Swing and a Hit: Explore Southwest Florida’s Premier Sports and Leisure Destinations
Swing and a Hit: Explore Southwest Florida’s Premier Sports and Leisure Destinations
Southwest Florida is known for its stunning beaches, warm climate, and a wide range of leisure and recreational activities. One of the region's best-kept secrets is its array of top-tier sports and leisure facilities. We'll share the most notable destinations in Southwest Florida, highlighting golf clubs, baseball complexes, and country clubs that offer memorable experiences for both sports enthusiasts and leisure seekers.
Estero Country Club is a special place. From the moment you come through the community’s front gate, you will be welcomed with waves from their friendly community where they believe everyone is family. Estero Country Club is truly a golfer's paradise with an 18-hole course layout with six sets of tees for every level of player. In the summer of 2018, the course underwent a re-grassing project that gave it an even more heightened presence in the Southwest Florida golf community.
For baseball enthusiasts, the Lee Health Sports Complex stands as a revered destination. Serving as the spring training grounds for the Minnesota Twins, this cutting-edge facility offers an immersive and close-up encounter with the world of Major League Baseball. Here, you can witness the Twins in the heat of action, engage in various spring training activities, and delve into the storied history of America's favorite pastime at the nearby museum. It's a little piece of baseball paradise nestled in the sunny state of Florida.
Pelican’s Nest Golf Course is where the legends played. The course attracts an impressive A-list of golfers, including Gary Player, Sam Snead, Lee Trevino, Ken Venturi, Fred Couples, Vijay Singh and Bob Goalby just to name a few. Pelican’s Nest Golf Course earned accolades as one of the top golf courses in the United States from Golf Digest, Florida Golfer and others. The New York Times names the course “as one of the top nine places to play in Florida, a west coast gem.”
Between the hawks, osprey, and deer and the lush native plantings everywhere you look, Saltleaf Golf Preserve brings a whole new meaning to “keep your eye on the ball.” Opening later this year on the site of the former Raptor Bay Golf Club, the all-new, daily fee destination course will continue a respectful co-existence with a 144-acre Florida uplands preserve. As well as adjacent Estero Bay, Florida’s very first aquatic preserve. All this quiet beauty comes with challenge and family fun too! Southwest Florida is already known for top-tier golf, but Saltleaf Golf Preserve is going to level up everyone’s game. Now accepting tee time reservations starting November 20, 2023
Spanish Wells Golf & Country Club features 27-holes of Championship Golf in three different 18-hole combinations. Tropical palms, mature oak trees, and diverse water features define the landscape of a course that embodies the natural beauty of Bonita Springs. Play ranges from 4,800 to 6,800 yards from multiple tee locations. Practice facilities include an Aqua Driving Range, a Chipping Area, and Putting Greens. After a round, indulge in the club's dining and social events, fostering a sense of community among members and guests.
Designed by Crafted by the architect and former U.S. Open champion, Jerry Pate, this championship golf course features 18 holes with a par of 72. It's renowned for its expansive Paspalum fairways, stretching across approximately 6,802 yards. Pate's masterpiece meanders through the community, offering breathtaking views of water features and natural preserves.
Located in the charming city of Bonita Springs, Worthington is convenient to Naples, Fort Myers, the international airport, I-75, and some of the most beautiful beaches in Florida. The course features the golf professional’s choice in Celebration grass fairways, Tiff-Eagle greens, and state-of-the-art ‘capillary bunkers.’ This is all accompanied by a new digital irrigation and drainage system that can monitor and manage the course down to a single square foot. Enjoy the good life at Worthington Country Club with various pools, dining venues, community activities, and more!
Southwest Florida isn't just about beautiful beaches and warm weather; it's also home to some of the most prestigious sports and leisure destinations in the region. Whether you're a golfer seeking pristine courses or a baseball fan wanting to catch spring training action up close, these destinations have something for everyone. So next time, when you're in Southwest Florida, don't miss the opportunity to experience the best of sports and leisure at these fantastic venues.
About SWFL Inc.
SWFL Inc is the region’s only Five-Star Accredited Chamber of Commerce serving businesses in Lee, Collier, and Charlotte County. Our services are designed to help the Southwest Florida business community connect through networking, advertising opportunities, and educational workshops. Contact us today to sign up for your free membership.