Popular golf magazine names these seven SWFL public courses as best

Mark H. Bickel, Fort Myers News-Press
·2 min read
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Tiburon Golf Club has hosted the LPGA and PGA tours' top golfers over the years with both the Gold and Black courses at the Naples club being used for compettion.
Tiburon Golf Club has hosted the LPGA and PGA tours' top golfers over the years with both the Gold and Black courses at the Naples club being used for compettion.

While some people refer to Southwest Florida as "the golf course capital of the world" based on the number of golf courses and the population here, accessing most of those golf courses is impossible unless you have a paid membership to play.

But there are a selection of golf courses that allow public access and according to a website post by Golf Digest this week, there are seven in Southwest Florida that standout based on their reviews and feedback.

These courses frequently show up on "best" lists, so it's not surprising to see some of them again in the latest distinction of honor listicle from Golf Digest.

In case you missed itGolfweek names best public golf courses in Florida. This Naples gem made the list

Best golf courses in FloridaTwo Naples private layouts are in select company

Here is the list:

The 14th hole at Old Corkscrew Golf Club in Estero.
The 14th hole at Old Corkscrew Golf Club in Estero.

Panther Run Golf Club

Location: 6005 Anthem Pkwy, Ave Maria

Did you know:? The name of the restaurant at the club is The Rusty Putter.

The National Golf & Country Club at Ave Maria

Location: 5909 Double Eagle Cir, Ave Maria

Did you know?: The par-5 16th plays 701 yards from the tips and is one of the longest holes in Collier County.

Valencia Golf & Country Club

Location: 1725 Double Eagle Trail, Naples

Did you know?: The course went through a renovation in 2018. The fairways were reseeded with Celebration Bermuda and the greens were converted to TifEagle.

Old Corkscrew Golf Club

Location: 17320 Corkscrew Rd, Estero

Did you know: Golf legend Jack Nicklaus designed the golf course

Tiburon Golf Club: Gold

Location: 2620 Tiburon Dr., Naples

Did you know?: The Tiburon Gold Course is home to the LPGA’s CME Group Tour Championship and the PGA Tour’s QBE Shootout.

Tiburon Golf Club: Black

Location: 2620 Tiburon Dr., Naples

Did you know?: The Chubb Classic (PGA Seniors Tour) comes to the Black Course in February.

Lely Resort Golf Golf & Country Club: Mustang

Location: 8004 Lely Resort Blvd, Naples

Did you know?: The Mustang course is designed by World Golf Hall of Famer Lee Trevino.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Golf Digest: top public access courses in Naples, Estero, Ave Maria