LC Lambrecht/Courtesy of Calusa Pines GC
LC Lambrecht/Courtesy of Calusa Pines GC
Laurence Casey Lambrecht
Laurence Casey Lambrecht
Laurence Casey Lambrecht
Laurence Casey Lambrecht
Laurence Casey Lambrecht
Laurence Casey Lambrecht
Calusa Pines Golf Club
Calusa Pines Golf Club
2250 Ridge Rd
Naples, FL 34120-3910
United States
Overview
Calusa’s developer, Gary Chensoff, a Chicago venture capitalist, survived a rare form of cancer despite long odds, and his recovery strongly influenced how Calusa Pines was designed and built. Chensoff decided to gamble, instructing Hurdzan-Fry to design the most unique course in South Florida despite a dead flat site. They responded by piling up fill from ponds to form ridgelines up to 58 feet, then planted them with mature oaks, pines and sabal palms. Calusa Pines sports perhaps the firmest, fastest Bermuda fairways and greens in Florida, currently rivaled only by the turf at Streamsong. Recent removal of overgrown vegetation between holes has returned beautiful long-range views to the course and made it more playable. Calusa Pines continues to creep forward in the ranking, moving up one more place this year.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked since 2007.
Previous ranking: 69th.
2025-'26 ranking: 68th (highest).
Best in State: Ranked third, 2011-'24. Ranked inside the top 5, 2007-'10. Ranked inside the top 10, 2005. Ranked inside the top 15, 2003.
2025-'26 ranking: 3rd.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Great place to play and a real treat if one can experience Calusa Pines."
Read More2025
Review
“The greens; it may begin with a tee shot, but the greens are some of the most difficult to get the ball close to the hole. The false fronts, the runoffs, the slopes off the deep bunkers, nothing is easy on the course except the tee shots. Even then, if the ball is on the wrong side of the fairway, you cannot play at the flag. A high arching ball flight is mandatory. It’s hard to get the ball to spin on the greens that are rock hard, but they are very true to putt on. The flow of the course was seamless from one hole to the next. Not many courses incorporate all aspects of nature, but the movement of the holes from right to left and left to right along with the elevation changes make it a special course. The short par 3s were offset by longer ones and there were reachable par 4s that presented enough trouble that a big number is possible. Although the bunkers were deep, they didn’t necessarily come into play, however they added to the aesthetics of the course and certainly created a mental hurdle while playing one’s shots. The most striking thing to me, at least for a Florida course, is that the holes were not created based on the prevailing winds."
Read More2025
Review
“Excellent sightlines and shaping. Wind and volcano-shaped green complexes with water right of several greens make the challenge score high. Some repetitiveness of layout and similarity between par 4s."
Read More2025
Review
“Calusa Pines is unique in SWFL due to its elevation change. In fact, you can see several neighboring flat golf courses in the area from the top of the hill on the 16th tee. It also stands out by having a natural routing not influenced by a surrounding housing development. Further, its bunkering style feels more Australian than Floridian and its wide fairways and lack of reliance on water hazards complete its protest of standard Florida golf."
Read More2025
Review
“Hurdzan/Fry's magnum opus. Spectacular property that is not akin to any other you will encounter in Florida. The course is beautiful, the bunkering is bold and the greens are mostly pushed up. One of the most fun rounds I have played. I've ranked this course lower on "shot options" - while the course is not unlike others in Florida - it is similar to its Florida brethren as it requires a strong aerial game."
Read More2024
Review
“Calusa Pines is an awesome golf experience, delivering everything a player could want: challenge, pristine conditions, shot variety, and a fun atmosphere. It is a true a championship layout. Boasting ample length, strategic bunkering, dramatic undulations, and firm, fast greens. It doesn’t favor any particular shot shape, instead requiring precise execution to navigate the undulated, firm, elevated green complexes."
Read More2024
Review
“Spectacular course! Must play if you get the chance."
Read More2024
Review
“Wonderful golf experience. Challenging yet fair. Excellent variety of holes with long and short par 3's, 4's, and 5's; straight holes and doglegs right and left. Great conditioning. Unusual elevation changes for Florida. Fun!"
Read More2024
Review
“One of the best courses in Florida. A truly enjoyable walk."
Read More2024
Review
“Play Calusa Pines if you can! Relatively open Fairways but extremely tricky green complexes. Aim your shot where your caddy tells you. Course is designed for walking. Great caddy program and pro shop. Staff very polite. "The Hill" = 60 feet high and is completely man-made. There are excellent views from the 3 tee boxes on top of the hill. Hole #16, a par 3, is worth the trip by itself."
Read More2023
