Lely Resort in Naples gives visiting golfers something most resort destinations can't match: three genuinely different courses, each designed by a Hall of Fame architect, all available for public play. The Flamingo Island Course, the Classics, and the Mustang aren't just names on a scorecard, they represent three distinct design philosophies, three different difficulty profiles, and three different kinds of fun.
If you're planning a golf trip to Naples and Lely is on your radar, this breakdown will help you decide which course (or courses) to book.
Key Takeaways
- Lely Resort's three courses span a wide range of difficulty and style, from the player-friendly Mustang to the more demanding Classics
- Each course was designed by a different Hall of Fame architect: Robert Trent Jones Sr. (Flamingo Island), Gary Player (the Classics), and Lee Trevino (the Mustang)
- Green fees across all three courses run roughly $55, $175 depending on season, making Lely one of the better-value multi-course resorts in Southwest Florida
- The Flamingo Island Course is the strongest overall pick for most visitors, great design, fair challenge, and the most striking holes
- Serious golfers should prioritize the Classics; beginners and high-handicappers will be happier on the Mustang
Let's look at each course on its own terms.
Flamingo Island Course: Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s Florida Showcase
Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed hundreds of courses across his career, and the Flamingo Island Course at Lely Resort shows exactly why he became one of the most influential figures in golf architecture. The course opened in 1990 and still holds up beautifully against newer layouts in the Naples market.
Jones built Flamingo Island around a series of interconnected lakes, and water comes into play on the majority of holes. The signature move is his use of dramatic mounding along the fairways, something you don't see often in flat Southwest Florida.
These grass berms frame the shots visually, funnel errant balls in predictable directions, and give the course a sense of theater that pure Florida layouts often lack.
The standout hole is the par-3 fifth, which plays to an island green surrounded almost entirely by water. It's a nerve-wracker at any handicap level, but the green is large enough that a well-struck shot anywhere near the middle is safe.
Jones had a philosophy that courses should be "hard but fair," and that hole captures it perfectly.
From a difficulty standpoint, Flamingo Island sits in the middle of the three Lely courses. The fairways are generous enough to keep double-bogeys at bay if you miss left or right, but the greens are large and sloped, which means three-putts are a real threat.
Scratch golfers will find it engaging without feeling overwhelmed. Mid-handicappers, the 8-to-18 range, will probably have the most fun here.
According to Golf Digest's Florida course rankings, RTJ Sr. designs in the Sunshine State consistently score high for playability and visual interest, and Flamingo Island is a textbook example of both. Peak-season green fees run from around $130 to $175.
Off-season rates drop considerably, often falling below $80 for afternoon tee times.
Best For: Mid-handicappers, couples where one player is stronger than the other, anyone who wants a visually impressive round without getting beaten up
The Classics Course: Gary Player's More Demanding Design
Gary Player brought a different mindset to the Classics Course at Lely Resort. Where Jones used generous fairways and dramatic aesthetics, Player built a course that rewards precision and punishes vagueness.
The Classics is the toughest of the three Lely tracks, not brutally so, but noticeably more demanding than the other two options on property.
Player's design philosophy has always centered on fitness and discipline, and you feel that influence walking the Classics. The course is tighter off the tee on several key holes, the greens are faster and more complex, and the bunkering is placed specifically to catch the slightly mishit approach rather than the completely offline one.
In other words, good golfers who are having a slightly off day will get punished. High-handicappers who are already spraying it will just play it as a scramble.
The Classics is also where you'll find the most interesting variety in hole shapes. There are dogleg lefts and rights that require real tee shot planning, par-4s where position matters more than distance, and a handful of two-shot holes where layup-versus-go decisions actually come into play.
If you're the kind of golfer who gets bored hitting driver on every par-4, the Classics will keep you thinking.
Green fees at the Classics mirror those at Flamingo Island, roughly $130 to $175 at peak season, less in summer. Given that the Classics is semi-private (Lely residents get priority access), weekend tee time availability during January through March can be tighter than the other two courses.
Book at least two weeks out if you're coming in peak season.
Best For: Single-digit handicappers, golfers who want a mental challenge alongside the physical one, anyone who finds most resort courses too easy
Mustang Course: Lee Trevino's Approachable Layout
Lee Trevino, six-time major champion and one of the most quotable figures in golf history, designed the Mustang Course at Lely Resort with a clear priority: keep it fun. Trevino has said publicly that he wanted to build courses people could play quickly and enjoy regardless of skill level, and the Mustang reflects that goal.
"Mustang is a challenging but fair track. Play the right tee position for your skill level and rip it."
Bugajma, GolfPass review
The Mustang is the most open of the three Lely courses. Fairways are wider, water hazards are more avoidable, and the greens are flatter and more forgiving.
For a golfer who shoots in the 90s or above, this is the course at Lely where you're most likely to put together something resembling your best game. That's not a knock on the layout, it's a design feature.
That said, the Mustang isn't without teeth. There are a few holes on the back nine where water narrows the approach zone significantly, and the course plays longer than it looks from the cart path.
Trevino understood that a course without any challenge isn't interesting even for beginners, so he front-loaded the accessible holes on the front nine and added some bite late.
Pricing on the Mustang tends to run slightly lower than Flamingo Island and the Classics during peak season, typically $55 to $140 depending on time of day and season. It's the best value of the three if you're bringing someone who doesn't play often or is just picking up the game.
One more thing worth knowing: the Mustang sees the highest volume of play among the three Lely courses. Pace of play can be slower on weekends during peak season, so morning tee times are preferable if you want to keep things moving.
Best For: Higher handicappers, first-timers to Naples golf, groups with mixed skill levels, anyone playing their second or third round of the trip
Side-by-Side Comparison
Here's a direct look at how the three courses stack up on the factors most golfers care about:
| Flamingo Island | The Classics | Mustang | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Designer | Robert Trent Jones Sr. | Gary Player | Lee Trevino |
| Difficulty | Moderate | Most Challenging | Most Accessible |
| Peak Green Fees | $130, $175 | $130, $175 | $55, $140 |
| Signature Feature | Island green par-3, mounding | Precision bunkering, tight doglegs | Wide fairways, forgiving design |
| Best Handicap Range | 8, 20 | 0, 12 | 15 and above |
These ranges aren't hard rules, plenty of scratch golfers enjoy the Mustang and plenty of high-handicappers play the Classics. Think of them as a starting point.
How Lely Compares to Other Naples Courses
Lely Resort holds a specific position in the Naples golf market. It's not the most expensive option, and it's not the most exclusive, but it offers something that neither TPC Treviso Bay nor Tiburon's Gold Course can match: three distinct courses under one roof, all accessible to the public.
"Always a pleasure playing at TPC Treviso. Nice layout and challenging holes with fast greens."
napolidon2012, GolfPass review
TPC Treviso Bay is the better individual course in terms of prestige and design complexity. Tiburon's Gold Course is more polished from a resort amenities standpoint.
But if you're planning a multi-day trip and want variety without driving across town to a different course each day, Lely is the logical answer. You can play all three courses back-to-back and have a genuinely different experience each time.
For a broader view of where Lely fits among Naples's best public-access options, our guide to the 10 best public golf courses in Naples for visitors covers the full competitive landscape.
One thing the Lely Resort Golf & Country Club does particularly well is managing tee time booking across all three courses through a single reservation system. You can mix and match days without the friction of coordinating with multiple pro shops.
For a multi-day golf trip, that convenience is worth something.
Which Lely Course Should You Play First?
If you can only play one course at Lely, play Flamingo Island. It's the most complete package: the best design pedigree, the most memorable individual holes, and a difficulty level that works well for the widest range of golfers.
Robert Trent Jones Sr. was working at the peak of his powers when he designed it, and the course has aged gracefully.
If you can play two, add the Classics if you're a stronger player or the Mustang if you're bringing someone who prefers a more relaxed round. The Classics will challenge you in ways Flamingo Island doesn't. The Mustang will let you swing freely without worrying about every tee shot.
The Golf Channel's course rating methodology weights design variety heavily, and Lely scores well on that metric precisely because all three courses feel genuinely distinct, not like the same template with slightly different water placement.
Lely Resort sits on US-41 south of Naples, which puts it about 15 minutes from downtown and about 20 minutes from Marco Island. The location works well for visitors staying anywhere in the southern Naples corridor. Tee times are available through the resort's website, GolfNow, and by phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all three Lely Resort courses open to the public?
Yes, all three, Flamingo Island, the Classics, and the Mustang, are open to public play. The Classics has a semi-private component, meaning Lely residents get priority, but outside tee times are available.
Booking early during peak season (January through March) is recommended for all three courses.
What is the easiest course at Lely Resort?
The Mustang Course is the most accessible of the three. Lee Trevino's design features wider fairways and more forgiving greens than either the Flamingo Island Course or the Classics. Higher handicappers and recreational golfers will find the most enjoyment there.
How much does it cost to play Lely Resort?
Green fees vary by season and time of day. During peak season (roughly January through March), expect to pay $130, $175 for Flamingo Island and the Classics, and $55, $140 for the Mustang.
Summer rates drop significantly, afternoon tee times on the Mustang can fall below $60. Check the Lely Resort website or GolfNow for current pricing.
Who designed the courses at Lely Resort?
The Flamingo Island Course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., one of the most prolific course designers in history. The Classics was designed by Gary Player, the South African legend and nine-time major champion.
The Mustang Course was designed by Lee Trevino, a six-time major winner and World Golf Hall of Fame inductee. Three courses, three Hall of Famers, it's a legitimate selling point.
How does Lely Resort compare to other Naples golf resorts?
Lely's main advantage over other Naples resort golf options is variety, three courses in one location at prices below TPC Treviso Bay and Tiburon. The tradeoff is that none of the Lely courses quite match those two top-tier options individually.
For multi-day trips where variety and value matter, Lely is tough to beat. For a single showpiece round, TPC Treviso Bay or Tiburon's Gold Course may be the better single-course choice.