Pros:
1) Most playable course in the Fort Myers area. It beats the tight fairways at FGCU and the nasty Palm shrubs at N. Ft. Myers, and the lameness that is Bay Oaks in Ft. Myers Beach. Open enough to throw cleanly, yet enough challenge with the forced water carry holes and some tighter fairways.
2) Shelter is right in the main intersection of 2 basket - 3 tee, and 4 basket - 5 tee, and also a big shelter for vehicles or something is located near 6 basket.
3) Benches are located on a few holes including hole #1 which is always nice to have around the first tee area. Garbage cans are also located on holes #1, 3 and 5 junction, and 8 basket area. I never saw much garbage here except down in the water edge.
4) Nicely visible telephone posts painted white with red #'s on the top. The course also has signs on the long tees with descriptions, distances, and hole layout maps.
5) Challenge is ever present on this course except hole #6 (and 15). When there isn't water there is a tight fairway to thread and plenty of trees to avoid.
6) Course is setup as a front 9 back 9 to create 18 different holes. You can play all shorts, all longs, front or back. The setup starts with a long for #1, short for #2, long for #3, and short for #4 and goes all the way like that through 18. The holes played from short and long definitely change the hazards and the challenge, so this course can handle the front back scenario better than many where the longs are simply an extension of the shorts.
7) Dual concrete tees on all holes (except #14) where the tee is raised up in a retaining area and rubber mat is used. They look rough and brutal so don't fall but they are not slippery at all which is the important thing.
8) Practice basket is available near the 1st tee always a plus for a little warmup putting before a round.
Cons:
1) Baskets are starting to look old and worn out. Rust is visible in many places on chains and baskets. A few of the baskets also seemed to be leaning slightly on the posts.
2) Course has zero elevation change on any hole. There really arent any hollows or slight rises. The only place where there is elevation is down into the water or the slight channel around #2 green.
3)Course is not beginner friendly in my opinion because of the water carries required and the tightness of most fairways. The water channel on the right of 4 I imagine will catch a lot of beginners discs too.
4) Course is still overgrown in my opinion, but only because I am not from Florida. I know this is typical and I also know people do go in to try and thin some of this out. I played with Roller Coasters and he said someone even went into the water in front of #7 (and 16) and trimmed down some of the reeds which I could imagine were troublesome to the tee shot.
5) Course layout can be a little confusing because of the switchback from 3 to 4 and then back again past 2 basket to go to #5 tee. Once played though it isnt that bad.
6) Course really lacks variety in shot shaping. Everything is virtually a simple hyzer or straight shot. This happens because of the layout going clockwise around the pond. They could create a couple anhyzers however with some different basket placements like on hole #6. Now there are 3 basket placements per hole (except 6) so maybe this was just the current setup it is hard to tell.
Other Thoughts:
Bonita Spring Rec. Center is an all around average course. There is certianly a large amount of challenge on this course witht he water and tightness of most fairways. There are plenty of trees to knock you down (and in my case catch your disc too, although after 35 minutes of searching after my round I did find it stuck in the crease of a palm frond, I was determined as I have already lost 1 Wraith on this long trip of mine. It seems to be in good shape and the amenities and facilities are all there in adequate distribution. There is something about the palmetto shrubs that just irk me but it is simply a mainstay in Florida. There may or may not be much that can be done to keep those palmettos from taking over a course (much like Buckthorn in the north). I just hate having to search for discs so often and not even be able to see them easily. The water apparently is normally really low this time of year because it is typically the dry season, and in a few weeks the level may be way down again taking away a lot of the trouble on that course. I had a good time and I always appreciate playing with a local so Thank you Roller Coasters for your guidance. Glad we could also get the travel tags exchanged since I missed my chance with jrawk a few days ago.
I had to lower the overall rating of this course after playing all the other courses now between St. Pete and Naples. I think in the end it is just an average course. I will return, but would more likely go to North Fort Myers, North Port CHarlotte, or Sarasota.