Bears Paw at Bears Paw Country Club

Bears Paw Country Club features a Jack Nicklaus-designed course that opened in the early 1980s as part of Naples's expansion of private golf communities. The layout reflects Nicklaus's design principles from that era, with strategic bunkering, generous landing areas that reward accurate play, and greens that demand thoughtful approach shots. The course sits on relatively flat Southwest Florida terrain typical of the Naples region, where elevation changes are minimal and water features play a significant role in both aesthetics and challenge.

The routing incorporates lakes and wetlands that come into play on multiple holes, requiring golfers to make risk-reward decisions off the tee and on approaches. Native vegetation and mature landscaping frame the fairways, providing definition and a sense of seclusion despite the residential nature of the property. The greens feature subtle contours characteristic of Nicklaus designs, where pin position can significantly affect scoring opportunities.

Bears Paw operates as a private country club with a membership that includes both full-time Naples residents and seasonal members who spend winter months in Southwest Florida. The club offers traditional country club amenities beyond golf, including tennis facilities and dining options. The course serves as the centerpiece of a gated residential community, a common model for Naples-area clubs developed during the region's growth in the 1980s and 1990s.