The Preserve Golf Club

The Preserve Golf Club's Heron Course is a Ted McAnlis design located in Bradenton, Florida, on the state's Gulf Coast. McAnlis, a Florida-based architect who has worked extensively throughout the region, created this layout as part of a residential community development. The course takes its name from the wading birds common to Florida's coastal wetlands, reflecting the natural environment that characterizes much of the property. The routing works through native Florida landscape featuring wetlands, preserved areas, and mature vegetation typical of the region's coastal plain. Water features appear throughout the design, both as strategic elements and as habitat for local wildlife. The relatively flat topography is standard for this part of Florida, with elevation changes created through shaping and the strategic use of water hazards rather than natural landforms. As part of a private club setting, the Heron Course serves the residential community at The Preserve. The layout reflects the design principles common to Florida golf in this era, balancing playability for a range of skill levels with the preservation requirements and environmental considerations that govern development in the state's sensitive coastal zones. The course operates within the broader amenity package typical of Southwest Florida's residential golf communities, where the golf experience is integrated with the lifestyle and social aspects of club membership.