Calusa Pines Golf Club

Calusa Pines golf course is a private 18-hole golf course located in Naples, Florida.

Calusa Pines golf course first opened for play in November 2001. The course was designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry. The developer was Gary Chensoff.

They transformed 550 acres of flat land into 7,215 yards of undulating golf course with 58 feet of elevation change and the highest point of land in south Florida.

They had to blast into coral rock to build ponds and spent one million dollars on dynamite. Of course once, the blasting was done, the next challenge was forming the land shapes. The landmass and the golf course are tied together through numerous sand and waste bunkers. There is one waste area that encompasses nine acres and the eighth green features a 27-foot tall bunker.

The builders desired to make the course look like it had always been there. They did not want to build hills and just cover them with grasses, as needed to create a natural look on newly created forms, they planted mature growth trees. Over 16o large oak trees as high as 45-feet tall and weighing 18 tons each and over 1,200 mature pine trees and 900 sable palms were planted. Construction exceeded $16 million.

This is a private, upscale, challenging, and beautiful golf venue.

The Calusa Pines website sets the tone with the following post on their front page, "Members Only. Private Golf Club By Invitation Only, No phone calls or solicitations, please.

Members of the ultra-exclusive club will expect the best. Membership is by invitation only and is limited to 275. The initiation fee in 2002 was $175,000. For the money, Calusa Pines members get a golf-only facility, an exclusive clubhouse, and the service of caddies.