The Club at Pelican Preserve

The Club at Pelican Preserve features two nine-hole layouts, the Ibis and Egret courses, designed by Chip Powell as part of a residential community in Fort Myers. The courses opened in the mid-2000s as the centerpiece of this Southwest Florida development, which sits inland from the Gulf Coast in Lee County. Powell, who has designed numerous courses throughout Florida, created these layouts to work with the region's flat terrain and natural wetland features. The Ibis and Egret nines can be combined with a third nine, the Heron, to create different eighteen-hole configurations for member play. The routing incorporates the preserve areas and water features typical of Southwest Florida golf, with lakes and wetlands coming into play on multiple holes. The courses feature bermudagrass playing surfaces suited to the subtropical climate and relatively open corridors framed by native vegetation and residential areas. Pelican Preserve operates as a private equity club serving a residential community that includes both full-time residents and seasonal members. The facility emphasizes a relaxed, resort-style atmosphere common to Southwest Florida golf communities, with the courses designed to accommodate a range of skill levels. The three-nine configuration allows for variety in daily play and helps with pace during peak season when the Fort Myers area sees an influx of winter residents and visitors.