The Sunshine State is the place to live for golf enthusiasts. It has superb weather almost throughout the year, no state income tax, and exceptional facilities that together, make it a haven where amateurs and professionals may tee off to their heart’s content, whether you’re on the East Coast or West Coast. The state has over 1,250 golf courses – the most in the entire country.
Several professional golfers from around the world have made Florida their home with many acquiring property on the Gold Coast spanning the cities of Miami, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach. This area, along with Paradise Coast and the city of Naples, has the highest concentration of golf courses in the state. Naples alone has 108 golf courses within a 15-mile radius, so it’s no surprise that prominent names in the golfing world like two-time PGA Tour winner Fuzzy Zoeller and six-time PGA champion Rocco Mediate reside here. You might catch them casually rolling putts on the best golf courses in Naples, FL. The late legend Gene Sarazen also owned a mansion on nearby Marco Island.
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GOLFING AND LIFESTYLE IN NAPLES, FL
As the adage “build it, and they will come” goes, the fact that legends of the game decided to settle in Naples is a testament to its reputation as a premier golfing and lifestyle destination. If a city is a good place for golf, it almost always follows that it’s a good place for many other things.
The broader Naples lifestyle
Naples is surrounded by both natural and man-made wonders. To the west are miles of white-sand coastline, stunning beaches, and amazing views of the Gulf of Mexico. To the east are several state parks and wildlife conservation areas with tours of the untouched natural habitats of Florida. The city’s vibrant dining scene combines the abundance of the ocean and the farms found inland. These charms add to the appeal and experience of living in Naples, and playing golf is just one of the ways that make living in this city exciting.
Golf is a way of life in Naples
The game of golf itself is a lifestyle in Naples and a big part of its identity and allure. Its beautiful and challenging courses draw people from all over the world and is one of the reasons why Naples is one of the most popular Florida destinations among visitors from overseas. Numerous golfing tilts are held throughout the year here, attracting spectators, media, and players and adding to the state’s tourism revenue. The Chubb Classic, the LPGA CME Group Tour Championship, and the Grand Thornton Invitational are three of the most recognizable professional tilts held in Naples, but countless other events for amateurs and semi-pros take place throughout the year in Southwest Florida.
EXPLORING NAPLES’ TOP GOLF COURSES
Many of the best golf courses in Naples, FL are designed by renowned and environmentally conscious course architects who make it a point to incorporate the natural beauty of Florida into the courses’ layouts. There are at least 150 private golf clubs in the area that offer exclusive benefits to members and a much larger number of smaller and less formal communities that share a common passion for the sport. Luckily, there is plenty of space for such a large population of golfers to sharpen their skills and compete with one another. Here are six of Naples’ top-tier golf courses.
Tiburón Golf Club
Location: Beside The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón, on the corner of Vanderbilt Beach Road and Airport-Pulling Road North.
General features and designer: Tiburón features two par-72, 18-hole courses dubbed Gold and Black, designed by two-time British Open champion and former world number one Greg Norman.
Fun fact: Tiburón (Spanish for “shark”) is a reference to Norman’s PGA Tour moniker, “Great White Shark”.
Distinguishing features: The Gold Course is generally more forgiving with wider fairways, relatively easy access to its slightly elevated greens, and large putting surfaces, On the other hand, the Black Course is more technical. Its fairways are narrower, landing zones are tighter, and it has more water hazards compared to the Gold Course. Both courses have virtually no conventional rough and water hazards often come into play. Crushed coquina shell cart paths essentially double as bunkers on both courses, as well.
Signature holes: The par-5, 14th hole on the Gold Course features a split fairway and a wide, undulating green.
Access: Tiburón Golf Club is semi-private. Non-members pay between $99 and $500 to play but membership gives priority tee times and access to exclusive events. To become a member, there is a one-time initiation fee of $185,000 and a social membership initiation fee of $40,000. Annual golf dues and social dues amount to a total of around $20,000.
Amenities: A double-ended range and several putting greens are available for players to practice their swings. The clubhouse offers fine dining and events spaces while Sydney’s Pub is for more casual family dinners and pub fare.
Naples Grande Golf Club
Location: Just north of Naples Airport on Golden Gate Parkway.
General features and designer: Naples Grande was designed by “The Open Doctor” and 1995 Golf World magazine Architect of the Year Rees Jones. A noted advocate of golf courses designed to minimize their ecological impact, he has beautifully incorporated native Floridian flora into the course’s features and appearance. This par-72, 18-hole championship course is equal parts demanding and interesting for players of all skill levels as each hole feels like a completely new experience.
Distinguishing features: Rolling fairways, clever bunker placement, and large, tricky greens characterize most of the course. Unique water hazards add even more complexity.
Signature holes: The par-4, 7th requires a difficult approach shot over water to a well-guarded green.
Access: Naples Grande is a private club with membership options that include access to all club facilities and exclusive events. The initiation fee is $80,000 with an annual membership fee of $15,000, plus social and food & beverage dues of $5,250 each.
Amenities: Naples Grande has top-tier equipment, including Laser Link crystal flagsticks for optimized rangefinding. It’s also the first golf club in this part of Florida to have an on-site True Spec Custom club fitting facility. The course includes a double-sided driving range, three practice greens, and a short game area. The clubhouse has a restaurant, pro shop, meeting area, and a patio with panoramic views of the golf course and water.
Old Corkscrew Golf Club
Location: Corkscrew Road in Estero, some 30 minutes north of Naples.
General features and designer: Old Corkscrew is a par-72, 18-hole championship course and a signature of Jack Nicklaus, one of the greatest golfers of all time. He holds the record for the most number of major wins which he accomplished over a 25-year career, and is the first PGA Tour player to win a PGA event on a course that he himself designed. Old Corkscrew is one of his more challenging but scenic designs and is regarded by locals as one of the best golf courses in Naples, FL available to the public.
Distinguishing features: The course sits on relatively untouched land, being a standalone project and not part of a larger real estate development. Since there are no homes around, the site blends naturally with the area’s oak, pine, and cypress trees. A beautiful flowway also runs right through the center of the course into the surrounding wetlands that are home to a diverse set of wildlife. People on the course regularly see indigenous water birds, turtles, and crocodiles going about their lives in the nearby water.
Signature holes: Avoiding water on par 4, 6th requires precision, and its protected green has a challenging approach. The putting area itself is deceptively uneven.
Access: This course is semi-private and members get to reserve tee times. They offer family membership packages worth $15,000 for members’ spouses and children younger than 23 years old, and individual gold packages for $7,900.
Amenities: Old Corkscrew has practice facilities for full swings, short games, and putting. The rustic clubhouse is small compared to those of golf clubs that are closer to the city but rarely lack what the regular golfer needs.
Grey Oaks Country Club
Location: Just north of Naples Grande Golf Club.
General features and designer: The entire Grey Oaks area, including the residential areas and amenities, adds up to 1,200 acres. This massive area fits the three 18-hole championship courses dubbed Pine, Palm, and Estuary. Clifton Ezell and Clifton Golf Design Group (CEC) originally designed all three, but Andrew Green renovated the Pine Course in 2023.
Distinguishing features: Rolling berms, slopes, and pine-lined fairways are a common feature of the Pine Course, considered one of the “Toughest Private Golf Courses in Florida” by Florida Trend Magazine. Coconut palms, lagoons, tiered rock waterfalls, white sand beaches, and bulk-headed island greens contribute to the tropical vibe of the lush Palm Course. The third course, the Estuary, is a target golf course with fairways bordered by calm lakes. It was skillfully sculpted among groves of centuries-old cypress, oak, and pine.
Signature holes: The Estuary Course’s par-5, 18th hole has a double dogleg and a green encased by a moat which makes things more interesting.
Access: Grey Oaks is a private club with a one-time initiation fee of $250,000 and annual golf dues worth $23,285.
Amenities: The golf course has a grass driving range and world-class practice facilities. The Grey Oaks area also contains a gated community with a fitness center, clubhouse, community pool, and facilities for tennis, bocce ball, and pickleball.
TPC Treviso Bay
Location: Treviso Bay Boulevard in Southern Naples, in front of Naples Manor.
General features and designer: This par-72, 18-hole championship course has quite the reputation, being a part of the PGA Tour’s TPC Network of Clubs. TPC Treviso Bay is a design of the late Arthur Hills who, over his career, designed more than 200 courses all over the US and modified a further 120. Treviso’s well-kept greens and beautiful layout play with the area’s topography and incorporate Southwest Florida’s wetlands and native vegetation.
Distinguishing features: Well-placed bunkers and a high prevalence of water hazards emphasize shot-making skill and strategy on this PGA Tour-approved court. Players good at both will all the more enjoy an advantage here but its tricky design nonetheless challenges everyone.
Signature holes: The picturesque par-3, 8th lies in a large green 207 yards from the tee. Bunkers on all sides both defend and frame it beautifully.
Access: TPC Treviso Bay is a private bundled golf course. Membership to the club is included upon purchase of a home but non-residents have limited access via certain packages and during special occasions.
Amenities: Treviso Bay has a world-class grass driving range, putting greens, and a short game area. Its fitness center is surrounded by facilities for several sports, including tennis, pickleball, beach volleyball, bocce ball, and basketball. To help guests relax and recover, the center also has a spa.
Naples National Golf Club
Location: Collier Boulevard in Southeast Naples.
General features and designer: Naples National is a par-72, 18-hole classic course, the design of which is a collaboration between Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry. Hurdzan is one of only six individuals to win the Donald Ross, Old Tom Morris, and Don A. Rossi awards – a trifecta of accolades coveted by all course architects in the country. Meanwhile, Fry’s portfolio includes several acclaimed courses, including Erin Hills, on which the 2017 US Open was played. Naples National is also one of the few clubs in the state that have a caddie program. In terms of exclusivity and atmosphere, it is one of the best golf courses in Naples, FL.
Distinguishing features: Naples National Golf Club was made for hardcore golfers. Its greens are well maintained and its fairways are lined with trees. Either pine straw, sand scrub, or water border these fairways and it feels like each hole plays differently from day to day. The design favors sand traps, of which there are several positioned throughout the court. In contrast, water hazards only affect four holes.
Signature holes: Par-5, 13th has a double dogleg with bunkers and water hazards all around, posing quite the risk-reward dilemma.
Access: Naples National Golf Club is one of the more exclusive private golf clubs in Florida. Capped at only 265 members, it’s one of just a handful of clubs that have no tee times. Membership is by invitation only with an initial golf fee of $250,000 and annual dues of $22,000.
Amenities: The course has comprehensive practice facilities for long and short games. Ground-level suites offer comfort for both guests and players, who may then go up to the posh clubhouse for an exquisite dining experience that rivals the city’s best restaurants.
LIVE NEAR THE BEST GOLF COURSES IN NAPLES, FL
It’s really a matter of choosing a personal shortlist of golf courses, and then rotating among them. No one can expect to try every course in Naples because at least 18 of them belong to bundled golf communities like Treviso. Buy a home in one of these neighborhoods to gain exclusive access to some of Southwest Florida’s most pristine greens. You may still sign up for any non-bundle private club you’re eligible for and public courses will always be an option.
The Wolleon Group is a team of consummate real estate professionals in Collier and Lee Counties, where golf is a way of life. Let’s talk about your real estate and golfing goals. Call us at 239.207.9752 or message us here to begin.