North at Shadow Wood Country Club

Shadow Wood Country Club's North Course is a Bob Cupp design that opened in the mid-1990s as part of a larger residential golf community in Bonita Springs, situated in Southwest Florida between Naples and Fort Myers. Cupp, who worked extensively with Jack Nicklaus before establishing his own practice, brought his characteristic attention to strategic variety and natural integration to this layout. The course occupies relatively flat terrain typical of the region, with routing that incorporates native wetlands, lakes, and preserved areas of cypress and pine.

The design emphasizes strategic shot-making over pure length, with water hazards coming into play on numerous holes and bunkering that rewards precision. Cupp's work here reflects his philosophy of creating multiple routes to the green and offering risk-reward options suited to different skill levels. The course features generous landing areas off the tee but tightens considerably on approach shots, where green complexes are often protected by water or sand. Native grasses and waste areas frame several holes, adding both visual definition and strategic consequence.

Shadow Wood operates as a private equity club with multiple courses on the property, serving a membership drawn largely from seasonal residents and retirees. The North Course is typically regarded as the more challenging of the club's layouts, with a routing that takes full advantage of the site's natural water features. The Southwest Florida setting provides year-round golf in a subtropical climate, with the course maintained to standards common among the region's upscale private clubs.