Old Corkscrew Golf Club
Estero, Florida
A Jack Nicklaus design that ranks among the best public courses in Florida, Old Corkscrew winds through 390 acres of native cypress, pine, and palmetto in the Audubon-certified Corkscrew corridor. The layout offers a rare natural Florida golf experience away from housing developments.
History & Heritage
Old Corkscrew opened in 2007, a Jack Nicklaus Signature design built on 270 acres of natural Florida landscape with zero residential development bordering the course. Earned Audubon International Silver Signature Sanctuary certification.
Ranked the No. 1 golf course in Southwest Florida by Golf Magazine and named to Golf Digest\'s Top 40 Courses You Can Play in Florida. One of the highest slope ratings in the state at 153 from the tips.
The name references Corkscrew Road and the nearby Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The pure-golf setting with no houses in sight is unique in Southwest Florida.
Signature Holes
The consensus standout — a dogleg rewarding players bold enough to challenge the water along the left side for a shorter approach. Risk-reward at its best, followed by the stellar 10th to create the course\'s finest two-hole stretch.
What to Expect
A pure golf experience with no houses, roads, or development in sight — just native wetlands, cypress heads, and open prairie. Natural bunkering (rather than manicured white sand) blends with the landscape.
Greens are tricky with subtle slopes that become more challenging as the round progresses. The 437-yard opener sets the tone with a generous fairway but demanding green.
Public access at $65-140 — the best public course in the Naples/Estero area.
Playing Tips
Play one set of tees forward from where you normally would. This is universally recommended — the 153 slope from the tips is extremely penal.
This is a shot-maker\'s course. Managing your way around it is essential or double bogeys pile up.
Greens slope more than they appear. Trust your reads even when they look wrong.
The Audubon-certified setting means wildlife everywhere — enjoy it.
Highlights
- ✓ Jack Nicklaus design ranked among Florida's best public courses
- ✓ Audubon-certified 390-acre natural setting
- ✓ No residential development — pure golf
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it really the best public course in the area?
Are there really no houses?
Why play forward tees?
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