Club at Pelican Bay

The Bay Course at The Club at Pelican Bay opened in 1985 as part of a master-planned community in North Naples. Arthur Hills designed the course to work within the flat, low-lying terrain characteristic of Southwest Florida's coastal plain, incorporating natural wetlands and native vegetation throughout the routing. The layout reflects Hills's approach to Florida golf design during this period, emphasizing strategic bunkering, water hazards that come into play on multiple holes, and generous landing areas that accommodate a range of skill levels. The course winds through a residential setting bordered by preserves and wetland areas that provide habitat for wading birds and other wildlife common to the region. Water features, including lakes and connecting waterways, appear on roughly half the holes and require thoughtful club selection and course management. The flat topography means elevation change is minimal, with interest created instead through the positioning of hazards, the angles of approach shots, and the contouring of greens. The Club at Pelican Bay operates as a private equity club serving residents of the Pelican Bay community. In addition to the Bay Course, the club offers a second eighteen-hole layout and maintains facilities for tennis, fitness, and dining. The Bay Course serves as one of two championship-length options for members, providing variety within the club's overall golf program. The design has matured over nearly four decades, with tree growth and landscape development adding definition to holes and framing throughout the round.