Golfing on Sanibel Island

World-class golf against a backdrop of natural wildlife is at its best on Sanibel Island.  You can’t get better than this.  Sanibel Island and its neighbor island, Captiva, are barrier reef islands secluded off the western coast of Florida.  Here you can find breathtaking beaches together with first-class golf amenities.  Sanibel Island features spectacular golf courses, including two semi-private courses open to the public. Sanibel Island Golf Club (formerly known as Beachview) hugs the Sanibel River.  A semi-private club, the golf course features 6,400 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 70.  Ray Fenton designed this course with a 70.8 course rating with a slope rating of 127 on Bermuda grass.  Following the curves and scenic beauty of the Sanibel River, Sanibel Island Golf Club is open to the public and provides challenging and rewarding golf for players of all skill levels.  Sanibel Island Golf Club, as a member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, is able to preserve the beautiful, natural Sanibel landscape.  The club recently reversed the nines to give the course a new feel.  Sanibel Island Golf Club is located at 1100 Par View Drive, Sanibel. The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club is known for its lush Sanibel Island links and flawlessly contoured greens.  The Dunes is a semiprivate club.  This is a place where you can hone your skills on the aqua driving range in preparation for a game---water comes into play on every hole.  Golfers know The Dunes is a beautiful but tough, short course.  The back 9 holes are nestled within a wildlife preserve and home to many species of native birds.  Redesigned by Mark McCumber, the 18-hole, par-70 championship course features the only complete practice facility on Sanibel.  The Dunes is located at 949 Sand Castle Road Sanibel. The Sanctuary is a premier, award-winning country club offering a par-72 championship 18-hole Arthur Hills-designed golf course; it features 6,806 yards of golf from the longest tees with a course rating of 73 and a slope rating of 138 on Bahia grass.  Bordering the renowned J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, the course balances world-class golf amenities with panoramic nature views and glimpses of rare birds.  The Sanctuary is a private club, you must know someone to play there.  This is a narrow course with typical Florida flat terrain with some mounding.  The signature hole is #4, a 197-yard, par 3, with a spectacular view of the Gulf of Mexico.  The Sanctuary is located at 2810 Wulfert Road Sanibel. All of the golf clubs include first rate dining on the premises, many overlooking the course or water.  Tennis facilities and assorted resort and spa amenities allow other visitors or guests to pursue their own relaxing interests while the golfers enjoy a world-class golf destination in a striking locale.  All three Sanibel golf clubs have homes sited directly on the courses.  Here is a resource to view Sanibel golf homes that are currently available for sale.