Bonita Bay, located on the Gulf Coast of Southwest Florida, is known for its luxurious lifestyle, beautiful scenery, and impressive collection of golf courses. As one of the area's most prestigious private residential communities, Bonita Bay boasts five championship golf courses designed to challenge golfers of all skill levels. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting out, Bonita Bay offers a top-tier golfing experience, combining breathtaking natural landscapes with masterfully designed courses. Below, we explore the best golf courses in Bonita Bay that are sure to impress.
Marsh Course
The Marsh Course at Bonita Bay Club is a golfer’s dream, designed by renowned golf course architect Tom Fazio. This 6,636-yard, par-72 course is celebrated for its natural beauty and integration of the surrounding wetlands and native vegetation into the design. The Marsh Course provides players with scenic vistas of marshland and water features home to an array of wildlife, including wading birds and alligators.
The strategic layout of the course requires golfers to make precise shots, as many holes feature water hazards and tree-lined fairways. The greens are large and undulating, challenging even the most skilled putters. With its lush fairways, strategic bunkering, and signature Florida landscapes, the Marsh Course is considered one of the most visually stunning courses in Bonita Bay.
Signature Hole: The par-5 18th hole, with its dogleg left, sweeping fairway, and approach shot over water, provides a spectacular finish to a round.
Creekside Course
Another Tom Fazio masterpiece, the Creekside Course offers a challenge different from its sister course, Marsh. Stretching 6,725 yards from the back tees, this par-72 course is known for its flowing layout that takes advantage of the area’s rolling terrain and water features. The design incorporates creeks, lakes, and natural preserves, ensuring each hole feels immersed in nature.
The fairways are wide, but the layout requires precision on approach shots, as strategically placed hazards are ready to catch errant shots. Creekside is also known for its fast and true greens, which challenge golfers’ short game. The course offers multiple tee boxes, making it playable for golfers of varying skill levels.
Signature Hole: The par-3 14th hole is a standout, with a challenging island green surrounded by water. It’s a hole where club selection and precision are paramount.
Bay Island Course
The Bay Island Course, designed by Arthur Hills, is one of the most scenic courses in Bonita Bay, offering panoramic views of Estero Bay. This par-72, 7,010-yard course winds its way through natural terrain, with mangroves, saltwater marshes, and wildlife habitats enhancing the layout's natural beauty. With frequent water hazards and large bunkers, the Bay Island Course requires a thoughtful and strategic approach.
The course’s routing incorporates both short and long holes, ensuring variety and excitement on each round. With sweeping doglegs and elevated greens, the Bay Island Course tests every aspect of a golfer’s game while rewarding well-placed shots. The course’s beauty and challenge make it a favorite among members of the Bonita Bay Club.
Signature Hole: The par-4 8th hole plays along Estero Bay, offering sweeping water views that can be distracting as you focus on your approach to the green, which is guarded by water on the left and a large bunker on the right.
Sabre Course
The Sabre Course is the newest of Bonita Bay’s five courses and one of the most challenging. Designed by architect Tom Fazio, this par-72, 6,915-yard course is defined by its wide fairways, rolling hills, and large greens. What makes the Sabre Course unique is its rugged natural feel, with the layout taking full advantage of the site’s native vegetation, water features, and sand dunes.
Sabre is known for its dramatic elevation changes and expansive waste areas, which provide a true test of accuracy and course management. Golfers must carefully plan each shot to avoid hazards while navigating the hilly terrain. The greens are large, undulating, and fast, testing the short game of even the most experienced golfers.
Signature Hole: The par-5 15th hole features a risk-reward design, with a dogleg left and a tempting opportunity to reach the green in two, but only if you can avoid the water hazard that protects the front of the green.
Cypress Course
The Cypress Course, another Tom Fazio design, offers a distinctly different golfing experience compared to the other courses at Bonita Bay. This par-72, 7,032-yard course emphasizes natural beauty, with large cypress trees, lush wetlands, and native plantings defining the landscape. It’s a relatively forgiving course with wide fairways, but precision is still required due to the numerous water hazards that come into play on several holes.
The course’s design is notable for its emphasis on strategic play, with multiple options off the tee on many holes. The greens are large, but their subtle breaks make them difficult to read. The Cypress Course offers a rewarding experience for golfers who appreciate thoughtful shot-making and the ability to shape their shots.
Signature Hole: The par-4 11th hole is a standout, with a narrow fairway that forces players to hit a precise tee shot to set up an approach to an elevated green guarded by bunkers on both sides.
Golf at Bonita Bay
With five distinct courses designed by two of golf’s most renowned architects, Bonita Bay offers an unparalleled golfing experience in Southwest Florida. Whether you prefer the natural beauty of the Marsh and Creekside courses, the coastal views of Bay Island, or the challenging layouts of Sabre and Cypress, there’s something for every golfer at Bonita Bay.
In addition to its world-class courses, Bonita Bay Club provides its members with exceptional amenities, including state-of-the-art practice facilities, professional instruction, and a lively social scene centered around golf. With a commitment to excellence in course design and maintenance, Bonita Bay remains one of the premier golf destinations in Florida.
Bonita Bay should be at the top of your list if you’re looking for a top-tier golfing community with a diverse range of courses to enjoy. The club’s dedication to providing a first-class golfing experience ensures that players will enjoy a challenging yet rewarding round, no matter which course they choose to play.
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Contact The Dellatore Real Estate Company today and start your journey to owning your perfect Florida property!
