Sanibel Island Golf club
Originally known as Beachview Golf Course when it was built in the early 1970s, the semi-private, 18-hole championship golf course is enjoying renewed vitality since a change of ownership in November 2012. Partners Drew Donnelly and Ed Lockard brought impressive backgrounds in the island golf scene when they purchased the property, and immediately started improvements to the course, and the club’s amenities and services. The course had lagged behind in proper upkeep, and Donnelly and Lockard attended to those details right away.
“We spent the first two years getting all new maintenance equipment and making every effort to bring this course up to date,” says Donnelly. “It was built in the early 1970s, and we saw nothing but opportunity for our vision to build a firstclass golf club destination.” The lush, natural landscaping and abundant wildlife ensure a captivating and challenging round. Sanibel Island Golf Club offers full family memberships to 30-day golf memberships, and everything in between. Amenities include state-of-the-art HydroGrid tennis courts and full-service golf and tennis pro shops.
“I think what makes Sanibel Island Golf Club so unique is our full-scale emphasis on customer service—on what the golfer and non-golfer experience here,” adds Donnelly. “When we have folks who visit the islands the same two weeks every year, it’s very refreshing to have our staff remember your name, and your golf game. That makes us proud.”
The course requires some pretty smart round management and proper shot execution to fully get the most from your round. Some holes require a water carry, and the bunkers are placed with creativity, providing players with some excellent protection near most of the greens. Meticulously cared for and expertly manicured, Sanibel Island Golf Club offers members a remarkable golf experience in an idyllic, tropical island setting.
The golf club is a member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for golf courses, and shares its pristine setting with the meandering Sanibel River.
At the golf pro shop, members and visiting players will find an extensive apparel inventory and all the gear they’ll need to look and play their best. The adjacent Blue Coyote Supper Club provides the perfect setting for cocktails and lively upscale dining for members and the general public.
It was a national holiday when Donnelly answered the pro shop phone, and the passion he and Lockard have for making the club a rewarding golf course for all player levels was evident. “Sorry to keep you waiting,” he said. “Ed is out mowing the greens right now, and I’m the only one here in the shop.” That type of dedication, coupled with their longtime passion to own their own course, results in the perfect round for local and vacationing golfers, and with a personalized island flair.