Best Golf Courses in Naples

By Alfred Robbins Realty Group

Naples markets itself as a golf destination, and Golf Digest backed up the reputation in 2022 by noting more than 100 courses within 30 miles of the city center. The catch is that the vast majority of those courses are private, so access is the first question every golfer should ask. At Alfred Robbins Realty Group, we help clients sort through which clubs welcome public play and which come with a membership.

Here are five groups of courses, with details drawn from Golf Digest, Paradise Coast, LINKS Magazine, and other golf guides.

Key Takeaways

Tiburón Golf Club: The Greg Norman-designed Gold and Black courses are tied to the Ritz-Carlton, Naples, Tiburón.
Lely Resort: Flamingo Island and The Mustang offer 54 holes designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Lee Trevino.
Public options: Old Corkscrew in Estero and Valencia Golf & Country Club are listed as public courses by Golf Digest.
Access varies: Naples Grande, TPC Treviso Bay, and Calusa Pines have private or limited-access policies that differ by source.

Play Greg Norman’s Gold and Black Courses at Tiburón Golf Club

Tiburón Golf Club, part of the Ritz-Carlton, Naples, Tiburón, features two Greg Norman designs: the Gold course, which opened in 1998, and the Black course, which opened in 2001. Golf Digest, Paradise Coast, and LINKS all include Tiburón in their coverage.

What Golfers Notice at Tiburón

Course design: Both courses use coquina waste areas, according to Pulte’s golf guide.
Tour event: The Gold course hosts the CME Group Tour Championship, according to the same guide.
Access: Sources describe Tiburón as public, semi-private, or stay-and-play, so confirm tee-time rules directly.

Golf Digest has said green fees at Tiburón can be high. Ask about seasonal rates and resort packages when you call.

Tee Off at Lely Resort’s Flamingo Island and The Mustang

Lely Resort Golf & Country Club offers 54 holes in total, and four sources list it as public. Flamingo Island was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., and The Mustang was designed by Lee Trevino.

Lely Resort Course Notes

Flamingo Island: Golf Digest noted in 2022 that the course had recently been regrassed.
The Mustang: Pulte’s guide lists it at about 7,200 yards, par 72.
Trip planning: Check current conditions and tee sheets, since golf guides date quickly.

Course conditions and renovations change, so verify current play options. Ask about twilight rates when you call.

Explore Public Play at Old Corkscrew and Valencia

Old Corkscrew Golf Club in Estero is a Jack Nicklaus design that Golf Digest lists as public, about 30 minutes northeast of Naples. Valencia Golf & Country Club is also listed as public by Golf Digest, Paradise Coast, and Pulte.

Public Course Highlights

Old Corkscrew: Pulte says the course is routed without homes and lists it at 7,393 yards.
Valencia: Sources describe a 2018 renovation that added Celebration Bermudagrass fairways and TifEagle greens.
Course ratings: Paradise Coast says Valencia earned a four-star rating from Golf Digest, though ratings change.

Public courses can book quickly in winter, so reserve early. Check dress codes and cart policies before you arrive.

Look for Biarritz and Island Greens at Panther Run in Ave Maria

Panther Run Golf Club in Ave Maria sits inland from Naples, and Golf Digest notes its Biarritz green on the par-3 17th and island green on the par-5 18th. Sources disagree on whether it is public or semi-private, so confirm access before you plan a round.

Panther Run Details

Designer: Golf Channel credits Gordon Lewis with the course.
Length: Pulte lists the course at 7,532 yards with a slope of 139.
Drive time: Sources place Ave Maria roughly 30 miles inland, so plan travel time.

Inland courses can offer different wind and scenery than coastal ones. Pack water and check forecasts for summer afternoon storms.

Know Which Clubs Are Private: Naples Grande, TPC Treviso Bay, and Calusa Pines

Many of the courses that golfers read about in Naples are private or resort-restricted. Pulte describes Naples Grande as private, LINKS places Calusa Pines among private courses, and sources describe seasonal public access at TPC Treviso Bay.

Access Details to Confirm

Naples Grande: Rees Jones designed the course, and Golf Channel links it to the Waldorf Astoria Naples.
TPC Treviso Bay: Paradise Coast says it is open for public play from May through October, while LINKS says it is private from November through April.
Calusa Pines: Pulte calls it invitation-only, with a design by Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry.

Resort stays and member invitations can open doors, but policies change. Call each club for current guest and tee-time rules.

FAQs

Which are the best golf courses Naples FL residents and visitors can actually play?

Golf Digest and other guides list Lely Resort, Old Corkscrew, and Valencia as public options, while Tiburón and TPC Treviso Bay have seasonal or resort-based access. Confirm policies directly, since sources disagree on several clubs. Book early in winter.

Is Naples really a golf capital?

Promoters often use that label, and a 2012 Golf Channel article said Naples had the second-most golf holes per capita in the country. Other sources make different claims, so treat superlatives as marketing. The safer fact is Golf Digest’s 2022 note that more than 100 courses sit within 30 miles of the city center.

Does golf access affect choosing a home?

For many golfers it does, because some communities include memberships and others rely on public or resort play. Ask any community how membership, fees, and tee times work. We are glad to help you compare options.