The Classics at The Classics Country Club

The Classics is a Gary Player design located in Naples, Florida, opened in the late 1980s as part of the Lely Resort development. Player, known for his emphasis on strategic bunkering and risk-reward shotmaking, created a course that reflects the characteristic challenges of southwest Florida golf: water hazards, native vegetation, and a relatively flat landscape that requires thoughtful routing and green contouring to generate interest.

The layout incorporates water on numerous holes, a common feature in this region where lakes and wetlands shape both playability and aesthetics. Player's design philosophy typically emphasizes multiple tee options and strategic choices that reward course management over pure distance. The greens feature moderate undulation, and the bunkering style—both greenside and fairway—creates visual definition and demands precision on approach shots.

The Classics operates as part of a larger residential golf community in Naples, a city known for its concentration of golf courses and seasonal population of retirees and winter residents. The club serves both members and resort guests, fitting into the broader Lely Resort complex which includes multiple golf facilities. The course provides a solid test for mid-handicap players while remaining accessible from forward tees, consistent with Player's design approach during this period of his architectural career.