Pin itThe Rookery at Marco
A 7,180-yard resort layout managed by Marriott Golf, redesigned by Robert Cupp in 2003, with difficulty ratings that match the premium tier at lower pricing.
Designed by Joe Lee (1991); Robert Cupp Jr. (2003 redesign)
$100–$349
Booking via Direct
The Rookery at Marco carries a course rating of 75.1 and a slope of 143, numbers that match or exceed the premium courses in this guide while operating at price points below the Tiburon tier. Joe Lee designed the original layout in 1991 and Robert Cupp Jr. redesigned it in 2003, adding the strategic complexity that defines the current course. Marriott Golf manages the operation, and the course pairs with the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort to create the most complete golf-and-beach combination on Marco Island.
What to expect
Cupp's redesign produced a 7,180-yard layout that demands length and accuracy in equal measure. The course rating confirms a serious test from the tips, while forward tees provide more accessible options without removing the strategic elements that make the design interesting. The routing uses the Marco Island landscape to create holes that feel isolated from surrounding development, and several holes along the water offer views absent from the inland Naples courses. Walking is permitted after 4pm, which during longer daylight months provides enough time to complete a round on foot. The flat terrain and reasonable distances between holes make it well suited to walking once the window opens, and the late-afternoon light on Marco Island happens to be the most photogenic.
By the numbers
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 7,180
Is it worth the green fee?
Yes, by the numbers. Peak-season fees of $200 to $349 and off-peak of $100 to $175 are strong value for this difficulty and pedigree. At 143 slope the Rookery matches Naples Grande and exceeds Tiburon Gold in difficulty rating, yet the peak ceiling sits $150 lower than Tiburon's. That gap is significant enough that golfers comparing on difficulty alone will find the Rookery underpriced relative to its challenge.
Booking and trip fit
Resort guests at JW Marriott Marco Island receive preferred access and pricing, making this a natural complement to a beach stay. For golfers splitting time between sand and course, the proximity and Marriott management create a seamless experience that minimises the logistical friction of a golf day. Pair with Tiburon Gold, Naples Grande, Lely Mustang, or Hammock Bay across a multi-day Naples trip. Tee times are available through the booking link on this page.
The bottom line
A 7,180-yard resort layout managed by Marriott Golf, redesigned by Cupp in 2003, with difficulty matching the premium tier at lower pricing.
Where to Stay
Accommodations near The Rookery at Marco
Inn
Comfort Inn & Executive Suites Naples
Naples, Florida
A 140-room budget hotel in south Naples with free breakfast, pool, and kitchen suites near Heritage Bay.
From $80/nightHeritage Bay Golf Club (~15 min)
ExpediaCheck availability
Hotel
Courtyard by Marriott Naples
Naples, Florida
A 102-room Courtyard on Tamiami Trail with heated pool and Bistro, ten minutes from Naples Grande Golf Club.
From $120/nightNaples Grande Golf Club (~10 min)
ExpediaCheck availability
Inn
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Naples
Naples, Florida
A 109-room Marriott economy hotel with free breakfast and pickleball court, fifteen minutes from Heritage Bay.
From $90/nightHeritage Bay Golf Club (~15 min)
ExpediaCheck availability
Hotel
Hilton Naples
Naples, Florida
A 199-room hotel on Tamiami Trail with free beach shuttle and parking, ten minutes from Naples Grande Golf Club.
From $180/nightNaples Grande Golf Club (~10 min)
ExpediaCheck availability
Other Courses Nearby
Mid-Range
Hammock Bay Golf Course
Naples, Florida
Peter Jacobsen and Jim Hardy championship design adjacent to JW Marriott Marco Island, with restricted access November through April.
$100–$219Semi-PrivatePeter Jacobsen / Jim Hardy (2004)
PartnerBook tee time
Mid-Range
Heritage Bay Golf & Country Club
Naples, Florida
A 27-hole Gordon Lewis facility offering public play at green fees roughly one-third of the Naples average.
$40–$110Semi-PrivateGordon G. Lewis / Jed Azinger (2006)
PartnerBook tee time
Mid-Range
Lely Resort — Flamingo Island
Naples, Florida
Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s 1989 design with island fairways, water on 12 holes, and Champion Ultra Dwarf Bermuda greens at public-access pricing.
$75–$200PublicRobert Trent Jones Sr. / Roger Rulewich (1989)
PartnerBook tee time
Mid-Range
Lely Resort — Mustang
Naples, Florida
Lee Trevino's only Southwest Florida design, a 7,230-yard layout with 12 lakes built on his philosophy of challenging but fair golf for all skill levels.
$75–$200PublicLee Trevino (1996)
PartnerBook tee time
Premium
Naples Grande Golf Club
Naples, Florida
A Rees Jones championship layout through 200 acres of mangrove preserve, affiliated with Naples Grande Beach Resort and open to walking at all times.
$80–$250ResortRees Jones (2000)
PartnerBook tee time
Mid-Range
Saltleaf Golf Preserve
Naples, Florida
Raymond Floyd's original 2001 course through 500 acres of Estero Bay preserve, reopened in November 2023 after a $20M renovation managed by Troon.
$150–$299PublicRaymond Floyd (2001; renovated 2023)
PartnerBook tee time
Premium
Tiburon Golf Club — Black Course
Naples, Florida
Greg Norman's second Tiburon design with pine straw-lined fairways, crushed coquina waste areas, and the highest slope rating in Naples at 147.
$99–$500Semi-PrivateGreg Norman & Tad Burnett (2001)
PartnerBook tee time
Premium
Tiburon Golf Club — Gold Course
Naples, Florida
Home of the PGA Tour's QBE Shootout and the LPGA's CME Group Tour Championship, a Greg Norman design featuring stacked sod-wall bunkers on a 7,288-yard layout.
$99–$500Semi-PrivateGreg Norman & Tad Burnett (1998)
PartnerBook tee time
Hidden Value
Valencia Golf & Country Club
Naples, Florida
A Gordon Lewis public course in North Naples offering year-round access with TifEagle Bermuda greens and peak-season rates starting at $85.
$40–$159PublicGordon G. Lewis (1997)
PartnerBook tee time
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