 PELICAN PRESERVE GOLF CLUB (239) 985-1700
Florida Golf Course Review
We played Pelican Preserve on a tip from a good friend, who had enjoyed a round on the course when it was known as the Solana Golf Club. This turned out to be great move. As
we found out from word of mouth and also from our personal experience, this is one of the premier golf courses available for public play in the Fort Myers area. Pelican Preserve is
a beautiful 27-hole layout sculpted from luscious landscape that runs through a very upscale residential community. The course is wonderfully maintained from tee to green, with
plentiful soft white sand bunkers dotting the way. The Tiff Eagle putting surfaces are some of the best we have played in Florida, and with the subtle undulations, ridges and slopes
- are also quite challenging. Miss the greens and your work is cut out for you, as grass swales and collection areas surrounding many of the putting surfaces make getting up and
down a tough proposition. That is, if you stay out of the water hazards that frequently border the putting complexes.
Finishing the hole is the most difficult part of the course, as abundant landing areas along rolling fairways make life quite simple off the tee. Water hazards are frequently in play,
though there generally are ample bail-out areas on forced carries. Golfers will find five sets of tee boxes with the championship (black) tees measuring 6851 yards with a 132
slope rating. The blues measure 6429 with a 128 slope, and the longest par four measures just 410 yards. The middle tees (whites) measure 6076/123 slope and are perfect for
the mid to high handicapper, while the alternate golds play to 5440 with 113 slope - great for advanced women. The forward (red) tees measure a playable 5015 yards with a 115 slope.
The clubhouse features a pro shop and restaurant with a spacious screened porch patio - perfect for outings or gatherings. Practice facilities include a complimentary aqua range
with stacks of balls awaiting guests awaiting starting times. There also is a short game area with practice bunkers, and a large putting and chipping green.
On course golfers will find that each box tee provides color coded blocks matching the yardages posted on the score card. 150 yards stakes are visible on all par fours and fives,
and color coded blocks are also present 100 and 200 yards from the greens. Sprinkler heads on the fairways provide measurements, and pin placements rotate daily in 4 sectors,
with the information posted on each cart.
The fairway is quite rolling on the opening hole of the Heron nine, and the approach to the perched green must be accurate as the slope on the sides of the putting surface drop off
quickly, with water present to the left and long. Stay left of the 150 stake off the tee on the second, which also features a challenging approach to a ridged green protected by water
on the right. The third is a gorgeous par three - with water short and bunkers protecting the right side. There is a generous fairway on four, but another hazard is in play right of
the 150 yard stake. The approach is a simple one, with plenty of room left of the green. Five doglegs right with a shot aimed towards the fairway traps providing the best angle and
opportunity for birdie. There is more water left and bush right on the par three 6th, which is nonetheless a good scoring hole. Seven is the number one handicapped hole of the
layout - a mid range par five that plays along a well bunkered fairway. There is room for error here however - and we found this par five to be quite score-able. The 8th is a
challenging four par, with entry to the green from the left side recommended. Anything short right will roll into the collection area or worse - the water hazard. The fairway on nine is
ample, but long hitters should be aware of the water that is in play on the right about 130 out. The perched green drops off an all sides.
The Egret nine plays a bit longer, and features two challenging par fives. Number one features a water hazard left off the tee, and a collection area short right of the green that is
tough to score from. Two demands a tee shot over water to a wide but well bunkered fairway, with more water in play along the left from about 190 in. There is plenty of room off the
tee on 3, but there are grass swales short and right and bunkers left of the putting surface. Number four is a short and beautiful par 4 over water that plays uphill on the approach.
Lay up to the left side of the right fairway bunkers and you will find that golf is a simple game. There is more room than it appears off the tee on 5, with right center being the best
landing area. Six presents another generous fairway, with mounding and bunkers green-side challenging approaches. Ditto for 7, which has an abundance of bunkers in play.
This long par five is best approached to the right side, as shots hit there will funnel towards the green's center. The par three 8th on the Egret is one of the prettiest holes on the
course - and presents a good par opportunity if played safely to the right side of the green. Bunkers protect the green left and long (see first photo of this review). A water hazard
pinches the fairway about 80 yards or so from the green on the challenging par four finishing hole. Approach from the right side and this difficult hole becomes much more manageable.
Click here to visit the Two Guys Who Golf Detailed Information page with a link to this course's web page.
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