Overview - In an area and a state filled with housing development courses where the houses take priority, it was a real treat to play Calusa Pine GC in Naples, Florida. Hurdzan and Fry were the architects and I thought they did an outstanding job on a piece of property that has some very nice elevation change. As H&F say on their website, “The landforms are so soft, and flowing that they blend in well enough to appear natural and unique. Combined with extensive native plant vegetation it is difficult to imagine the golf course was built, instead of simply laid out on this superb piece of land.” Well there clearly was a bunch of shaping, but it is Florida and it was very well done. No camera this trip, but the Google routing is below.
Off the tee - The course is an extremely fair but tough course. There are a number of options off the tees, but you do need to put your ball in the right spot. Water off the tee comes into play, but it is obvious in all places except for the fourth hole. Some holes are wide and some holes are narrower (not narrow) off the tee. There are 4 sets of tees and in a very good idea, we played a combination set that is rated, and effectively provides a fifth set. There is plenty of length or shortness for all. The tees have a variety of locations so day to day holes will change. Visually off the tee, there are many mental challenges off the tee, but when you get out on the fairway, it is much bigger than it looked.
Greens – Hitting into the greens was a real challenge and required precise iron shots. There was clearly some Pinehurst #2 inspiration where most of the greens were raised and even if you hit the green, it would sometimes roll off. However, there was no unfairness to it, just toughness and I never saw a shot all day where there was a feeling of unfairness. There were no huge turtles in any greens, but all were very interesting to putt and the caddies were very helpful on reads to the first time player. There were many collection areas for chipping and bumping. The conditioning of the greens and the entire course was a case study in near perfect Florida “maintenance meld.”
Routing – Great variety of holes and wind conditions, short fours and fives, very nice variety on the threes, never came close to feeling that you already played that hole which is often the case in Florida. Some towering shots on some tees, that again you do not expect in Florida. Favorite holes included 4. 8. 9, 16 and 18. There may not be any “All World” holes out there, but there was a bunch of very good to great ones.
Off the course – It has all the amenities of what you would expect in a high end golf only private club serving Naples, Florida. Great food, staff, cabins, locker room and showers……. It is “formal golf”, basically walking only, with maybe a few carts and/or bag carriers late in the day. The developer is a Cancer Survivor and there was a magazine article on the wall which expressed that his passion for building the course was at least partially driven by his fight against cancer. Certainly some analogies to Mike Strantz at MPCC can be drawn, however the owner is past the important 5 year mark of being cancer-free.
I really have not played much in the Southeast/Palm Beach area of Florida, but I would be surprised if Calusa was not a Top 5 course in the state? Sitting at #58 on the Golf Magazine US list, I am surprised that there is not more talk here as H&F do seem to have some fans here.
Other courses – Took a quick tour of West Bay Club where my friend owns a house. Sounds like a typical Pete Dye Florida housing course. The holes I saw 18 and 9 looked extremely penal but I was assured that there were some more open and fun holes too. Saw Olde Corkscrew the public Nicklaus course in the area, and was told and it looked like a very fun course with some wild greens.
PS. Not sure if it is the bottom of the market, but if you want to buy a condo or a house in Naples, there are plenty of choices in Naples!