Do not pass up these two golf courses on your next trip to southwest Florida. One is a Jack Nicklaus signature course in Estero, Fla., and the other is a remodeled design of the first 18 hole golf course to be built in Naples. Each has its own distinct style, and both are terrific.
Old Corkscrew is Nicklaus' first signature course in southwest Florida. The par 72 layout stretches from 5700 to 7400 yards from four sets of tees. Opened officially by Nicklaus in late February of this year, the course has already drawn raves from golfers who say that despite its challenge, it is a very fair test. "People come up to me after their round, saying, 'It beat me up, but I loved it and can't wait to come back,'" says the club's marketing director Mark Iwinski.
I had the same reaction when I played Old Corkscrew in late March. I did not score well but I was unfamiliar with the course's many subtleties, especially on and around the large greens which are slick and have some of the steepest contours and slopes you will ever see.
"There's not a straight 30 foot putt on the entire course," Nicklaus told the gathering at the official opening. Indeed, Nicklaus' shaper must have worked overtime to create these greens some of which have false fronts and all of which pitch and roll dramatically. The humps and slopes divide most greens into distinct quadrants. If you wind up in the wrong quadrant, you can easily three putt.
The course has a fine ebb and flow to it marked by elevation changes and consistently outstanding hole designs. These include two great short par 4's including the 348-yard (380 from the whites) 4th hole. The fairway of this slight dogleg left hole is split in two by a large bunker complex which places a premium on placement off the tee. A palmetto grove lines the right side while the left side is bordered by one of the course's many lakes.
Leading an exceptional foursome of par 3's is #2, a 194-yard slightly uphill one-shotter with a mound that obscures the left side of the green. It is not a typical Nicklaus feature. Also, #15 is a majestic par 5 of 619 yards from the tips (529 from the whites) that doglegs left down to a well guarded green. A lake on the right and bunkers in the second-shot landing area help make this a spectacular par 5.
Old Corkscrew was founded by a partnership of two Kansas businessmen and a local citrus grower. The partners gave Nicklaus complete freedom to craft a course of his choosing, and the Golden Bear took advantage of this privilege, putting an obvious care into this creation.
The course is on 275 unspoiled acres of pine and cypress, hardwoods and palmetto, all of which are enhanced by love grass and other plantings. Woodstorks, egrets and many other wading birds grace this beautiful layout which has a slough running through it and which has been designated a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Best of all, the course will stand alone with no development to spoil the experience.
Old Corkscrew has various levels of membership and equity opportunities. Nonmembers can currently book tee times directly through the clubhouse or through their hotels.
The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club course was built in the late 1920s and redesigned in the 40's. Designer Ron Garl added his creative touches in the 90s and today the course stands out as one of the best traditional designs in all of Naples. The course stretches from 5142 to a modest 6488 yards from the tips. Voted in the Top 50 women friendly courses in the US by Golf for Women magazine, the course has some eight ponds and lakes, and a good balance of straight and dogleg holes.
Located just off highway 41 just a few miles north of historic Naples, the course, which lies in front of the hotel, can be easily walked as the tee boxes and greens are close together. While it is a public course, club memberships are available. Guests of the hotel play at discounted rates.
The family-owned hotel is one of the oldest in Naples. It sits directly on the beach. Between the back of the hotel and the beach is a lawn, site of many weddings. There is also a poolside bar where a favorite pastime is to sip drinks and watch the sunset. The 318-room hotel, rebuilt in the 80's, has that classic, old-style charm guaranteed to appeal to seasoned travelers.
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