Saltleaf Golf Preserve

Saltleaf Golf Preserve is the former Raptor Bay, reopened in November 2023 after a renovation north of $20 million. Raymond Floyd's original 2001 routing through more than 500 acres of Estero Bay preserve is intact, but virtually everything you touch is new: turf, bunkers, cart paths, irrigation, and clubhouse. Troon now manages the operation, bringing its booking platform, loyalty program, and maintenance standards. The rebrand signals the scale of the work. This is not a refresh, it is a rebuild that kept the routing and replaced the rest.

The preserve setting is the standout, and it is the one element no renovation could create from scratch. The routing passes through coastal mangrove habitat with a constant wildlife presence: wading birds, osprey, the occasional alligator, all on the periphery rather than in the way. Floyd designed the original to coexist with this environment, and the renovation respected that footprint. The ecological constraints also limit future modification, which means Saltleaf will hold its character even as other Naples-area courses cycle through reinvention.

At par 71 and 6,750 yards from the tips, Saltleaf is on the shorter end of the mid-range tier, and a slope of 129 is gentle. These numbers tell you what kind of round to expect: an experience-led course rather than a brutal test. Floyd, a four-time major champion, built it for golfers who want a well-conditioned round in an interesting setting and a few shots they will remember. The single par 5 on one of the nines creates a brisk rhythm that avoids the slog longer Florida courses can become in summer heat.

The $20 million spend brought conditioning to a level that competes with premium-tier Naples courses. Greens, tees, and fairways are new, and Troon's standards keep things consistent through the season. The clubhouse and practice facilities were modernised at the same time, so the post-round experience now matches what is on the course.