Golf on Sanibel Island is a tropical paradise! The courses are lush green and framed by the stunning natural beauty of the island. The surroundings at every course listed below are unique.
When you golf on Sanibel you will see some amazing wildlife including various birds, iguanas, and even alligators! All golf courses ask that you don’t feed or disturb the wildlife and, respect their natural environment.
The Sanctuary Golf Course is a member of The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf (ACSP) which helps to limit and protect the environmental impact of golf courses.
Birds are plentiful, from osprey to anhingas, to pelicans. I have even seen a pod of dolphins swimming past me on a hole at South Seas Island Resort, no joke! Alligators are common at The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club. Iguanas are plentiful and you may even be lucky enough to see the occasional bobcat.
If you are an avid golfer like myself, you may look at the statistics of the Sanibel golf courses and be a little perturbed. Don’t be! With the game the way it is today, the average PGA golf course length is a staggering 7,200 yards. Take The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club, for example, you will notice that the longest tees play at 5,606 yards. Believe me, even if you are a big hitter, you would not want to play this course at 7,200 yards, I promise you!
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Golf on Sanibel Island – Courses
1. The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club
2. Sanibel Island Golf Club
3. The Sanctuary Golf Club
Golf on Captiva Island – Courses
4. Captiva Golf Course at South Seas Island Resort
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1. The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club
949 Sand Castle Rd. | Sanibel Island, FL 33957
As you come onto Sanibel Island, take a right onto Periwinkle Way and then an immediate right onto Bailey Road. The first turn on your left is The Dunes subdivision. One more right will take you directly to The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club.
The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club course is 5606 yards in length from the tips. It has a slope index of 129 and a rating of 68.8. The course was designed by 10 – time PGA tour winner Marc McCumber.
The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club is part of a group of facilities called “The Inns of Sanibel Beach and Golf Resorts”. If you are staying at one of the four resorts within the group you will have extended privileges to The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club. You can get free range time, reduced golf rates, and many other discounts.
The hotels and inns that are part of the group are:
Sanibel Inn: 937 E. Gulf Drive, Sanibel, FL Check current rates
Song of the Sea: 863 E. Gulf Drive, Sanibel, FL Check current rates
Seaside Inn: 541 E. Gulf Drive, Sanibel, FL Check current rates
Sunset Beach Inn: 3287 W. Gulf Drive, Sanibel, FL Check current rates
The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club is a terrific course. Very picturesque. Lush landscaping and well-manicured. The greens and fairways are excellent, and very well maintained. It is the only public course on the island with practice facilities.
If you are the type of golfer that gets wobbly knees when hitting over water, you may want to get some practice in before you play! Although the golf carts may help you navigate the water with their inbuilt GPS.
Fun fact: The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club course sits on more acreage of water than there is dry land!
The course is set in the middle of a subdivision called, you guessed it…. The Dunes. The Dunes has great facilities, including a driving range, a practice green, a bar, and a restaurant. In fact, it is the only public course on the island with practice facilities.
The driving range is an aqua range with floating balls. You hit from a mat, into a lake. There are large floating yardage markers in the lake out to 200 yards. Although do not pay too much attention to distance. The floating golf balls only go around 70% of the distance of a typical golf ball. The range closes at 5 pm. There is also a large putting green for practice.
They also have event space for weddings and meetings.
When playing The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club you can expect a challenging but fair round. It is great for all abilities. Did I mention there is lots of water? :).
Low handicappers should score well here. High handicappers will have a great time too. The particularly challenging holes do have drop areas.
If it is your first time playing the course, it may be wise to play a Stableford (https://golfbit.com/stableford) or a scramble. Although stroke play works too. Just be prepared, come with plenty of balls!
As I mentioned earlier, it is very common to see alligators on and around the course.
They will not bother you but do not attempt to go near them. They are not always at the edge of the water as you may expect.
I once walked up onto a raised green and there was a huge gator sunning itself next to my ball. If you happen to roll up to a gator with your fancy $5, Pro V 1X golf ball, wave it goodbye!
Drop somewhere else or move on to the next hole. For obvious reasons, pay extra attention around the water when you are looking for balls. Use a club or a ball retriever – not your hands!
The pro shop is well stocked up with branded golf wear, a selection of clubs, and accessories.
They also have an excellent club rental program. With over 60 sets of Taylormade clubs in stock.
A side note, The Dunes has a great tennis and pickleball facility too.
If you are in need of a lesson, Mike Dopslaff, the head professional can oblige or even the assistant professional Travis Hopson is a great option.
We were fortunate to have Travis join us as a guest on our Sanibel Captiva Guide podcast, episode 69
2. Sanibel Island Golf Club
1100 Par View Dr. | Sanibel Island, FL 33957
Sanibel Island Golf Club is centrally located in the Beachview Country Club Estates subdivision. The golf course borders part of Periwinkle Way and stretches south to Middle Gulf Drive. Sanibel Island Golf Course is situated on 150 acres.
At 6,300 yards the course plays a little longer than The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club’s, 5,606 yards. Unlike The Dunes, only two of the greens are fronted by water. Therefore, I would say this golf course is a little more forgiving.
With a change of ownership, Sanibel Island Golf Club has been much improved over the last decade. Although the layout is still the same. The greens and fairways are first class. Under the guidance of Owner, Drew Donnely, he and his team keep the course well maintained. They do a superb job. You can tell he has a competent/caring ground staff.
Although at some points narrower and not super long by today’s standards (6300 yards from the tips), Sanibel Island Golf Club has an interesting layout. No trickery but you will need to play smart to score well.
The nearly 50-year-old golf course has lots of mature trees strategically placed and a respectable amount of water. Part of the course runs along the Sanibel river. There are many dogleg-shaped holes to keep you on your toes and lots of shorter par four holes. This course definitely rewards the straight hitter.
Although there are some areas where you will need to be both straight and accurate. Like the short, challenging 6th hole. A par 3 that appears to be surrounded by rough, hazards, and water! (It’s actually a little more open than it appears once you get to the green.)
Although the golf carts do not have GPS, the pro shop will provide you with a superbly detailed yardage book that is more than sufficient to get you around the course comfortably.
Sanibel Island Golf Club has many options for visiting golfers. They really have thought about making it easy for the visiting golfer to play. You can book regular tee times. You can book both 9 and 18 holes. They offer short-term memberships of 1 and 3 months. You have the option of 3 or 7-day passes. They even offer 10-round passes which are at a discounted rate.
They also have an excellent rental club program. They have a nice selection of Callaway and Taylormade clubs to rent. They have ladies and gents, in both left and right-handed sets. They are relatively inexpensive to rent. And a nice touch- all rentals come with a sleeve of balls and a bag of tees.
The rates vary seasonally, so check with the pro shop for more info.
The Pro shop is on the smaller side but is well equipped with all the “latest and greatest” equipment and supplies. It has all the essentials you could need. They have a nice selection of branded clothing.
The golf course has an attached restaurant called The Blue Giraffe 2. The Blue Giraffe 2 has an extensive menu with lots of choices of sandwiches (hot and cold), salads, and appetizers. They have a great selection of burgers. They even have a selection from south of the border!
The restaurant has tables and chairs on an outside patio overlooking the 9th hole. If you plan on eating at the turn, I would suggest calling the restaurant with your order during your round.
I would recommend a visit to the Blue Giraffe 2, whether or not you are playing golf. Blue Giraffe 1 is located at the Periwinkle Place Shopping Center.
Practice facilities are limited to a large putting green (again in excellent shape). If you are like me and like to hit balls before your round. I would recommend going to The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club where you can use their public driving range. It is only 5 mins away by car. (2 miles)
3. The Sanctuary Golf Club
2801 Wulfert Rd. | Sanibel Island, FL 33957
The Sanctuary Golf Club is a bit of an anomaly as it is private and only has 253 members.
It is located at the heart of The Sanctuary subdivision at the northern end of Sanibel
Just after the course was opened in 1992, The Sanctuary had the prestigious recognition of being proclaimed as “one of the best private courses in the U.S.” by Golf Digest. It was designed by renowned golf course architect, Arthur Hills.
The Sanctuary has a fascinating history on the island. This area started out in the late 1800s as a town called Wulfert. Click here to watch the video.
I have had the good fortune of playing this course one time for a charity event. It truly is spectacular. It is surrounded by the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. With the very limited membership roster and great course management, The Sanctuary Golf Course is always in pristine condition.
As it is not open to the public, I am not going to cover it in too much detail here but suffice to say, this is probably one of the most beautiful golf courses you could possibly play. It has great practice facilities, first-class dining, and a wellness center. The clubhouse and facilities are stunning inside and out. Even the locker rooms are impressive. Each member’s name is inscribed on a brass plaque and proudly attached to the member’s hardwood locker door.
If you are interested in a membership, reach out to them. You do not have to live in The Sanctuary subdivision to become a member, although you may need deeper than average pockets to join this gem of a golf course. There may or may not be a waiting list to join.
4. Captiva Golf Course at South Seas Island Resort
5400 Plantation Road | Captiva Island, FL 33924
Captiva golf choices are limited to one 9-hole golf course located at the northernmost peninsula of Captiva Island at South Seas Island Resort.
This golf course is not technically private but you do have to be staying at the resort to be able to play. Check current rates for South Seas.
The Captiva Golf Course at South Seas Island Resort is absolutely stunning. It literally runs along the waterfront at Redfish Pass and then along the beachfront of the Gulf of Mexico. You could literally ride this golf course on a golf cart and enjoy the ride without even lifting a golf club, it’s that beautiful!
For those that wish to swing a club:
The Captiva Golf Course is an executive course. It consists of 9 holes laid out over 2891 yards. The course is a par 27.
While at first glance you may think the course is lacking in golfing stats, it certainly makes up for in sheer beauty.
This would be a great course for the beginner to play. It’s pretty straightforward and easy to read, what you see is what you get. Suitable for the once-a-year golfer or maybe your reluctant (but willing) partner, or even kids. All will get a kick out of it.
If you are a low handicapper, it will be a great experience. Treat it as a good way to keep your skills sharp until you return to your 7200-yard home course.
The Captiva Golf Course is impeccably maintained, and the Bermuda grass is lush and green. The greens are very well cared for.
Not only are the views outstanding but the wildlife sightings can be incredible. At certain times of the year, you will find osprey nests. It is not uncommon to see dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico or in Redfish Pass. You will see all types of Florida shorebirds. The back bay is home to an abundance of tarpon, which you may be lucky to see rolling during certain times of the year.
Expect the unexpected.
The golf course has undergone some changes over the years. In the mid-2000’s one of the holes on the east side of the course was redirected and shortened. The golf course’s future is a little uncertain right now. Plans for a waterfront condo development in the next couple of years (2024) will change the layout of the course again. Although to what extent, no one is certain right now.
Make the most of it! Now would be an amazing time to play.
Golf on Sanibel and Captiva – Course Summary
Sanibel Island Golf Club
1100 Par View Drive, Sanibel Island, Fl 33957
239-472-2626
Visit Sanibel Golf Club Website
Holes: 18
Length: 6006 yards
Slope: 129
Sanibel Island Golf Club is a terrific and affordable semi-private club. Open to the general public, it has several membership options. It is nestled in 150 acres of natural barrier island terrain and surrounded by the Sanibel River. It has fantastic views, a golf pro shop and Island-style dining. Suitable for all levels of skill.
The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club
949 Sand Castle Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957
239-472-2535
Holes: 18
Length: 5606 yards
Slope: 129
The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club is a public course which is great to play for both novice and expert. The natural surroundings are beautiful and the frequent wildlife sightings are exciting. Membership is available. The facility has a restaurant, bar and pro shop.
The Sanctuary Golf Club
2801 Wulfert Rd, Sanibel Island, Fl 33957
239-472-6445
Holes: 18
Length: 6655 yards
Slope: 131
The Sanctuary Golf Club is a private, member-owned club. There are incredible amenities such as racquet sports, a fitness & wellness center, a highly recommended restaurant, and a robust calendar of social activities. Bordering on the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, the course and surrounding areas are beautiful and elegant.
Captiva Golf Course at South Seas Island Resort
5400 Plantation Rd, Captiva Island, FL 33924
239-472-5551
Visit South Seas Island Resort Website
Holes: 9
Length: 2891 yards
Slope: 125
Captiva Golf Course at South Seas Island Resort is a casual and relaxing nine-hole par-3 executive course. The perfect place to test and improve your golf skills. The views of the gulf are outstanding and the amenities on the resort are fantastic. It has access to multiple places to eat, shop and enjoy.
