Southwest Florida Golf Communities–A “Top 25” List

SEE NEW, FINAL 2020 “GURU” LIST BELOW…

I’m constantly being asked…”What are the best golf communities in Naples and Southwest Florida?” So, based on 15-years of showing and comparing properties in 80+ different golf communities–and selling in 50 of these communities–I’ve formulated a list of the communities that my Buyers have most often preferred. Their careful buying decisions have been predicated on a number of very important considerations… community size and history; types and prices of housing; annual HOA fees and real estate taxes; initiation fees and annual costs of membership programs; quality and difficulty of golf course; quality and assortment of amenities and activities, etc. (Note: If you want to learn more about these points, please refer to my “GURU GOLF” Blog post…“Southwest Florida Golf Communities–How to Compare”).

My revised “Top 25” list for 2020 includes five categories of private golf communities, organized by Golf Membership initiation fees so that you can focus on the price category that applies to your personal budget. Each price category features a “Top 5” list, along with 2-4 “Honorable Mention” golf communities.

I’ve also included a “Top 5” list of local public golf course communities that have housing developments around them.

As you go through these lists, click on the name of any individual community if you want to review its specific information and available homes for sale or rent. Please feel free to call or e-mail me to ask additional questions, or to schedule visits to these (or any other) Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, and Ft. Myers golf communities.

TOP 5 “PUBLIC” GOLF COMMUNITIES— These are housing developments built around public golf courses. Normally, you just pay-as-you-play; however, some offer annual memberships.

• Arrowhead/Heritage Greens (27-holes; Gordon Lewis)–Naples
• Lely Resort(36-holes public courses; Lee Trevino & Robert Trent Jones)–Naples
• Old Corkscrew (18-holes; Jack Nicklaus “Signature”)–Estero
• Stoneybrook(18-holes; Gordon Lewis & Jed Azinger)–Estero
• Valencia (18-holes; Gordon Lewis)–Naples

TOP 5 “BUNDLED” PRIVATE GOLF COMMUNITIES–When you buy in these golf communities, a Golf and/or Social Membership is included in the price of the home, and you pay no upfront membership initiation fee.

• Bonita National (18-holes; Gordon Lewis)–Bonita Springs
• Esplanade (18-holes; Chris Wilczyski)–Naples
• Heritage Bay (27-holes; Gordon Lewis)–Naples
• Naples Lakes (18-holes; Arnold Palmer “Signature”)–Naples
• Pelican Sound (18-holes; Chip Powell)–Estero

Honorable Mentions:

• Legends Golf & Country Club (18-holes; Joe Lee)—Ft. Myers
• River Hall (18-holes; Davis Love III)—Ft. Myers/Alva
• Treviso Bay (TPC course–18-holes)–Naples
• Vanderbilt Country Club (18-holes; Naples)

TOP 5 “AFFORDABLE PRICED” PRIVATE EQUITY/NON-EQUITY GOLF COMMUNITIES–Golf Membership initiation fees between $5,000-$39,999

• Gateway ($8,000; 18-holes & 2-practice holes; Tom Fazio)–Ft. Myers
• Greyhawk at Golf Club of the Everglades ($39,000; 18-holes; Rees Jones)—Naples
• Pelican Preserve ($6,500; 27-holes; Chip Powell)–Ft. Myers
• Quail Creek ($25,000; 36-holes; Arthur Hills)–Naples
• Verandah ($22,500; 36-holes; Jack Nicklaus & Robert Cupp)—Ft. Myers

Honorable Mention:

• Renaissance ($35,000; 18-holes; Arthur Hills)—Ft. Myers
• The Plantation ($29,500; 18-holes; Michael Hurdzan & Dana Fry)–Ft. Myers

TOP 5 “MEDIUM PRICED” PRIVATE EQUITY/NON-EQUITY GOLF COMMUNITIES–Golf Membership initiation fees between $40,000-49,999

• Kensington ($45,000; 18-holes; Robert Trent Jones)–Naples
• Pelican Landing/Nest ($42,000; 36-holes; Arthur Hills)—Bonita Springs
• Vineyards ($40,000; 36-holes; Mark McCumber)–Naples
• The Quarry ($45,000; 18-holes; Michael Hurdzan & Dana Fry)–Naples
• TwinEagles ($40,000; 36-holes; Jack Nicklaus & Steve Smyers)–Naples

Honorable Mentions:

• Olde Cypress ($45,000; 18-holes; PB Dye)—Naples
• Windstar ($45,000; 18-holes; Tom Fazio)–Naples

TOP 5 “PREMIUM PRICED” PRIVATE EQUITY/NON-EQUITY GOLF COMMUNITIES–Golf Membership initiation fees between $50,000-$79,999

• Fiddler’s Creek ($50,000; 18-holes; Arthur Hills)–Naples
• Fiddlesticks ($50,000 (Reduced $31,000 from 2019); 36-holes; Ron Garl)—Ft. Myers
• Gulf Harbour ($60,000; 18-holes; Chip Powell)–Ft. Myers
• Miromar Lakes($64,000; 18-holes; Arthur Hills)—Ft. Myers/Miromar Lakes
• Palmira ($50,000; 27-holes; Gordon Lewis)—Bonita Springs

Honorable Mentions:

• Lely Resort/Classics ($55,000; 54-holes (incl. 2-public courses); Gary Player)—Naples
• Shadow Wood ($65,000; 54-holes; Robert Cupp)—Estero
• Wyndemere ($50,000; 27-holes; Arthur Hills)—Naples

TOP 5 “ELITE PRICED” PRIVATE EQUITY/NON-EQUITY GOLF COMMUNITIES–Golf Membership initiation fees of $80,000-and-over

• Bonita Bay ($95,000; 90-holes; Arthur Hills & Tom Fazio)—Bonita Springs
• Grey Oaks ($160,000; 54-holes; Robert Cupp)—Naples
• Mediterra ($150,000; 36-holes; Tom Fazio)—Naples
• Pelican Bay ($130,000; 18-holes; Arthur Hills)—Naples
• Quail West ($120,000; 36-holes; Arthur Hills)—Naples

Honorable Mentions:

• Collier’s Reserve ($80,000; 18-holes; Arthur Hills)—Naples
• Talis Park ($97,500; 18-holes; Greg Norman & Pete Dye)—Naples
• Tiburon ($85,000; 36-holes; Greg Norman)—Naples