other modifications over the last 20 years muted much of that character. Now Tripp Davis has attempted to bring back the overall Dye composition while making adjustments in certain places including shifting greens and fairways, planting new grasses and shortening some holes while lengthening others by as much as 40 years. The constant is the unique location and water views.
Website: Here
Tiburon Golf Club: Gold
Location: Naples
What Golf Digest said: Of the public options sprinkled across Naples, Greg Norman’s Tiburón courses at the Ritz-Carlton provide the best balance of quality golf and convenience, situated in the heart of North Naples. That ideal combination comes at a cost, though, as green fees can be upward of $300. The Gold course—ranked on our Best Courses You Can Play in Florida list—features stacked sod wall bunkers and no conventional rough and is home to the LPGA’s CME Group Tour Championship and the PGA Tour’s QBE Shootout.
Website: Here
Old Corkscrew Golf Club
Location: Estero
What Golf Digest said: Old Corkscrew, designed by Jack Nicklaus, is routed through the natural landscape of Southwest Florida (no homes!), serving as a habitat for dozens of exotic animals. The challenging layout plays among cypress trees, tall pines and wetlands, demanding accuracy over distance throughout. Though it’s 30 minutes northeast of Naples, Old Corkscrew’s absence of homes and tranquil setting make it unique in Southwest Florida—and well worth the drive.
Future: The Hoffmann Family of Companies now owns the property. Construction of a new members-only golf course and club could begin this summer, pending approval of Lee County.
In October, the company announced the name of the development and shared more information about their vision for the development, as well as revealing the likely timetable for its opening.
The name: Pandion Club. It’s based on the scientific classification for the osprey (Pandionidae). The large, brown-and-white raptor is commonly spotted in Florida. It’s often used as a symbol for wealth.
The Hoffmanns assembled an experienced team of architects, engineers, general contractors and consultants for the project, but they have yet to announce the company that will build the new golf course as of February.
Website: Here
Tiburon Golf Club: Black
Location: Naples
What Golf Digest said: Of the public options sprinkled across Naples, Greg Norman’s Tiburón courses at the Ritz-Carlton provide the best balance of quality golf and convenience, situated in the heart of North Naples. That ideal combination comes at a cost, though, as green fees can be upwards of $300. Nestled among the Florida pines, Tiburón Black uses the natural landscape to feature undulating greens and crushed coquina waste areas. Like its sibling Gold course, the Black is featured on our Best Courses You Can Play in Florida list.
Website: Here
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