Key Takeaways
- Hammock Bay and The Rookery are mainland courses near Marco Island, with resort-private access through JW Marriott or the club.
- Sanibel has The Dunes and Sanibel Island Golf Club. Captiva has The Clutch for eligible South Seas guests and owners.
- Lely's Flamingo Island and Mustang offer mainland public golf. The Classics is private; Old Corkscrew has ended daily operations.
- Confirm eligibility, maintenance dates and travel time before booking around an island stay.
Island Golf in Southwest Florida: A Different Experience
Southwest Florida's barrier islands and coastal communities offer a golf experience that stands apart from the mainland courses around Naples and Fort Myers. Playing golf on Marco Island, Sanibel Island, or the surrounding islands means ocean breezes, unique coastal landscapes, and a laid-back atmosphere that makes every round feel like a vacation, because it is one.
But island golf comes with its own considerations. Course options are more limited than on the mainland.
Access can be restricted by bridges and seasonal traffic. And the courses themselves tend to reflect their environment: flatter terrain, more wind exposure, and coastal wildlife that includes ospreys circling overhead and alligators sunning themselves on cart paths.
This guide separates island courses from nearby mainland options and flags the access checks that matter before you reserve.
Golf on Marco Island
Marco Island is the largest and most developed of Southwest Florida's Ten Thousand Islands. Located about 20 minutes south of Naples, it's a popular destination for beach vacations, and it happens to have solid golf options for visitors.
Hammock Bay Golf and Country Club
Hammock Bay is a Peter Jacobsen and Jim Hardy course on the mainland near Marco Island, not on the island itself.
Water comes into play on the majority of holes, and the ocean breeze, especially during winter months, adds a consistent challenge.
JW Marriott describes Hammock Bay and The Rookery as resort-private. Confirm eligible guest or club access before arranging a round.
Price: Request a dated quote for your eligible playing category.
Access: Resort-private, with eligibility and reservation confirmed by the operator.
Best for: Eligible players staying near Marco Island who are prepared to travel to the mainland.
JW Marriott: Hammock Bay and The Rookery
JW Marriott Marco Island offers golf through Hammock Bay and The Rookery on the mainland. The resort advertises a shuttle; confirm its current schedule and your golf reservation separately.
This is a convenient option if you're staying at the resort and want someone else to handle the logistics.
Check the resort's current package terms. A room reservation does not by itself specify included rounds or a guaranteed starting time.
Golf Near Marco Island
Several excellent courses are located within a 15–30 minute drive of Marco Island on the mainland. If you're staying on Marco, these courses substantially expand your options.
Lely Resort Golf and Country Club
Lely has three courses, but only Flamingo Island and Mustang offer public play. The Classics is private. Use the correct course when checking visitor availability.
Flamingo Island is a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design and Mustang is a Lee Trevino design. Compare the current scorecards rather than assuming Mustang is the shorter course.
For a two-round visitor itinerary, compare Flamingo Island and Mustang. Playing The Classics requires separate eligible access.
Distance from Marco Island: 15–20 minutes
Price: Use a current quote for the named public course and date.
CAVU, Formerly Naples Grande: Private
Naples Grande Golf Club is now CAVU Golf Club, a private members-only club. It is distinct from the former Naples Beach Hotel course. Do not assume a Naples Grande hotel booking includes CAVU golf.
Access: Arrange any eligible guest visit through the club; this is not a public daily-fee recommendation.
Fiddler's Creek Golf
The Creek Course at Fiddler's Creek is an 18-hole Arthur Hills layout for members and eligible guests. The operator describes a course renovation completed for 2025, not two Arthur Hills courses called Creek and Marsh.
Confirm club eligibility before requesting a playing quote. An address within a golf community does not establish access to every nearby course.
Distance from Marco Island: 10–15 minutes
Golf on Sanibel and Captiva Islands
Sanibel and Captiva Islands, located off the coast of Fort Myers, are known for their natural beauty, shelling beaches, and wildlife refuges. Golf options are limited but notable.
The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club
The Dunes is one of Sanibel's golf options, not its only course. The operator advertises non-member booking for its 18-hole layout.
Sanibel Island Golf Club also publishes public rates and booking terms. Check both courses' current calendars before choosing a round.
The Dunes is a semi-private club, and public play is available with advance booking. The course is shorter than most mainland options (playing under 6,600 yards from the tips), but the tight fairways, prevailing island winds, and small greens make it play longer than the yardage suggests.
Price: Use The Dunes' current quote for your date and confirm cart, tax and rental charges.
Access: Semi-private; public play available
Best For: Sanibel visitors who want to play without leaving the island
Captiva has The Clutch at South Seas. Access is for eligible South Seas guests and owners with Club Captiva privileges and a confirmed reservation, not unrestricted public play.
Golf on Fort Myers Beach and Estero Island
Fort Myers Beach does not have a full 18-hole golf course on the island. However, several courses on the mainland are within a short drive:
- Bay Oaks: The town's recreation campus is not a nine-hole ball-golf country club. Do not confuse disc golf listings with a golf tee time.
- Saltleaf Golf Preserve: The former Raptor Bay property in Bonita Springs now uses the Saltleaf name. Check its current booking calendar and maintenance notices.
- Bonita Fairways: An 18-hole executive course in Bonita Springs. Ask about shorter-round options and current fees.
- Old Corkscrew: Daily golf operations have ended. It is not a current mainland booking alternative.
Planning Your Island Golf Trip
Here are practical tips for combining island vacation time with golf in Southwest Florida:
Transportation
Marco Island, Sanibel and Captiva have road connections, but not every Southwest Florida island does. Check the actual route and bridge traffic for your accommodation and course.
Allow travel time based on current traffic, including bridge delays, rather than a fixed extra-minute allowance.
When to Play
Island courses are exposed to ocean breezes that pick up as the day progresses. For the calmest conditions, book early morning tee times. Afternoon wind can add 1–2 clubs to your normal distances and make course management far more important than raw power.
Combining Beach and Golf
Leave enough time between golf and other plans for travel, weather delays and the course's expected pace. An early round does not automatically have a lower fee.
What to Bring
Beyond standard golf gear, island golfers should pack:
- Extra sunscreen (SPF 50+), the sun reflects off water on all sides
- A wide-brimmed hat for sun protection
- A lightweight windbreaker for breezy mornings
- Bug spray for summer rounds (mosquitoes can be active near mangroves)
Is Island Golf Worth It?
Compare courses by the round available to you, not by island versus mainland labels. Tiburon offers visitor booking; TPC Treviso Bay needs a seasonal eligibility check, and Old Corkscrew has ended daily operations.
"Always a pleasure playing at TPC Treviso. Nice layout and challenging holes with fast greens."
napolidon2012, GolfPass review
Sanibel's courses let you include golf without a mainland crossing. Hammock Bay offers a different option near Marco Island, but it still requires mainland travel and eligible resort-private access.
The best choice depends on access, travel time, preferred tees and current conditions.
For many visiting golfers, that combination is exactly what a Florida golf vacation should feel like.
Browse all island and coastal courses in our complete course directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any golf courses directly on Marco Island?
Island Country Club has an 18-hole course on Marco Island. Confirm private-club guest eligibility directly. Hammock Bay and The Rookery are on the mainland nearby.
Can I play golf on Sanibel Island?
Yes. The Dunes and Sanibel Island Golf Club both offer visitor booking routes. On Captiva, The Clutch is restricted to eligible South Seas guests and owners with Club Captiva access.
How do island golf courses compare to Naples courses?
Compare the individual scorecard, access rules and current maintenance conditions. An island location does not establish lower design quality or a more relaxed pace.
Is there golf on Pine Island or Gasparilla Island?
The Gasparilla Golf Club has a Pete Dye championship course for inn guests and members, not a small public short course. We have not verified a current Pine Island public booking offer; confirm an operating course before planning golf there.
What is the best island golf course in Southwest Florida?
For a visitor staying on Sanibel, compare The Dunes and Sanibel Island Golf Club. Near Marco, check eligible Hammock Bay or Rookery access, or Lely's public mainland courses.
Can I rent golf clubs on Marco Island or Sanibel?
Ask the selected course to reserve the correct rental set and confirm the charge. Hammock Bay is on the mainland; do not assume rentals or a tee time are available just because you are staying on an island.