★Florida REALTOR® · License SL3504588 ·Realty ONE Group MVP · The Nicholas Nolan Team ·Independent Lely Resort resource ·📞 (239) 877-4646

THE GOLFER’S GUIDE

Playing Golf at Lely Resort

Two of Lely Resort’s three courses are open to the public — here’s how to play Flamingo Island and Mustang, book a tee time, and grab lunch at Sam Snead’s.

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PLAY LELY RESORT

You can play golf at Lely Resort without joining anything

Here’s the fact most people don’t realize: two of Lely Resort’s three golf courses are open to the public, pay-as-you-play — no membership, no property, no strings.

Flamingo Island and Mustang are both daily-fee courses. Anyone can call, book a tee time, and play — whether you live in Lely Resort, you’re renting nearby for the season, or you’re just driving in from Naples or Marco Island for the morning. Only the third course, The Classics, is private. If your interest is in golf membership and what it means for buyers, that’s covered in depth on our golf overview; this guide is for the golfer who simply wants to play.

THE COURSES

Three courses, three pedigrees

All three sit inside Lely Resort in South Naples, but only the first two are yours to play without joining.

Flamingo Island — Public

A Robert Trent Jones Sr. design that opened in 1990. Par 72 and roughly 7,230 yards from the tips, with the water, bunkering and length you’d expect from the RTJ name. This is the marquee public track.

Mustang — Public

Designed by Lee Trevino — his only course design in the area. A second full 18 that plays differently from Flamingo Island, so a stay-and-play stretch never feels repetitive.

The Classics — Private

A Gary Player championship course inside gated Classics Plantation Estates. Equity, members-only, and not open to public play — beautiful, but not on the daily-fee menu.

The two public courses share a single clubhouse and pro shop, so Flamingo Island and Mustang are booked through the same desk.

WHICH COURSE

Which course should you play?

Course	Access	Designer	The short read
Flamingo Island	Public (greens fees)	Robert Trent Jones Sr.	The resort’s flagship public round — a full championship test, roughly 7,230 yards from the tips, open since 1990.
Mustang	Public (greens fees)	Lee Trevino	The second public championship layout — same clubhouse, same tee sheet, one phone call books either.
The Classics	Private (equity members only)	Gary Player	Members and guests only, inside Classics Plantation Estates — how that club works is covered in Players Club vs. The Classics.

Course facts from the resort’s published materials; setups and conditions change — confirm details with the pro shop when you book.

TEE TIMES & RATES

How to book — and what it costs

One number handles both public courses: The Club at Lely Resort, (239) 732-1200.

Greens fees here are seasonal — highest in the winter high season, lower through the summer — and they shift year to year, so we don’t publish a rate that would be wrong by the time you read it. Call the pro shop for current pricing and availability, and always verify current figures before you drive out. A few things worth knowing before you dial:

✓ Both public courses (Flamingo Island & Mustang) book through the same clubhouse.
✓ Rates are seasonal — winter is peak, summer is the value window.
✓ Twilight and off-season tee times are usually the friendliest on price.
✓ Book ahead in season; South Naples tee sheets fill fast January through April.

THE 19TH HOLE

Sam Snead’s Oak Grill & Tavern

The shared clubhouse is home to Sam Snead’s Oak Grill & Tavern, the on-site restaurant named for the golf legend. It’s the natural spot for lunch after your round or a drink at the turn, and you don’t need to be a member or even a golfer to walk in. Pair it with the resort’s other public-facing draws on our amenities guide if you’re making a day of it.

DON’T MIX THESE UP

Lely Resort is not “Lely Golf Estates”

Quick clarification, because GPS and search results confuse them constantly: Lely Golf Estates is a separate, older Naples community with its own golf course — it is not the same place as Lely Resort and the three courses described here. If you’re heading to Flamingo Island, Mustang or Sam Snead’s, you want Lely Resort.

IF YOU’RE BUYING

What public golf means for buyers

Public courses inside your own community are quietly one of Lely Resort’s best features if you’re shopping for a home.

In many Naples golf communities, playing means buying into a bundled or equity membership before you ever tee off. Lely Resort is unusual: because Flamingo Island and Mustang are pay-as-you-play, you can live here and golf as much — or as little — as you like, with no membership required and no dues if you don’t want them. It’s a genuine try-before-you-buy: play the courses for a season, then decide whether the optional private club (The Classics) is worth it to you. That flexibility keeps the cost of entry low compared with fully bundled communities.

Want to stay close to the first tee first? Greenlinks is Lely Resort’s golf-oriented condo neighborhood and a common landing spot for golfers testing the community before they commit. When you’re ready, browse current homes for sale across the resort’s 40-plus neighborhoods. And if you’re weighing Lely against other Naples golf communities head-to-head, our sister site naplesgolfcommunities.net runs those comparisons.

Questions about buying in a golf community without over-committing on membership? That’s exactly what I help clients sort out — Nicholas Nolan, REALTOR, The Nicholas Nolan Team / Realty ONE Group MVP, (239) 877-4646. Independent — not compensated by the developer.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Can anyone play golf at Lely Resort, or do you have to be a member?

Anyone can play. Two of Lely Resort's three courses, Flamingo Island and Mustang, are public, pay-as-you-play courses with no membership or property required. Only the third course, The Classics, is private and members-only.

How do I book a tee time at Lely Resort?

Both public courses are booked through the same clubhouse. Call The Club at Lely Resort at (239) 732-1200 for tee times and availability for Flamingo Island and Mustang.

How much are greens fees at Lely Resort?

Greens fees are seasonal, with winter as the peak and summer as the value window, and they change year to year, so they are not published here. Call the pro shop at (239) 732-1200 for current rates and verify current figures before you play.

Who designed the golf courses at Lely Resort?

Flamingo Island was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. (opened 1990, par 72), Mustang by Lee Trevino (his only design in the area), and the private Classics course by Gary Player.

Is Sam Snead's Oak Grill & Tavern open to the public?

Yes. Sam Snead's Oak Grill & Tavern is in the shared clubhouse and is open to the public, so you do not need to be a member or a golfer to eat or drink there.

Is Lely Resort the same as Lely Golf Estates?

No. Lely Golf Estates is a separate, older Naples community with its own golf course. Flamingo Island, Mustang, The Classics and Sam Snead's are all at Lely Resort, which is a different place.

Talk to a local specialist

Questions about Lely Resort? Ask a local specialist.

Neighborhood fit, fees and membership rules, current listings, or a no-pressure valuation — tell me what you need and I’ll personally reply within one business day.

✓ Real numbers from the actual budgets
✓ Mandatory vs. optional, spelled out
✓ Independent — not paid by the developer

Brokerage. Nicholas Nolan (Florida Real Estate License SL3504588) is a licensed real estate sales associate of Realty ONE Group MVP, 1495 Pine Ridge Rd, Naples, FL 34109. The Nicholas Nolan Team operates under the supervision of Realty ONE Group MVP.

Equal Housing Opportunity. We do business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law and equal opportunity housing standards.

Independent resource. Lely Resort Guides is an independent informational resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by Lely Resort, Stock Development, the Lely Resort Master Property Owners Association, the Community Association of Lely, the Players Club & Spa, The Classics Country Club, The Club at Lely Resort, or any Lely Resort neighborhood association. “Lely Resort” and related names are trademarks of their respective owners.

Information & pricing. Community details, fees, and listing data are compiled from public and MLS sources, may contain errors, and change without notice. Verify all figures with the relevant association, club, or seller before making decisions.

Talk to Nick(239) 877-4646