Best Public Courses in Naples, FL

[akronswitness]

Hey all, Im going to on a vacation in a few weeks to Naples and figured I would bring my clubs. I did some looking and I have never before been so overwhelmed by the amount of golf courses in 1 area than I have looking at Naples. Its like they jampacked 75 golf courses into a few city blocks haha

 

So I figured I would reach out here. I need some direction on what public courses to try to book a tee time at down there if anybody has been. I am from Ohio, so most of the courses I play are pretty flat and boring. The chance to golf at a course that has some awesome views and character has me excited. I already expect to pay $150+ per round so Im mentally ready for that part of it.

 

Any suggestions?

[Baitkiller]

I'll get with you later. Carnusti just played a bunch of them and can offer suggestions. 

[awalk21]

Not a lot of amazing public options in Naples. If you don't factor in money, the best are Tiburon (either course), Old Corkscrew (long drive, hard course), and Lely (either course). And to be honest, anything less than $100 isn't worth it because it's not going to be in great shape. 

[akronswitness]

45 minutes ago, awalk21 said:

Not a lot of amazing public options in Naples. If you don't factor in money, the best are Tiburon (either course), Old Corkscrew (long drive, hard course), and Lely (either course). And to be honest, anything less than $100 isn't worth it because it's not going to be in great shape. 

 

Yeah thats what Im confused about. I looked on google maps from where we are staying but 9/10 courses all say private or country club so Im having a hard time even just finding one in general.,

 

Update: I just checked tee times for Tiburon on their website. $279 hoooooollly crap 😂 Maybe not that course. 

[pup142]

Drive down to Ava Maria and play a new course called the National. Probably a 25 to 30 minute drive. Better than the Lely courses. (Only my opinion) Pretty reasonable. $60 bucks. If it was in Naples it would be over $100. Great course. You will enjoy. Old Corkscrew is good but really really hard and really expensive. Both have nice practice facilities that come with the price of your green fees.

Edited April 7, 2021 by pup142

[akronswitness]

1 hour ago, pup142 said:

Drive down to Ava Maria and play a new course called the National. Probably a 25 to 30 minute drive. Better than the Lely courses. (Only my opinion) Pretty reasonable. $60 bucks. If it was in Naples it would be over $100. Great course. You will enjoy. Old Corkscrew is ok but won’t wow you but really really hard. 

Awesome I will have to look into that. 25-30 mins is fine, I just didnt want to drive all over creation on my vacation trying to find courses to play.

 

Honestly, Im just looking for picturesque golf courses that make me feel like Im not in the plains of the midwest anymore haha The more water, palm trees, ect the better. If I shoot a 105 and lose 15 balls per round who cares.

 

Here are some on Golf Now that popped up so they must be public (I think?)

 

-San Carlos

-Hibiscus Golf Club

-Quail Run Golf Club

-Tiburon Black Course

-Arrowhead

-Eagle Lakes

-Valencia

-Raptor Bay

Edited April 6, 2021 by akronswitness

[pup142]

Other than Tiburon the National in my opinion is nicer than the courses that you posted that Golf Now has posted. Played there yesterday and if you also like wildlife you will see a lot. Saw a lot of 8-12 foot Alligators in the lakes. This is there time for mating so be careful around the ponds.

Edited April 6, 2021 by pup142

[Baitkiller]

Hammock Bay is the prettiest of the two Marriott courses and a fun play. New fairways last year. The Flamingo is the best of the two Lely courses. I havent played national but panther run out there in Ava Maria is pretty nice. 

[akronswitness]

3 hours ago, Baitkiller said:

Hammock Bay is the prettiest of the two Marriott courses and a fun play. New fairways last year. The Flamingo is the best of the two Lely courses. I havent played national but panther run out there in Ava Maria is pretty nice. 

Thank you! Random question but do private courses ever let the public make tee times if you call in advance? Places like Royal Poinciana, Wilderness CC, Naples Grande, ect? Or is there no chance.

 

Also, is Tiburon worth the crazy $279 price tag or no?

 

Edited April 7, 2021 by akronswitness

[Dancin]

No Tiburon is not worth that. In addition to high Naples prices, you're paying a premium because pro tournaments have been there. In the off season (summer) some of the lesser privates will allow the public on. Probably no chance of that in April though.

[akronswitness]

9 hours ago, Dancin said:

No Tiburon is not worth that. In addition to high Naples prices, you're paying a premium because pro tournaments have been there. In the off season (summer) some of the lesser privates will allow the public on. Probably no chance of that in April though.

Got it I figured, a lot of reviews of Tiburon say how over priced it is just because of the Norman name.

 

I think I'm going to do the Lely Flamingo course and either Hammock Bay, the National or Raptor Bay. Raptor bay has a lot of good reviews

[Baitkiller]

You can play damn near anywhere for cheap all summer. Cant play anywhere decent under 200 all season and all privates are locked down all season. Season=November to May. 

[pup142]

Raptor Bay is really overrated. (Only my opinion.) Listed cheap in the off-season but the course just doesn’t do much for me.Haven’t played it in a long time.The last time I played it there were no sand traps on the whole course.Never played a course here with no sand traps? All elevated greens.If your willing to pay there prices you my as well go to Old Corksrew. Tiburon is not worth what they are charging.    ($300 Bucks Yikes!)  Dancin was right on the money when he said that too about Tiburon.

Edited April 7, 2021 by pup142

[ronnbee]

Treviso bay 

[akronswitness]

2 hours ago, ronnbee said:

Treviso bay 

That course looks really nice but they don't have their prices posted online. Do you know what it costs per round?

[akronswitness]

6 hours ago, pup142 said:

Raptor Bay is really overrated. (Only my opinion.) Listed cheap in the off-season but the course just doesn’t do much for me.Haven’t played it in a long time.The last time I played it there were no sand traps on the whole course.Never played a course here with no sand traps? All elevated greens.If your willing to pay there prices you my as well go to Old Corksrew. Tiburon is not worth what they are charging.    ($300 Bucks Yikes!)  Dancin was right on the money when he said that too about Tiburon.

 

I looked at pictures of Raptor Bay and it looks really....flat? Sort of boring if that makes sense?

 

I'm extremely indecisive haha I might just end up playing the Lely Mustang course one day then come back and play the Flamingo course the other day since those 2 seem to be really good from the general consensus

[Dancin]

TPC Treviso Bay is fully private now. You aren't playing there unless you are a member at another TPC course.

[Baitkiller]

Play Hammock and Flamingo. 

[akronswitness]

13 minutes ago, Baitkiller said:

Play Hammock and Flamingo. 

Sold, but I'm looking online and it says Hammock bay is a country club? I can't find anywhere online to book a tee time

Edited April 8, 2021 by akronswitness

[Baitkiller]

Marriott course. Call the shop well in advance.  You should get on.

Mustang is just blah to me. Opening hole is driver five iron par 5. Last three holes stuffed in to where there's only room for 2. Rest of the course is fun though.

Flamingo can hurt you if its windy.

Good low budget option is eagle lakes. Very good layout but not resort conditions. 

[Baitkiller]

Lol eagle lakes can really hurt you if its windy. If your miss is left, bring extra balls. Lots of them. 

[akronswitness]

1 minute ago, Baitkiller said:

Lol eagle lakes can really hurt you if its windy. If your miss is left, bring extra balls. Lots of them. 

If I miss I slice so no worries with being left haha have you played Valencia? That seems to pop up a lot too with good reviews

 

[Baitkiller]

5 hours

[akronswitness]

On 4/7/2021 at 10:54 PM, Baitkiller said:

5 hours

Welp, having a hard time here lol Called Lely Resort to book a tee time and I asked if it was okay if my wife rode with me, they said they dont allow riders. Called Hammock Bay, they dont have any tee times the week we are going until late afternoon.

 

Sooooooo, looks like Im going to be golfing some basic courses like Aarowhead, Valencia, ect...

 

UPDATE: Called Panther Run and they allow riders for a $25 fee. So I have a tee time there next week. Whew! One down. One to go.

Edited April 13, 2021 by akronswitness

[Baitkiller]

Try eagle lakes

[akronswitness]

22 hours ago, Baitkiller said:

Try eagle lakes

They didnt have early enough tee times either for a solo player. Had to go with Valencia since they had early tee times available and allowed riders. So Panther Run and Valencia it is!

[1puttTUT]

Panther Run and Arrowhead are my go-to's. Neither is super fancy, but the conditions are nice and both places are laid back, which to me is a big plus, especially if you're bringing your wife to ride along.

[babyfade]

Panther Run is boring in my opinion. I loved Old Corkscrew.

[akronswitness]

5 hours ago, 1puttTUT said:

Panther Run and Arrowhead are my go-to's. Neither is super fancy, but the conditions are nice and both places are laid back, which to me is a big plus, especially if you're bringing your wife to ride along.

 

hmm I thought Panther Run was supposed to be a little more fancy than others like Eagle Lake, Aarowhead and Valencia? 

 

Either way, I just hope to play quickly. I am so sick and tired of having a log jam at any golf course Im on in the Midwest. Your either waiting for people to hit their balls or your feeling pressure from the group behind you so you speed up and play horrible.

[akronswitness]

5 hours ago, babyfade said:

Panther Run is boring in my opinion. I loved Old Corkscrew.

 😒 I was really hoping for a pretty course with lots of palm trees, water and crocs lol The biggest enjoyment I am trying to get out of golfing in a place like FLA is the stereotypical aesthetic of playing golf in FLA, not OH haha 

 

Instead of slicing my drives into Maple trees, I want to be slicing them into Palm trees

Edited April 15, 2021 by akronswitness