Destinations
Florida Takes Center Stage
Sunshine State Shines Bright with Golf
By Scott Kauffman
The official nickname of Florida is the “Sunshine State,” and its year-round sunny climate is certainly the main reason the state attracted a record 142.9 million visitors in 2024. For those who enjoy playing golf or living the golf lifestyle, Florida can perhaps be best described as the unofficial “Golf Capital” of the U.S. The Troon brand brightly shines in Florida, too, with 57 facilities in all, from luxurious resorts to private clubs to residential communities.
Private Pleasures
In posh Palm Beach County, BallenIsles Country Club is one private club community that personifies life in Florida’s prestigious Palm Beaches. In many respects BallenIsles not only set the bar 50-plus years ago when it opened as the original home of the PGA of America, but this Troon Privé property keeps getting better and better.
Perfectly located in Palm Beach Gardens with three championship courses, including the iconic East Course where Jack Nicklaus won the 1971 PGA Championship, BallenIsles has invested more than $80 million in club additions since 2009, securing its legacy and future sustainability as one of the country’s premier places for golf — and non-golf — pursuits and lifestyle.
Among the club’s recent round of capital improvement projects was the newly reimagined clubhouse that reopened in 2018, a $35 million commitment that expanded the original clubhouse to 115,000 square feet and created one of the largest clubhouses in the Palm Beaches. Meanwhile, not to rest on its golf laurels, BallenIsles’ membership approved the $7.5 million complete renovation of the Rees Jones-designed South Course in 2020, and most recently, $9.1 million in enhancements to East Course and practice facility areas, including the new state-of-the-art ’71 Learning Center and 16.5-acre BallenIsles Practice Grounds.
These highly popular new practice facilities features a 25,000-square-foot putting course while the long-game area has nine targets and individual bays outfitted with GPS systems. The ‘71 Learning Center, named in honor of Nicklaus’ PGA Championship victory, also has dedicated spaces for training (four instructional bays feature Trackman technology) and custom fittings at the first-of-its-kind Callaway Performance and Innovation Fitting Studio.
Though golf is high profile at BallenIsles, which hosts some 90,000 annual rounds on the club’s trio of layouts, the club’s membership is equally as active with other recreational and leisure pursuits. That explains the most recent addition to the community, the $19 million renovation and expansion of the Sports & Lifestyle Complex which debuted last November.
The enhancements include a renovated aquatics center with a resort-style swimming pool, outdoor cabana bar, new dining venue Artisan (with a Sweet Shop inside), Member Lounge, a renovated Health + Wellness Fitness Center, Salon & Spa, and Pilates Studio. Other highlights are the new Family Fun Center, Member Cultural Center, and Racquets Shop building adjacent to the club’s world-class 30-court racquet complex, which features 21 tennis courts (including an exhibition stadium court) and nine pickleball courts.
On the state’s opposite coast, and perfectly situated between the pristine beaches of Fort Myers and the upscale charms of Naples, Bonita National Golf & Country Club is a private residential golf club community that won’t disappoint duffers of any level. And 10 years after the gated development opened with an 18-hole Gordon Lewis-designed layout, clubhouse and fitness center, pool complex, and tennis courts, Bonita National is about to celebrate a “Decade of Transformation” with nearly $5.5 million in amenity improvements to the community’s golf, racquet sports, and pool areas.
Not far away in Naples is another compelling Troon Privé golf residential property, Audubon Country Club. As the name implies, expect not only that signature Troon hospitality, but one of the more memorable peaceful and pristine golf experiences. Limited to just 401 homes and maximum 345 members on 750 acres, this 18-hole certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary is one of the lowest-density private clubs around. Besides golf, this full-service country club also features tennis, croquet, bocce, swimming, and fitness facilities, and is located just minutes from Southwest Florida’s beautiful beaches.
Formerly known as Don Veller Seminole Golf Course, the newly renovated and repositioned Seminole Legacy Golf Club is now a must-play private course in the capital city of Tallahassee for fans of Florida State University or any avid golfer for that matter. Originally designed by Bill Amick in 1962, and longtime home course to FSU’s men’s and women’s golf teams, Nicklaus Design Company completed a comprehensive renovation in early 2020, redesigning all but one of the original holes. The new 7,800-yard Jack Nicklaus Legacy Course, featuring a rare design collaboration between Nicklaus and his son, Jack Nicklaus II, effectively repositioned Seminole Legacy as one of the top collegiate golf clubs in the country.
Resort Experiences
Despite having more coastline than any state in the continental U.S., playing an oceanfront course in Florida can be as rare as making a double-eagle.
One such property that features a stretch of stunning oceanfront holes is Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Palm Coast. Situated along the Atlantic Coast between Daytona Beach and historic St. Augustine, Hammock Beach offers a pair of championship-caliber signature courses designed by Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson.
To be sure, the main attraction for most golfers is the Nicklaus-designed Ocean Course. It features six memorable holes routed along one mile of privately owned Florida coastline. The collection of oceanfront holes — Nos. 8, 9 and 15-18 — is memorable and “each one is a very good golf hole,” says longtime General Manager Brad Hauer, who helped build the Conservatory six years after the Ocean Course opened in 2000.
In some ways, Hammock Beach conjures Pebble Beach comparisons thanks to a spectacular string of finishing holes nicknamed “The Bear Claw” that plays into and alongside the ocean before winding up at the luxurious 20-room Lodge at Hammock Beach and 91,000-square-foot Fantasy Pool complex. The Lodge’s signature “shore-to-table” Atlantic Grille, which features upscale dining and sweeping ocean and golf vistas, is a fitting place to top off your Ocean Course round.
In late 2017, Hammock Beach completed a major renovation of the Ocean Course with Nicklaus Design Company, highlighted by a regrassing of all fairways, greens, and roughs with player-friendly seashore paspalum.
Meanwhile, Watson and his design partner, Bob Gibbons, collaborated with Troon Senior Vice President of Development Ron Despain on a $1.2 million renovation at the Conservatory, comprising a complete overhaul of the layout’s 187 bunkers, including the removal of 40 bunkers that resulted in a much-improved player experience.
“We’re coming off one of our best golf years,” Hauer says, “and the future looks really bright. We had a lot of play last year, and we’re seeing a little push out of South Florida (for new members). They come here and see a mile of oceanfront golf and a really good value in the membership and real estate compared to South Florida.”
In Cape Coral near Ft. Myers, the rejuvenated Cape Royal Golf Club is giving golfers — and those who relish resort-style hospitality — another leisure destination worth visiting. The course, which features the popular Caloosa Club restaurant, has the feel of a protected enclave or nature preserve what with wood storks, ibis, egrets, and herons frequenting the 27-hole property’s fairways and natural areas as much as golfers. Water is in play or borders many of the holes, providing a lush, relaxing round.
The Gordon Lewis-designed facility underwent a major renovation in 2023, comprising new bunkers and five sets of tees that can test all skill levels. Last year, more than 360 new trees were planted after the property incurred damage from Hurricane Ian. But Cape Royal and its full-service Caloosa Club restaurant is back thriving once again and remains, “one of the best-kept secrets in the greater Fort Myers area,” said General Manager Mike Bender.
Lessons and clinics are offered for groups or individuals looking to hone their skills.
Further south along the Gulf of America in Naples, a part of Florida officially described as the Paradise Coast, TiburÓn represents one of the most exclusive residential resorts in the world. Anchored by 36 holes of Greg Norman-designed championship golf and The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón, which boasts both a Forbes Four Star and AAA Four Diamond rating, has the unique distinction of playing host to three nationally televised professional tournaments.
The string of high-profile events starts with the PGA Tour Champions Chubb Classic in mid-February and culminates with the LPGA Tour’s season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in November and the mixed-field Grant Thornton Invitational in December.
Playing conditions have long been world-class, but Tiburón is embarking on a major multi-million-dollar golf course irrigation project that will take turf conditions and maintenance levels to an even higher level.
In Tampa, Saddlebrook Resort has unveiled a new 13-acre driving range, the inaugural milestone in the resort’s comprehensive revitalization plan. Designed by Rees Jones in partnership with his associate Bryce Swanson, this state-of-the-art facility features a double-sided driving range, two putting greens, and three short game areas complete with greenside bunkers.
Jones is also at work transforming the property’s two existing 18-hole golf courses into three interchangeable and versatile nine-hole courses beginning in 2025.
Since opening in November 2000, the acclaimed King & Bear Golf Course has served as the cornerstone of World Golf Village, a 6,300-acre master-planned golf community just a short drive from historic St. Augustine. Nearly 25 years later, the rare collaborative course design effort by Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus is playing practically like a brand-new course courtesy of a $2.5 million restoration led by MacCurrach Golf of nearby Jacksonville.
The major renovation, which was completed last October, focused on improving the course’s playability while preserving its original character. A key highlight of the project involved resurfacing all 18 greens, as well as the putting and chipping areas with premium TifEagle Bermudagrass. Improvements also included significant upgrades to the irrigation and drainage systems to promote water conservation, enhance turf health, and provide optimal playing conditions throughout the year.
Mystic Dunes Golf Club, located southwest of downtown Orlando in Celebration, is a par-72 public course laid out amidst a serene setting. The course was designed by Champions Tour player and NBC Golf Analyst Gary Koch and offers two distinct but equally challenging and enjoyable nines, with 80-foot elevation changes, rolling sand dunes, beautiful oak trees, and vast wetland areas.
The front nine features the characteristics of a British Isles links course, with extensive perimeter mounding and pot bunkers, and lush, rolling fairways. The Lowcountry style back nine is reminiscent of classic Carolina courses, meandering through native wetlands and marsh areas, bordering oak and cypress forests.
Ranked No. 10 in GolfPass’ 2025 Golfers’ Choice: Top 25 “Most Improved Public Golf Courses,” the layout recently completed a refreshment project emphasizing new turf on the tee boxes, fairways, and greens that enhanced both playability and aesthetics.
“The work really ushered in a new era for the course,” remarked PGA Director of Golf Corey McMasters, who was also recently honored as the “2025 Merchandiser of the Year” in the resort category by the PGA of America.
Kenzie’s Restaurant & Pub is the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy delicious American cuisine in a relaxed, family friendly atmosphere. Located in the Mystic Dunes clubhouse, Kenzie’s offers panoramic views of the golf course, creating an inviting setting for dining with friends and family. The menu features a wide variety of freshly prepared dishes, from classic burgers and sandwiches to hearty entrees, all crafted by the executive culinary team to appeal to every palate. A newly added pizza oven further enhances the menu offering a variety of chef-featured pies and a build-your-own option. Whether you’re looking to fuel up before a round of golf or wind down after a day on the links, Kenzie’s friendly staff will ensure you have an enjoyable dining experience every time.
The golf club is but one amenity of Mystic Dunes, a Hilton Vacation Club which offers one- to three-bedroom suites with kitchens or kitchenettes, a pool complex with a water slide, and tennis courts, all just five miles from Walt Disney World.
With its public access and appeal to guests of the resort, it’s fair and accurate to call Mystic Dunes a course for everyone.
Momentum and excitement are building at The Island at West Bay Club. Following a successful groundbreaking ceremony in January, construction is underway on this 24-story luxury tower just north of Bonita Springs on Estero Bay. The Island will feature 100 percent corner-view residences and a rooftop pool deck with breathtaking Gulf of America views.
Club memberships are also available for future residents of The Island at West Bay Club, providing them with immediate access to a serviced Beach Club on the Gulf and championship golf within a Troon Privé Club community.
The Island’s 86 residences offer the spaciousness of a single-family home, complemented by luxurious interiors that simplify living. With only four residences per floor, the community offers expansive three- and four-bedroom layouts. Stunning views of Estero Bay, West Bay’s 18-hole course, or the Gulf of America are a main feature of all the corner residences.
Walls of glass frame these views and open to private terraces perfect for indoor-outdoor Florida living. The interiors are equipped with the latest carefree features. Access-controlled elevators provide lock-and-leave conveniences, while kitchens include a full suite of Sub-Zero/Wolf appliances.
Two floors of amenities will be an elevator ride away. The Rooftop Sunset Lounge provides panoramic Gulf of America views, a pool with a sun shelf, a spa, an outdoor kitchen with a wine bar, and inviting fire pit areas. Ground-level amenities include a Club Room, a pool with a lap lane, a Fitness Center, private guest suites, and refrigerated delivery storage. For family gatherings, the Splash Lounge offers a multi-generational space, while the Sports Lounge features high-tech simulators for golf, racing, and more.
As the ninth address within West Bay Club, future residents can enjoy immediate membership in one of Southwest Florida’s most amenity-rich clubs. A private Beach Club on Little Hickory Island offers Gulf-front dining and personalized beach services. The Bay House offers a fitness center, resort-style pool, and al fresco dining. The community also boasts tennis and pickleball courts, a dog park, and a boat launch for kayaking and paddleboarding along the Estero River. Golf memberships are also available for those wishing to enjoy the Pete and P.B. Dye course that opened in 1999 and recently underwent a $4-million major renovation by the Dana Fry/Jason Straka architectural design team.
Future residents of The Island are seizing the opportunity to start living the West Bay Club lifestyle now before moving into their new homes. Early buyers benefit from full access to West Bay Club’s amenities today and the unique advantage of personalizing their future homes with preferred finishes and views. Residences are priced from $3 million.
(To stay updated on construction or schedule a private presentation, register your interest at IslandWestBay.com.
The Sales Gallery is open daily at 22050 S. Tamiami Trail, Estero.)
In nearby Bonita Springs, another new ultra-luxury private resort-style community is taking shape at Saltleaf on Estero Bay. Led by London Bay Development Group, one of Southwest Florida’s leading developers, this new golf real estate project features Saltleaf Golf Preserve, the year-old 18-hole championship course designed by four-time major champion and World Golf Hall of Famer Raymond Floyd.
This Troon-managed golf property also offers a nine-hole par-3 short course that’s open to the public, a 40,000-square-foot state-of-the-art driving range facility, and a newly reimagined 12,500-square-foot clubhouse complete with an upscale restaurant and bar — accessible to the community — and golf shop.
Meanwhile, London Bay announced last July the community’s Ritz-Carlton Residences, Estero Bay is receiving robust interest, with the South Tower close to selling out just one year after breaking ground and the newly launched North Tower was nearly 20 percent sold with $520 million in overall sales.
Another trusted name associated with Troon and the southwest part of the state is Lennar South Florida. Imagine the warmth of a sunrise casting its glow over a championship golf course, the call of an eagle soaring overhead, and the crisp morning air as you step onto your private lanai from the comfort of home.
A leisurely round of golf on a meticulously designed course crafted by legends like Nicklaus Design and Gordon Lewis is followed by lunch at an elegant clubhouse — all in the heart of winter. This isn’t just a dream; it’s everyday life in Lennar’s golf and country club communities across Southwest Florida.
Lennar has redefined country club living, pairing beautifully designed homes with award-winning golf courses and world-class amenities. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or simply enjoy the vibrant social scene of a private club, these communities offer a seamless blend of luxury, recreation, and effortless convenience. At the heart of many Lennar communities are signature courses designed to challenge seasoned players while remaining accessible to newcomers.
With bundled golf memberships included with the purchase of a new home, residents enjoy private tee times, professional course maintenance, and access to elite practice facilities. Start the day with a workout in a state-of-the-art fitness center, then head to the resort-style pool for a refreshing swim. Besides playing golf, afternoons can also be spent on the tennis or pickleball courts, followed by an elegant dinner at the clubhouse. Live entertainment, social mixers, and exclusive events bring neighbors together, creating a true sense of community and connection.
Nestled in Southwest Florida’s most desirable locations, Lennar’s golf communities offer an unmatched blend of luxury, recreation, and relaxation offering new homes and condos perfect for your next best chapter. Enjoy a blend of modern elegance with low-maintenance convenience.
Through Lennar’s Everything’s Included® package, homeowners enjoy designer-selected finishes, kitchen appliances, smart home technology, and energy-efficient features — at no extra cost. From open concept layouts and gourmet kitchens to breathtaking golf course, lake, or preserve views, every detail is curated for effortless comfort.
If you’re searching for a new home that delivers championship golf, world-class amenities, and modern elegance, your dream lifestyle awaits with Lennar Homes of Southwest Florida. (877-45-LENNAR LennarLifestyle.com) ▪
