Key Takeaways
- Tiburon Golf Club and TPC Treviso Bay offer the strongest premium experiences with public tee times available in Naples.
- Value players should look at Herons Glen and Coral Oaks, both rated among Florida's top public courses by GolfPass.
- Calusa Pines holds a top-three ranking in all of Florida according to Golf Digest 2025-26.
- Old Corkscrew remains one of the best public courses in the region, but recent reports suggest the property may be transitioning to the private Pandion Club. Confirm access before booking.
- This guide covers 11 courses across Naples, Estero, Fort Myers, and Cape Coral with current green fees and real golfer reviews.
Top Pick in Every Category
Quick Comparison: Best Southwest Florida Golf Courses at a Glance
Before we get into the details, here is a side-by-side look at every course in this guide. Use this table to compare access, pricing, and designers, then read on for the full breakdown.
| Course | Location | Access | Designer | Green Fees (Peak Season) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiburon Golf Club | Naples | Resort / Public | Greg Norman | $150 - $325 |
| TPC Treviso Bay | Naples | Semi-Private | Arthur Hills | $150 - $300 |
| Old Corkscrew Golf Club | Estero | Public (see note) | Jack Nicklaus | $79 - $229 |
| Herons Glen | North Fort Myers | Public | Gordon Lewis | $40 - $80 |
| Coral Oaks | Cape Coral | Municipal / Public | Arthur Hills | $40 - $70 |
| Lely Resort Flamingo Island | Naples | Resort / Public | Robert Trent Jones Sr. | $89 - $159 |
| Calusa Pines Golf Club | Naples | Private | Ron Garl | Members Only |
| Naples National Golf Club | Naples | Private | Seth Raynor (restored) | Members Only |
| Grey Oaks Country Club | Naples | Private | Multiple | Members Only |
| Old Collier Golf Club | Naples | Private | Tom Fazio | Members Only |
| Mediterra | Naples | Private | Tom Fazio | Members Only |
Best Public and Resort Golf Courses in Southwest Florida
If you are visiting Southwest Florida and want to play world-class golf without a membership, these are the courses to target. Each one is open to outside play and delivers a caliber of experience that competes with top private clubs. Our full guide to public courses in Naples for visitors covers even more options, but the six below represent the region's strongest rounds.
1. Tiburon Golf Club (Naples)
Tiburon Golf Club sits on the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort property in North Naples and runs two full 18-hole courses, both designed by Greg Norman. The Gold Course hosts the CME Group Tour Championship, the season finale for the LPGA Tour. That means the conditioning here is tuned for professional competition, and it shows.
Golf Digest calls Tiburon the best balance of quality and convenience among Naples public golf options. The layout rewards precision over raw power, and Norman's design philosophy of strategic bunkering and risk-reward par 5s comes through clearly on both courses. Resort guests and the general public can book tee times directly.
- Green Fees: $150 - $325 (peak season)
- Access: Resort and public tee times available
- Designer: Greg Norman
- Standout Feature: Home of the CME Group Tour Championship; two 18-hole layouts on a Ritz-Carlton property
"All the holes are pretty and unique. The course is challenging but fair. Shot placement is rewarded here."
tiburonazo, GolfPass review
2. TPC Treviso Bay (Naples)
TPC Treviso Bay is the only PGA Tour-branded TPC course in Southwest Florida. Designed by Arthur Hills, it sits within a private residential community in East Naples but operates as a semi-private facility, meaning outside players can book tee times. GolfPass highlights it among the most popular golf courses in the Naples area, and the TPC pedigree comes with tour-level maintenance and practice facilities.
The layout runs through 200 acres of natural wetlands and Cypress preserve. Fast greens and well-defined risk-reward holes make it a thinking player's course. If you want to play where PGA Tour standards set the bar for course conditioning, this is one of the few places in the region where you can.
- Green Fees: $150 - $300 (peak season)
- Access: Semi-private; public tee times available
- Designer: Arthur Hills
- Standout Feature: PGA Tour TPC Network course with tour-caliber conditioning and practice facilities
"Always a pleasure playing at TPC Treviso. Nice layout and challenging holes with fast greens."
napolidon2012, GolfPass review
3. Old Corkscrew Golf Club (Estero)
Old Corkscrew Golf Club is a Jack Nicklaus Signature design spread across 390 acres of preserved wetlands and native Florida landscape near Estero. The course has long been one of the top-rated public layouts in the state, with a routing that feels genuinely wild. You play through cypress heads, across open wetlands, and along corridors that feel a hundred miles from suburban Naples.
Important note for 2026: There are recent reports that the Old Corkscrew property may be transitioning to a private club model under the name Pandion Club. If you are planning a visit, confirm current public access and booking availability directly with the club before making travel plans. This situation is evolving and the access status may change.
- Green Fees: $79 - $229 (confirm availability)
- Access: Historically public; confirm current status
- Designer: Jack Nicklaus (Signature)
- Standout Feature: 390 acres of natural Florida landscape with a routing that ranks among Nicklaus's best in the state
"One of best in Fort Myers/Naples area. Scenic well designed tour quality Jack Nicklaus course. Must play."
krv1950, GolfPass review
4. Herons Glen Golf and Country Club (North Fort Myers)
Herons Glen in North Fort Myers has earned a spot on GolfPass's Golfers' Choice list for Florida's top public courses. That recognition comes from golfer ratings, not editorial picks, which makes it especially telling. For under $80 in peak season, you get a well-conditioned course with a layout that punches well above its price point.
This is the best value play in our guide. The course attracts a loyal following of regulars and seasonal residents, and the consistently high golfer ratings on GolfPass reflect a facility that pays attention to the details. If you are staying in the Fort Myers or Cape Coral area, Herons Glen should be near the top of your list.
- Green Fees: $40 - $80 (peak season)
- Access: Public
- Designer: Gordon Lewis
- Standout Feature: GolfPass Golfers' Choice recognition; the strongest value in the region
5. Coral Oaks Golf Course (Cape Coral)
Coral Oaks is a municipally owned Arthur Hills design in Cape Coral. That combination is rare. Arthur Hills designed some of the most respected private courses in the country, and getting his work at municipal green fees makes Coral Oaks one of the better deals in Florida golf. The layout has more character than you would expect from a city-run course, with elevation changes and well-shaped greens that give you something to think about on every hole.
For golfers staying in Lee County who want a quality round without the drive to Naples, Coral Oaks is the most accessible option that still delivers a real golf experience.
- Green Fees: $40 - $70 (peak season)
- Access: Municipal / Public
- Designer: Arthur Hills
- Standout Feature: A legitimate Arthur Hills design at city-course prices
"The greens were in excellent shape and were fast! You won't be disappointed."
ericbjornson, GolfPass review
6. Lely Resort Flamingo Island Course (Naples)
Lely Resort's Flamingo Island Course is a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design in East Naples. Jones designed some of the most storied courses in the world, and the Flamingo Island layout has his fingerprints all over it: large, undulating greens, dramatic bunkering, and forced carries over water. The course is accessible to resort guests and outside players without a membership.
At $89 to $159 in peak season, it sits in the sweet spot between budget courses and the premium $200+ tee times at Tiburon and TPC Treviso Bay. If you want a name designer course with resort-quality conditioning and do not want to pay top dollar, Flamingo Island is the right call.
- Green Fees: $89 - $159 (peak season)
- Access: Resort / Public
- Designer: Robert Trent Jones Sr.
- Standout Feature: Classic RTJ design with bold bunkering and resort access at mid-range pricing
Best Private Golf Clubs in Southwest Florida
Southwest Florida's private clubs are where you will find the highest-ranked courses in the region. You cannot book a tee time at these facilities unless you are a member or a guest of one, but they shape the reputation of SWFL as a serious golf destination. If you are considering a move to the area or exploring membership options, our guide to private golf club membership in Naples covers the process in detail.
1. Calusa Pines Golf Club
Calusa Pines is ranked #3 in the state of Florida by Golf Digest in its 2025-26 rankings. That puts it ahead of nearly every course in a state that has well over 1,000. The club is intensely private, with limited membership and minimal public visibility. That exclusivity is by design, and it contributes to the quality of the playing experience.
What little golfer commentary exists publicly paints a clear picture: this is one of the finest courses in the Southeast.
- Access: Private (members and guests only)
- Designer: Ron Garl
- Standout Feature: Golf Digest #3 ranking in Florida; among the most exclusive clubs in the state
"Best golf course in FL not named Seminole."
GolfPass reviewer, GolfPass review
2. Naples National Golf Club
Naples National is a highly regarded private club with a membership that draws serious golfers. The course has roots in classic design principles and has been recognized in multiple state-level rankings. Access is limited to members and their guests.
- Access: Private
- Standout Feature: Consistent recognition in Florida course rankings; strong golf-focused membership
3. Grey Oaks Country Club
Grey Oaks is the largest private golf operation in Naples, with 54 holes spread across three full courses. The club sits in one of the most prestigious residential addresses in Collier County. Three courses means variety within a single membership, and it also means the club can manage pace of play and course access in ways that smaller operations cannot.
- Access: Private
- Standout Feature: 54 holes across three courses; one of the largest private golf facilities in Florida
4. Old Collier Golf Club
Old Collier is a Tom Fazio design built as a walking-only course, a rarity in Southwest Florida where cart-mandatory policies dominate. The course has appeared in national rankings and earned recognition from Golf Digest. The walking-only format creates a pace and atmosphere that most Florida courses simply do not offer.
- Access: Private
- Designer: Tom Fazio
- Standout Feature: Walking-only policy on a nationally ranked Tom Fazio design
5. Mediterra
Mediterra in North Naples features two Tom Fazio courses within a luxury residential community. The club operates as a strong lifestyle club, meaning golf is central but the broader amenities and social programming attract members as well. Two Fazio courses give members variety without needing to belong to multiple clubs.
- Access: Private
- Designer: Tom Fazio (both courses)
- Standout Feature: Two Tom Fazio courses in a single club; strong lifestyle and golf combination
How to Choose the Right Course for Your Trip
Southwest Florida golf breaks down cleanly by what you are looking for and what you want to spend.
Best premium public experience: Tiburon Golf Club or TPC Treviso Bay. Both charge $150+ in season, and both deliver conditioning and design quality that justifies the price. Tiburon has the Ritz-Carlton property and LPGA pedigree. TPC Treviso Bay has the PGA Tour TPC brand. You will not be disappointed with either one.
Best mid-range play: Lely Resort Flamingo Island. A Robert Trent Jones Sr. design with resort access in the $89 to $159 range. This is where the value-to-quality ratio peaks for golfers who want a name course without the top-tier price tag.
Best budget rounds: Herons Glen ($40 to $80) and Coral Oaks ($40 to $70) are both under $80 in peak season and both carry strong golfer ratings. Herons Glen made the GolfPass Golfers' Choice list. Coral Oaks gives you an Arthur Hills design at municipal pricing.
Best course you might still be able to play: Old Corkscrew. If public access is still available, a Jack Nicklaus Signature course on 390 acres of wetlands for under $230 is a round you will remember. Call ahead to confirm.
When to Play and What to Expect
Peak season in Southwest Florida runs from January through April. Green fees are at their highest, tee times book quickly, and the courses are in their best condition. If you can travel in early December or late April, you will often find lower rates with only a modest drop in conditioning quality.
Summer golf (May through September) is hot and humid, but green fees drop significantly. Many courses offer rates 40 to 60 percent below peak season pricing. Afternoon thunderstorms are a near-daily occurrence from June through September, so morning tee times are strongly recommended during those months.
For a deeper look at visiting the region for golf, the GolfPass Naples destination guide is a solid starting point for trip planning, lodging, and multi-course packages.
FAQ
What is the best public golf course in Southwest Florida?
For overall quality and experience, Tiburon Golf Club in Naples is the strongest public option in the region. It hosts the CME Group Tour Championship, carries two Greg Norman designs, and sits on the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort property. TPC Treviso Bay is a close second, particularly for golfers who value PGA Tour-level conditioning and fast greens.
Where can I play golf in Naples for under $100?
Coral Oaks in Cape Coral ($40 to $70) and Herons Glen in North Fort Myers ($40 to $80) are both under $100 in peak season and carry strong golfer reviews. If you are willing to play during off-peak hours or in the summer months, several of the resort courses also drop below $100 with afternoon and twilight rates.
Is Old Corkscrew Golf Club still open to the public?
As of early 2026, there are reports that Old Corkscrew may be converting to a private club under the Pandion Club name. The situation is developing and public access status may have changed. Contact the club directly before planning a visit to confirm whether public tee times are still available.
Can I play private courses in Naples as a visitor?
Private clubs like Calusa Pines, Grey Oaks, Old Collier, and Mediterra require membership or a guest invitation from an existing member. There is no way to book a tee time as an outside player. If you are interested in membership and considering a move to the area, our guide to Naples private club membership covers the process, costs, and what to expect.
What is the best time of year to golf in Southwest Florida?
January through April is peak season with the best course conditions and the most comfortable weather. Green fees are highest during this window. For lower rates, consider late November, early December, or late April. Summer golf offers the lowest prices but comes with high heat, humidity, and frequent afternoon thunderstorms.
How do Southwest Florida courses compare to other Florida golf destinations?
Southwest Florida holds its own against any golf region in the state. Calusa Pines is ranked #3 in all of Florida by Golf Digest. The concentration of top designers working in the Naples and Estero area (Norman, Nicklaus, Hills, Fazio, Robert Trent Jones Sr.) is matched only by the Jupiter/Palm Beach corridor on the east coast. The difference is that SWFL public and resort courses tend to offer better accessibility and pricing than their east coast counterparts. The Golf Digest Florida course rankings provide a statewide comparison.
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