The 18-hole Cypress Course at Bonita Bay East in Naples, Florida opened in 1997 and plays 7,077 yards from the back tees for a par of 72. The course rating is 74.4 and it has a slope rating of 134 on Bermuda grass. Both courses at Bonita Bay East were designed by Tom Fazio.Five sets of tees as well as a sixth “combined tee” makes the Cypress course enjoyable for golfers of all levels and abilities.
The Cypress course is the longest of the Bonita Bay Club’s five championship courses and presents a classic test. Greens are large and fast and bunkers are deep, both in the fairways and around the green complexes.
In 1999, the Bonita Bay Club East earned a couple of notable accolades: Golf Digest named the club the “Environmental Leader in Golf”, noting that the club sets the standard for land planning and environmental preservation and exhibited ongoing efforts to show how golf course development can coexist with, and enhance the environment. That same year Audubon International bestowed upon Bonita Bay East a “Signature Sanctuary” designation, making it the world’s first private 36-hole facility to earn that honor.
Each nine on the Cypress course possesses its own unique characteristics and challenges. The front nine offers wide open fairways dotted with natural bunkers. On the back nine, things tighten up considerably as golfers play through a series of challenging holes that are tightly framed by a natural forest that not only offers tremendous scenery but can be very imposing at times.
Memorable Holes
Number 1: Par 4, 429 yards. If you can’t find the fairway off of this tee, you could be in for a long day. It’s a wide open, inviting fairway with bunkers on the right side and a small strand of palm trees on the left which can hinder your approach shot should you find yourself having to contend with them. If you can, you are best to play down the left side of the fairway as it offers the most unobstructed approach. The green slopes back right to left front, and the steep-faced greenside bunker on the right side makes par a challenge. This is a really good opening hole.
Number 4: Par 5, 544 yards. An expansive lake dominates the scenery on this double dogleg hole. It will test the mettle of the longest hitters trying to reach the green in two. The safe play will be as near the right fairway bunker as possible. The second shot landing area is generous and many will be tempted to clear the left fairway bunker for a shorter approach to the now deep but narrow green. Recovery from the bunkers short and right of the green will require either great skill or a lot of luck. The green is wide and shallow so proper club selection will be important.
Number 6: Par 4, 402 yards. Be wary of the long sand bunker that winds its way toward the green should you try to shorten this dogleg right. You best bet off the tee is to hit it just beyond the bunker you see from the tee on the right side. Long ball hitters may not find their distance to be an advantage; a well struck tee shot may roll into the sand which spans across two-thirds of the fairway. Shot accuracy is at a premium on your approach shot as the elevated green is surrounded by large, deep bunkers.
Number 9: Par 4, 397 yards. You get the sense things are starting to change. The holes are getting a little tighter and trees frame both sides of the hole. The sloping fairway on the left is dotted with bunkers both long and short of the landing area. Placing your tee shot between the bunkers will give you the best line into a well-bunkered, two-tiered green. Be sure to choose the right club on your approach shot or be ready to pay the consequences.
Number 12: Par 5, 553 yards. You’ll need a well struck tee shot to make it to the dogleg on this long par 5 hole. The fairway resembles a long, narrow corridor as you make your way towards the green. Keep your approach shot to the right and you will take the large waste bunker out of play. Par is a good score here.
Number 16: Par 3, 233 yards. Depending which tees you are playing from, this is either the longest or shortest par 3 on the course! It’s all carry over a large waste bunker punctuated with natural sea grasses. Favoring the left side of the green is your best bet as a very deep, cavernous bunker lies in wait on the right side. A poor tee shot can lead to a very long put on this mammoth green.
Number 18: Par 4, 453 yards. Finish your round on a great driving hole! For the easiest access approach shot into the green, place your tee shot as close as you dare to the fairway bunkers on the left. A greenside bunker that wraps around can give the perception that it is farther than you think. Should you find yourself needing to scramble from off the green to make par, you will need to get creative and be putting well as this green is perhaps the most difficult to read.
Last Word: Both courses at Bonita Bay East are “must play” courses. First of all, it’s a rarity here in Florida when there are no houses on the golf course – not to mention TWO courses! Secondly, the course is always in immaculate condition. Lastly, you will not find a nicer group of people at a golf facility; from the cart attendant who takes your bag, to the pro shop staff, to the rangers on the course. All are top notch professionals looking to make your golf experience at Bonita Bay East as memorable as it can be.
Like any course, choosing the right set of tees is important if you want to have an enjoyable round at Bonita Bay East. Making the course a little longer than you usually play can lead to a few longer-than-usual carries over water off the tee. My group played from the “combo” tees (light green/dark green) and we were able to reach the par fours in two with no abnormally long approaches. The same goes with the par 3 holes; they were all playing around 180 yards so there were no “sure pars.” From the light green tees, the double dogleg par five 4th hole was reachable in two, if you happened to be gutsy (or in my case mishit) your tee shot down by the water on the left side. Like most challenging par 5s that allow you a chance to go for the green in two, the second shot was totally risk/reward as it is 100% carry over water from about 240 yards.
The greens at Bonita Bay East are perfect. They are always in great shape and run very true; not too fast and not too slow. Leaving yourself a short, uphill putt is a necessity if you want to shoot in the low numbers. The greens have a lot of undulation to them; even a short, three foot putt can break eight to twelve inches on some holes. Large, deep bunkers are everywhere and can be very penal.
Wildlife is plentiful on the Cypress course; we saw wild turkeys, deer, eagles and the occasional gator during our round. Lots of mounding is present on the periphery of most holes and also around the greens.
To book a tee time on this magnificent course, visit their websitewww.BonitaBayEast.com and click on the Schedule a Tee Time button. Or, you can give them a call at239.405.9002.
