Fort Myers Golf Courses: Public Options and Private Clubs

Key Takeaways

Fort Myers Country Club and Eastwood are city-operated public courses; Shell Point and Eagle Ridge also offer visitor bookings.
Use dated operator quotes, including carts, tax and booking fees, instead of a region-wide price range.
Book within each course's stated window. The city advertises online reservations up to seven days ahead.
Gateway, Verandah, Legends, Pelican Preserve and Colonial need individual membership or guest-access checks.

The best golf courses in Fort Myers cover a wide range of budgets, styles, and skill levels. There are more good options here than most visitors realize.

Fort Myers sits at the northern edge of Southwest Florida's golf corridor. While Naples often gets the headlines, the Fort Myers area has been quietly building one of the more diverse collections of public-access golf in the state. This guide covers the courses worth your time, with honest takes on what makes each one stand out.

Winter demand can make reservations harder to find. Summer prices, traffic and maintenance vary, so compare actual dates rather than expecting empty fairways.

If you are visiting during peak season in Southwest Florida, read up on what to expect before you try to book.

Fort Myers Course Comparison at a Glance

Course	Price source	Playing access	Planning note
Fort Myers Country Club	Dated city schedule	Public municipal	Walking rates published
Eastwood	Dated city schedule	Public municipal	Walking hours restricted
Shell Point	Operator quote	Public booking	Confirm starting time
The Club at Gateway	Eligible guest quote	Membership or approved guest	Confirm eligibility first
Eagle Ridge	Operator quote	Public	Compare available tees
Coral Oaks	City of Cape Coral schedule	Public municipal	In Cape Coral
Verandah	Eligible guest quote	Private, confirm guest terms	No automatic summer access
Legends	Eligible guest quote	Private	In Fort Myers, not Lehigh Acres
Pelican Preserve	Eligible guest quote	Private	27 holes
Colonial	Club category schedule	Confirm guest eligibility	Bundled community

Fort Myers Country Club

Fort Myers Country Club is the oldest course in the area, dating back to 1917. The layout sits along the Caloosahatchee River in the heart of the city, and the mature trees that line virtually every hole create a tunnel-like feel you rarely get on newer Florida courses.

This is a walking-friendly design with natural elevation changes that affect club selection more than you might expect. The greens run fast and true, and the course rewards accuracy off the tee over raw distance.

Fees: Use the city's current dated schedule, including separate walking and riding rates.
Access: Public, owned and operated by the City of Fort Myers.
Designer: Donald Ross; the city dates the design to 1916 and opening to 1917.
Tip: Book as early as possible during season

"This is what great affordable golf should be like."
TimGavrichGP, GolfPass review

Eastwood Golf Course

Eastwood is a City of Fort Myers public course designed by Robert von Hagge and Bruce Devlin. The city describes its par-72 layout as having water on 10 of the 18 holes.

That number sounds punishing, but the course manages to stay fun rather than frustrating. The water is visible enough that you know exactly what you are dealing with, and the bail-out zones are real, not imaginary.

Fees: Check the dated Eastwood schedule and the applicable starting time.
Access: Public (city-owned)
Designers: Robert von Hagge and Bruce Devlin.
Tip: The conditioning has improved noticeably over the past several years

"The layout was challenging, the fairways were excellent and the pace of play was comfortable. I will definitely return to Eastwood."
jetsamjosi, GolfPass review

Shell Point Golf Club

Shell Point Golf Club is part of a large retirement community but open to public play, and the course quality reflects serious investment.

The layout runs along the Caloosahatchee estuary with genuine water views on multiple holes. The combination of saltwater marshes, mangrove lines, and open bay vistas makes it one of the more scenic rounds you will find in Lee County.

Fees: Check Shell Point's current quote for your date and time.
Access: Semi-private, open to public play
Yardage: ~6,500 yards, rating in the low 70s
Tip: Mid-handicappers will enjoy it without getting beaten up

"Nothing compares to today's experience. The fairways, tee boxes and greens were in spectacular shape."
extraordinaryhit, GolfPass review

The Club at Gateway

The Club at Gateway sits near the airport corridor on the east side of Fort Myers. The Tom Fazio design is the best argument for why this area deserves more attention from serious golfers.

Fazio built a course here with genuine variety: long carries over wetlands on some holes, tight treelined corridors on others, and large undulating greens throughout that reward approach accuracy. From the tips it stretches past 7,000 yards, but the multi-tee setup means it plays well for a range of abilities.

Fees: Request a quote only after the club confirms eligible access.
Access: Membership and approved guest arrangements; do not assume general public booking.
Designer: Tom Fazio
Tip: Clubhouse and practice facilities are well above average

"Greens rolled the best that I've played so far in the Ft. Myers area."
Phillip2444582, GolfPass review

Eagle Ridge Golf Club

Eagle Ridge Golf Club in south Fort Myers is a public course that gets overlooked partly because it does not market itself aggressively. That is a mistake for golfers who never find it.

The Gordon Lewis design uses native Florida landscaping: saw palmetto, pine flatwoods, and open scrub areas to create natural rough areas that feel authentic rather than manufactured.

Fees: Use Eagle Ridge's current booking quote, including additional charges.
Access: Public
Yardage: ~6,800 yards from the back
Tip: Generous fairways, but missing the greens here costs you

Coral Oaks Golf Course

Coral Oaks Golf Course in Cape Coral is one of the better public courses in Lee County. The Arthur Hills design uses the natural topography and mature oak trees to create a layout with real identity.

Hills was known for building courses that work with the land rather than bulldozing it flat. The back nine brings a legitimate challenge where water and trees both factor in.

Fees: Use the City of Cape Coral's applicable schedule, not a fixed year-round range.
Access: Public (municipal)
Designer: Arthur Hills
Tip: Golf Digest has recognized Cape Coral-area tracks in past surveys

"The greens were in excellent shape and were fast! You won't be disappointed."
ericbjornson, GolfPass review

Verandah Golf Club

Verandah Golf Club in east Fort Myers offers 36 holes, which immediately sets it apart from most options in the area.

The two courses have distinct personalities. Whispering Oak plays through mature orange grove territory with a more open feel, while Old Orange tightens up with more water and tree interference.

Fees: Confirm eligibility and the applicable guest or reciprocal rate.
Access: Private club; confirm any guest or reciprocal arrangement. Summer does not automatically make it public.
Tip: Conditions maintained at a private club standard

Legends Golf and Country Club

Legends Golf & Country Club is at 8600 Legends Boulevard in Fort Myers, not Lehigh Acres. It is a private community club.

The course is a solid 18-hole layout in a residential community setting with well-maintained conditions and a staff that genuinely wants you to have a good time.

Fees: Ask about the applicable membership, guest or approved transfer charges.
Access: Private; confirm eligibility through the club.
Tip: Not as architecturally distinguished, but plays well and the greens are consistently solid

Pelican Preserve Golf Club

Pelican Preserve is a private 27-hole club in Fort Myers. Golf membership options include eligible non-residents as well as residents.

The routing has some clever moments where the wetland corridors force you to make real decisions off the tee.

Fees: Obtain the current schedule for your eligible membership or guest category.
Access: Private club; general public access should not be assumed.
Tip: The GPS cart system is helpful for first-time visitors since the routing can be unclear on the ground

Colonial Country Club

Colonial Country Club in south Fort Myers rewards patience and ball-striking more than pure power. The layout plays through a mature residential setting with significant tree cover on several holes.

"This course is a must play in SWFL. Impeccable greens, phenomenal condition."
GolfPass reviewer, GolfPass review

The greens are medium-paced and have more break than they look. Club selection on approach shots matters here.

Fees: Use Colonial's current schedule for your approved playing category.
Access: Bundled community club; confirm guest or reciprocal eligibility directly.
Booking: A guest rate does not establish an unrestricted public tee time.

How Fort Myers Golf Compares to the Rest of Southwest Florida

The Fort Myers area offers a different golf experience than Naples to the south. Naples courses tend to run more expensive and more exclusive, with a higher concentration of private clubs that limit public access.

Fort Myers has more municipal and semi-private options at accessible price points, which makes it a better base for a golf trip built around public-access play. If you are curious how the two areas stack up, the Naples visitor golf and access guide are worth comparing side by side.

Build an itinerary from confirmed public bookings and any private access already arranged. Add up the actual quotes before setting the trip budget.

The PGA's Florida golf travel resource lists Southwest Florida as one of the top destinations in the state, and the Fort Myers concentration of courses is a big reason why.

If you are planning a trip around golf, look at the Visit Fort Myers golf page for resort packages or promotional deals that bundle tee times with accommodations. The savings can be real, particularly during shoulder season in May and November.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best public golf courses in Fort Myers?

Eastwood Golf Course and Coral Oaks Golf Course are the top public options in terms of quality and price. Both are city-owned, well-maintained, and accessible without a membership. Eagle Ridge Golf Club is another strong public option with a distinctive natural Florida character.

How much does it cost to play golf in Fort Myers?

Use dated operator schedules or live quotes. Match the course, date, starting time, carts and taxes; an undated regional price range is not a booking offer.

When is the best time to play golf in Fort Myers?

October through December is the sweet spot. The weather is cooler and drier than summer, the crowds have not arrived yet in full force, and prices have not hit peak-season levels. January through March is peak season with great weather but busy and expensive tee sheets.

Are there any walkable golf courses in Fort Myers?

Fort Myers Country Club publishes walking rates. Eastwood's September-October 2026 schedule permits walking after 3:30 p.m. Confirm the applicable dates and policy before booking elsewhere.

Which Fort Myers golf courses are best for beginners?

Compare Eastwood and Eagle Ridge using forward-tee yardages and expected pace. Legends is private and in Fort Myers, so it should not be listed as an inexpensive public Lehigh Acres option.