Fort Myers Country Club

I write this review reluctantly because i don’t want The Fort overrun with snowbirds. But it is what public golf is all about. A historic layout kept in good condition despite 1500-2000 rounds a week in season.

For the most part, par4’s and 5’s offer generous landing areas off the tee. The exceptions to this are the three holes that D. Ross used the canal that bisects the property as a diabolically placed hazard: numbers 3,8, and the 18. On these holes , you really have to think your way to the ( always elevated) greens.

The par 3’s, of which there are 5, are as tough as you will find, even without being surrounded by water, as is typical in Florida.

As mentioned, the challenge here is accurately approaching the elevated greens. mediocre shots will be punished and getting up and down off the tight Bermuda lies is rare for all but the low single digit handicapper. The greens themselves probably run around 8 1/2 to 9 and are pretty smooth for a course with this much play.

If there is one sign that FMCC is public, it is that turf can be pretty sparse if one ventures off the fairways.

When one first looks at the scorecard and sees the blue tees at 6240 yards and a course rating of 70.5/126, one thinks it will be a pushover. 4 hours later, i guarantee you will think otherwise, especially if the wind blows from the north/northeast.

This Donald Ross, Florida Historic Course is a gift to anyone who plays it. What it lacks in grandeur, it makes up for in technical difficulty. Traditional elevated exacting greens, challenging water and tree lined short and long fairways. Looks easy, plays hard. In summer the greens are lush, In winter a bit overplayed.

We love Fort Myers country club! Get in a great walk and very reasonable after 1:30! Always in great shape and fast challenging greens we’ll be playing there at least 2 or 3 more times

Nice course, and very challenging. Be mindful of the greens, you have to hit the ball as close to the hole as possible, or expect your ball to fall off. Course is in beautiful shape.

FMCC is very close to where I live so it’s usually the most convenient for me to play. It’s very nice having a well kept public course nearby. Prices are usually competitive or better than equivalent quality local courses.

- The elevated greens from the renovation 4 years ago are the biggest challenge of the course.

- Greens aren’t crazy fast, but are consistent and besides a couple small patches here and there, in great condition.

- A great walking course.

- Well kept fairways.

What a thrill to play a 100 year old course designed by a legendary golf architect. Although the layout is fairly up front, be prepared to deal with difficult greens which are all elevated.

Only issue I had was when checking in Dr ?? Walked up and the attendant completely stopped my check in to attend to Dr ?? Very rude, but other than that a great experience.

In a landscape where a lot of courses blend together in relative mediocrity, it's a true pleasure to play somewhere that makes you constantly think, "This is what great affordable golf should be like." Fort Myers Country Club - something of a misnomer because it's the city's main muni - is such a place.

The century-old Donald Ross design was its best self when I played it on a spectacular Presidents' Day early-morning. It's a terrific walk, with gloriously firm turf and the sort of pushed up greens that you could spend an hour devising shots for. The variety of holes is excellent, and the canal that runs through the property makes a great strategic obstacle on three holes - 3, 8 and 18 - which I consider the heart of an already strong layout. At $55 to walk in peak season, it is just about as good a value as I've seen in golf. If you come to southwest Florida and do not play it, you are missing out on an example of exemplary everyday public golf.

No ambiance here, just real good golf. Some interesting holes but all at great green complexes.

Price is right too!

I played Fort Myers Country Club on a recent trip to Florida and found the staff to be wonderfully friendly and professional. The golf course is a pleasure to walk and the course conditions were great. I will definitely be back!

I have played this course since the redo and I like the changes. The grass and upkeep are great....that is the best part of the redo. I must also mention the replacement of holes 4-5 are questionable. 4 is shorter and some of my guests have had a hard time judging it and it adds to difficultly. The problem is the danger on the tee shot....it is very close to the tee box of the 5th hole. I have had many balls hit near me and others on the 5th tee box. There are some great thinking tee shots which I love. 7th, par 3 is funny since it a bit long and I love how my friends think the long par 5 8th which has a significant water hazard. The one hole I have a question is the 11th (I think) which has the HUGE tree close to the hole...WHY!?!?! I guess they were thinking pick your shot but I have never seen that but you have a fairly open fairway with the practice fairway to hit it right....

Overall, its a good course to hit on...not challenging but it has its bumps. If you can hit it long with creativity...you will have fun.

Cheers!!!

This Donald Ross gem has received a complete make-over, and kudos to golf architect Steve Smyers! I played the course 3 years ago and again this week and the difference is amazing. The turf conditions are some of the best I have ever seen, and I’m “in the business”. The greens are fast and true. The renovations have brought this course back to a true Donald Ross design, except that in his day the greens were never this quick! So, stay below the hole, putt from off the green, sharpen up your short game (this is not a long course), and have a ball! This one is great for walkers and fun for all ages (well, not for kids!). Challenging enough without being silly, a number of holes give you options. You really have to think your way around this course. Golf as it should be!