By The Dellatorè Real Estate Company
Country club living is one of the defining features of the Bonita Springs, FL, real estate market. More than almost anywhere else in Southwest Florida, the community here is built around club amenities — golf, tennis, fitness, dining, and a social calendar that gives residents a genuine reason to belong somewhere. If you are buying in Bonita Springs and weighing which community to call home, understanding what the top clubs offer is part of making the right decision.
Key Takeaways
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Bonita Bay Club offers five golf courses across 90 holes, 18 lit tennis courts, a 20,000 sq. ft. Technogym fitness center, a marina, and spa — within a 2,400-acre community where half the land is preserved natural habitat
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Shadow Wood Country Club offers 54 holes across three championship courses, a private beach club, and a member-owned structure capped at 900 memberships
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Pelican's Nest at Pelican Landing was designed by Tom Fazio and carries Audubon International Certified Cooperative Sanctuary status
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Highland Woods is a bundled golf community — golf membership included with home purchase — with an 18-hole Gordon Lewis Design course and six pickleball courts
Bonita Bay Club
Bonita Bay Club at 26660 Country Club Dr sits within a 2,400-acre master-planned community where half the land is preserved as protected natural habitat. It has been named to Travel and Leisure Golf's top 100 golf communities in America every year since 2006.
The club features five golf courses across its West and Naples club properties — 90 holes in total. The three West Club courses (Creekside, Marsh, and Bay Island) each offer a distinct character. The two Naples Club courses, Cypress and Sabal, round out the offering. Beyond golf, Bonita Bay Club members access 18 lit tennis courts, five pickleball courts, two croquet courts, a 20,000-square-foot fitness center with Technogym equipment, a full-service spa, and a private marina.
The club features five golf courses across its West and Naples club properties — 90 holes in total. The three West Club courses (Creekside, Marsh, and Bay Island) each offer a distinct character. The two Naples Club courses, Cypress and Sabal, round out the offering. Beyond golf, Bonita Bay Club members access 18 lit tennis courts, five pickleball courts, two croquet courts, a 20,000-square-foot fitness center with Technogym equipment, a full-service spa, and a private marina.
What Makes Bonita Bay Club Stand Out
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Five golf courses spanning 90 holes across two club properties
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18 lit tennis courts, five pickleball courts, two croquet courts
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20,000 sq. ft. Technogym fitness center and full-service spa
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Private full-service marina
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Travel and Leisure Golf top 100 golf communities annually since 2006
Shadow Wood Country Club
Shadow Wood Country Club at 22803 Oakwilde Blvd is a private, member-owned club with 54 holes across three par-72 courses and a cap of 900 memberships. The South Course, designed by Robert Cupp, measures 7,211 yards with distinctive water features. The North Course — also by Cupp, renovated by Rees Jones in 2017 — features mounding and undulating fairways. The Preserve Course was designed by Arthur Hills and winds through marshes, wetlands, and native vegetation including pines and sabal palms.
Beyond golf, the club offers nine Har-Tru tennis courts, three bocce courts, a private beach club, and a Toptracer Range facility in the practice area. The member-owned structure gives members direct governance over the club's direction.
Beyond golf, the club offers nine Har-Tru tennis courts, three bocce courts, a private beach club, and a Toptracer Range facility in the practice area. The member-owned structure gives members direct governance over the club's direction.
What Shadow Wood Country Club Offers
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54 holes across three courses — South and North by Robert Cupp, Preserve by Arthur Hills
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North Course renovated by Rees Jones in 2017
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Private beach club access and nine Har-Tru tennis courts
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Member-owned with a 900-membership cap
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Toptracer Range technology in the practice facility
Pelican's Nest at Pelican Landing
Pelican's Nest is the private golf club within the Pelican Landing community. The 36-hole facility was designed by Tom Fazio and opened in 1995 — Golf Digest ranked it the number-three best public golf course in the United States at opening. It has since transitioned to a private club model.
The club holds annual certification from Audubon International as a Certified Cooperative Sanctuary, reflecting its design within active natural habitat where herons, bald eagles, bobcats, and foxes are regularly observed. Two 18-hole Fazio-designed layouts offer variety for regular players, and members of Pelican Landing also access a private beach club.
The club holds annual certification from Audubon International as a Certified Cooperative Sanctuary, reflecting its design within active natural habitat where herons, bald eagles, bobcats, and foxes are regularly observed. Two 18-hole Fazio-designed layouts offer variety for regular players, and members of Pelican Landing also access a private beach club.
What Sets Pelican's Nest Apart
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36 holes designed by Tom Fazio, ranked number three among U.S. public courses by Golf Digest at opening
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Audubon International Certified Cooperative Sanctuary with active wildlife habitat throughout
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Two distinct 18-hole layouts
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Private beach club access through Pelican Landing community membership
Highland Woods Golf and Country Club
Highland Woods is a bundled golf community in Bonita Springs, FL, with 799 residences — single-family homes, villas, verandas, and condominiums — and golf membership included with home purchase. The 18-hole Gordon Lewis Design course is complemented by three Har-Tru clay tennis courts, six pickleball courts, a bocce complex, a newly renovated clubhouse, and a dedicated fitness center.
For buyers who want bundled golf without the initiation fees and membership waitlists of larger private clubs, Highland Woods is a strong and welcoming alternative with an active social culture.
For buyers who want bundled golf without the initiation fees and membership waitlists of larger private clubs, Highland Woods is a strong and welcoming alternative with an active social culture.
What Highland Woods Offers
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18-hole Gordon Lewis Design course, bundled with home purchase
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Three Har-Tru clay tennis courts and six pickleball courts
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799-home community across multiple residence types
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Newly renovated clubhouse and fitness center
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between bundled golf and a private equity club in Bonita Springs?
In a bundled community like Highland Woods or Vasari, golf membership is included with the property purchase — no separate initiation fee. In a private equity club like Bonita Bay Club or Shadow Wood, membership involves a substantial separate initiation fee and may involve a waitlist. Both structures have strong communities; the right fit depends on your usage, budget, and lifestyle preferences.
Do I need to join the club to live in these communities?
In bundled golf communities, a social membership typically comes automatically with home purchase. Golf membership may be optional for non-golfers. In private equity clubs, club membership is a separate decision from real estate ownership, though it is central to the lifestyle these communities are built around. We walk every buyer through the specific membership structure of any community they are seriously considering.
How do I find out which club communities have available homes right now?
We track active inventory across all of Bonita Springs' major club communities and can give you a current picture at any price point. The communities above represent some of the strongest options in the market, but availability shifts frequently — some communities carry very limited inventory due to consistently high demand. Reach out and we will show you exactly what is available.
Contact The Dellatorè Real Estate Company Today
Choosing the right club community in Bonita Springs, FL, is as important as choosing the right home. We know these communities from the inside and can match you with the one that genuinely fits your lifestyle.
Contact us, The Dellatorè Real Estate Company, to start your search. With over half a billion dollars in sales in Bonita Springs and Southwest Florida, and Angela Lutzi Dellatorè ranked in the top 30 agents across all of Southwest Florida, we have the access and expertise to find your right community.
Contact us, The Dellatorè Real Estate Company, to start your search. With over half a billion dollars in sales in Bonita Springs and Southwest Florida, and Angela Lutzi Dellatorè ranked in the top 30 agents across all of Southwest Florida, we have the access and expertise to find your right community.
