Pros:
(2.721 Rating) A challenging course with upkeep issues.
- CHALLENGING - Not championship difficult but advanced players will be able to test their skills here. I think your typical advanced player (950 rating) will struggle to maintain par here from the back tees. There are a few shots well of 400 feet and lots of obstacles to avoid. I personally played the shorter tees for my round and didn't crack par. Playing above your skill level here can be punishing, especially if your aim is suspect.
- SHOT SHAPING - Very good. Not as good as the nearby course, The Preserve, but on par or better than neighboring Estero. This is one of those courses that on few holes you'll believe that branches are growing into your line after you release your disc. My favorite lines were (3) (14) and (18). The last half dozen holes all make you strategize your plan of attack, or perhaps your defense plan.
- SPACING - A lot of South Florida course are jammed into a tight space. The North Fort Myers course is one of the few exceptions. Very little chance to run one into another fairway and tees are nearly all well protected from errant discs.
- CHILL AREAS - Only a few benches and I think one or two picnic tables along layout. There is just enough seating along the layout to take a break every few holes to ponder how that easy 3 became a 5.
- ALT PINS AND TEES - Lots of extra pins placements and numerous holes have duel pads.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - There are several nice looking wooded and water holes out here. The last six-hole stretch was my favorite portion with four solid wooded holes followed by two holes with water lurking on the left side. On the flip side there are also a few duds out here as well. Having the chain link fence along the right side on (11 and 12) is neither appealing to look at or to throw
Cons:
North Fort Myers has your typical south Florida issues, thick vegetation, flatness and plenty of water.
- GATORS - Prime gator habitat at the water on (17 and 18) with signs warning as such. I'm not sure if the locals actually see gators in these ponds or not, but I wouldn't want to find out.
- LOOSE DISC OPPS - A very real possibility considering the above issue. However, there are more scenarios as well. In addition to water on (17 and 18), water is all over on (3) and also right of the fence on (11 and 12). The course also features thick vegetation, numerous palms and palmetto bushes. This is not an ideal course to have an off accuracy day. Keep in mind that I did play North Fort Myers in the summer. I know of several south Florida courses that dry up and lose the vegetative thickness during the winter. This course may as well.
- BEGINNER FRIENDLY - Bringing a first timer here is not a good idea. That stated, I'd be hard pressed to recommend any nearby courses as an ideal beginners courses.
- CHARACTER - A touch below. A cool stickered up bag hanger on (5). Multi baskets and tees and mentioned in the pros. A few benches, trash cans and a practice basket. However, it's the next 3 items listed below, that lead to a below average score.
- NAVIGATION - No map on DGCR and no map on site. The layout does have a little bit of intuitiveness to it and there are some directional cues and next tee indicators on the tee signs. However, that didn't stop me from walking around aimlessly a couple of times. Figure coming here blind on your first time will add at least 15 minutes to your round.
- TEES - Wow, I was expecting a lot more from a course rated this high. Many of the tees use concrete pavers. I want to say I've played 5 or 6 courses that utilized pavers and none of them were in good shape, and this course is no exception. Most of these pavered tees are heaving up, down and to the side. A few had broken pavers as well. A couple were so bad that I teed to the side. There were also a couple temporary mats. They were better than the pavers but still not ideal.
- MAINTENANCE - The course needs a touch more love, perhaps it was the time I played. In addition to the tees, the overall feeling I got from the course was a little run down feel. Not horrible by any means, but lacks the curb appeal like that of Estero and The Preserve. A couple signs were missing or damaged. Grass wasn't cut in several areas.
- ELEVATION - I you guessed that this course was flat, you'd be right. If you're searching for a course with some elevation, Estero about a half hour south has a couple 30 foot elevation plays.
- UNIQUENESS - In addition to no elevation, I think the overall variety was around average or a touch below compared to the courses I've played thus far. For one thing, all par 3s. No doglegs or water clears. It didn't seem like they were any bomb-it without worry holes out here and not one shot felt like a chip shot ace run. What the course does have going for it is the technical nature of several lines to the left and to the right. I recall at least one raised basket on (9) but I think there may have been another. Water parallels two holes really well and has a marginal effect on a couple other holes.
- TIME PLAY - Figure 2 1/2 hours for a four sum here.
Other Thoughts:
The 100th course I hit in Florida. The thunderstorms were building all around me the day I came. I thought about bailing several times but was blessed to only get a few sprinkles during my round. North Fort Myers fills the gap between two of Southwest Florida's top courses (The Preserve and Estero) Although I think the North Fort Myers course comes up a bit short compared to those gems, I still would happily call this course my own if I lived in the area A great course for those looking to be challenged, but a poor choice for the kid with one or two discs.