Hammock Bay Golf Course

Hammock Bay is the Peter Jacobsen and Jim Hardy design from 2004 adjacent to the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort. Its proximity to the resort determines its access policy. From November through April, tee times are restricted to resort guests and members. From May through October, public play opens up, though Southwest Florida heat and afternoon thunderstorms thin the field considerably at that point. If you want to play Hammock Bay during peak season, plan the trip around the Marriott.

From the back tees, the course plays 7,000 yards at par 72 with a slope of 134. Jacobsen and Hardy built a layout that rewards thoughtful course management over power. Fairways are shaped to favor specific sides depending on the pin position, and the greens accept approaches from the correct angle while rejecting those from the wrong one. This positional emphasis makes the course more interesting on the second and third playing than on the first, when the strategic patterns have not yet revealed themselves.

The restricted access has a practical benefit: lower volumes during peak season produce four-hour rounds in a market where the public courses run four and a half hours or longer. The location adjacent to Marco Island also gives the routing a coastal character distinct from the inland Naples layouts, with a transitional ecological edge between developed island and preserved wetlands that softens the margins of several holes.

A strong Marco Island layout that rewards repeat visits and runs at a sensible pace. The access policy is restrictive, but for JW Marriott guests it is an advantage rather than a limitation.