The Colony Golf & Country Club facility in Bonita Springs, Florida features 6,802 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. The course rating is 74.1 with a slope rating of 143. The Colony opened in 1996 and was designed by Tom Fazio and Jerry Pate. Seaside Dwarf Paspalum is the grass of choice from tee to green at The Colony and six sets of tees make the course enjoyable for golfers of all skill levels and abilities.
The Colony is set among 809 acres of a well-sculptured community, balanced with all the essentials of nature and has been designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Although the course winds its way through the community, many of The Colony's 18 holes are completely secluded with no obstructions in sight.
The practice facilities at The Colony are impressive; a full sized driving range where you can hit every club in your bag; practice chipping green, bunker and a large putting green. Everything you need to have no excuses when you hit the first tee.
The Colony offers a naturally contoured layout with undulating fairways that wind their way through marsh preserves and oak hammocks. The Colony lends itself to the aesthetic features of the land’s natural beauty. During your round you are likely to encounter palmettos, native grasses, pines and oaks.
The Tuscan-inspired clubhouse is resplendent with a formal dining room, cocktail lounge, golf shop, and luxurious locker rooms. Other amenities include a swimming pool area and tennis courts. The staff at The Colony has a true dedication to service and hospitality.
Several membership plans are available at the colony including an equity golf membership, equity sports membership and an associate golf membership plan. For more information and to learn about current incentives being offered, call Donna Marcotte at (239) 390-4720.
Memorable Holes
Number 1: Par 4, 374 yards. This is not the longest starting hole by far so it offers a great opportunity to get your round off to a great start. The tree lined fairway is wide and offers a generous landing area; just make sure to avoid the lone fairway bunker on the left. There is no trouble up around the green, unless you hit it over. The putting surface slopes back to front and the greens roll true.
Number 5: Par 4, 409 yards. Number 5 is a dogleg left around water so cut off as much as you are comfortable with. The tee box aims you off to the rough on the right so picking your line off the tee is critical. A good tee shot will leave a mid-iron to an elevated green that is large and features a lot of undulation. This is a pretty and challenging golf hole.
Number 6: Par 5, 510 yards. The tee shot on number 6 is somewhat blind with a fairly lengthy carry off the tee to avoid a marsh. The lone visible trap off the tee is not reachable for most golfers so feel free to aim at it. If you can hit a draw off the tee, this is the hole to do it on. Rough and out of bounds line the left side on your layup shot to best to play down the middle (when isn’t it?). The elevated green is protected by bunkers on either side. For most players the green is not reachable in two however there is ample opportunity for a good score on this hole.
Number 7: Par 4, 360 yards. Number 7 is a very pretty hole. It’s a dogleg left with water on the left side, woods and sea grass line the right side. As long as you can hit your tee shot to the dogleg, you can score well on this hole with a good approach shot. A poor approach sot can easily land you in one of the cluster of sand traps that guard the right side of the green.
Number 8: Par 3, 145 yards. This is the 2nd par 3 with a large, deep bunker protecting the front middle of the green. The only difference here is that the bunker is about 10 yards short of the green so, what you think may be a perfect shot after it disappears over the bunker may in fact be short.
Number 13: Par 5, 513 yards. This dogleg left keeps going left as you play the hole. Don’t play our too far to the right off the tee or you can easily find the woods. You’ll have a decision to make on your layup shot as the fairway is split with a few fairway bunkers in the middle about 120 yards out from the green.
Number 15: Par 3: 189 yards. A long par 3 where getting to the green is the easy part of the hole! There is a huge “trough” in the middle of the green. Both the front and rear portions are elevated in comparison with the middle, making mid and rear pin placements quite interesting. With a rear pin, you don’t want to be short or you will have a difficult two putt. With a middle pin placement, a two putt can be just as unlikely depending on the speed of the green. It will most likely be a downhill putt with little or no chance to stop the ball. All that is missing on this green is the windmill!
Number 18: Par 4, 351 yards. This is not the longest hole but with the view of the clubhouse looming on the left side, it sure makes for a good looking hole. All you need of the tee is a three-wood or hybrid; and to avoid the water all the way down the left side. That will leave around 150 yards to a two tiered green that leaves a very difficult uphill putt if you are on the lower tier on the left. Be careful as the water on the left juts out into the middle of the fairway. All in all a great way to end a round on one of the most beautiful courses in the area.
Last Word
The Colony Golf Club is one of a group of fantastic, upscale golf facilities in Southwest Florida that are operated by WCI Communities. Others include Hammock Bay and the Tiburon courses in the Naples area, Pelican Preserve in Ft. Myers, The Venetian Golf and River Club in Venice and Raptor Bay in Bonita Springs.
Water comes into play in some shape or form on at least 13 holes. Although there aren’t any overly long forced carries few of the water hazards figure into the dogleg holes allowing for some risk-reward opportunities. Golfers who move the ball right to left shot will love the front nine, as 3 holes bend to the left. Slicers, not so much. Most of the par 4 and 5 holes provide ample room off the tee.
Sand traps are strategically placed throughout the course such that fairway bunkers are reachable regardless the set of tees being played. Greenside bunkers can be penal in nature as many are deep and sometimes unforgiving. Many collection areas and swales surround the green complexes creating some tricky up and down situations.
Tree-lined fairways and sculptured greens allow players of various handicaps the opportunity to showcase their ability. Interesting routing and terrain, great hole designs and immaculate conditioning and service are just two of the outstanding features you will find at The Colony. Playing this course if given the opportunity is high recommended!
For more information on the course or becoming a member, you can visit The Colony online at http://www.TheColonyGolfCC.com or give them a call at (239) 390-4700.
