The world-class Arthur Hills golf course that winds its way through the property’s 200 forested acres is the centerpiece of The Wilderness. Constructed in 1973 and totally refurbished in 2004, with Hills commissioned to oversee its restoration, the golf course is considered by many the premiere golfing venue in Southwest Florida. At 6,652 yards from its championship tees, the course offers a complete examination of a player’s skills from the opening tee shot to the final negotiation of the deeply bunkered and mounded 18th green. The Wilderness golf course is a designated Audubon cooperative sanctuary. Hills calls the setting “a rare, tropical enclave – really a paradise.” The course has a superb rhythm and flow. Most rounds are played in less than four hours. The nature sights one encounters along the way can be as memorable as a perfectly struck shot. For the memories of the less than perfectly executed shot, there is a complete practice area with an unlimited supply of free range balls. The fully appointed pro shop is staffed by three PGA professionals, who arrange golf games, run weekly golf clinics, and provide individual lessons. There are golf associations for both ladies and men, with numerous golfing events for both groups, including annual invitational tournaments and guest days monthly during the season. In the off-season, Wilderness members enjoy the opportunity to play on a reciprocal basis at more than 20 area golf clubs. With each condo unit equipped with its own golf cart and cart garage, members are never more than a minute or two away from the clubhouse. There are no trail fees. |