Discover Golf and Tennis

With more than 180 courses, the Gulfshore boasts challenges for golfers at every level. The National Golf Foundation ranks Collier and Lee counties as second and fifth, respectively, in the number of golf holes per capita in the country. Golf luminaries such as Greg Norman, Tom Fazio and Jack Nicklaus have all designed acclaimed courses in the area.

Tennis lovers can play on an abundance of outdoor tennis courts. Most area hotels and resorts have them, and public courts can be found at many county and city parks.

The Gulfshore has its share of spectator sports, too. Baseball fans flock to the area in March and April for the spring training games of two Grapefruit League teams-the championship Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins. From April through August, the Twins' farm team, the Fort Myers Miracle, plays at the Lee County Sports Complex.

The Everblades take to the ice at Germain Arena in Estero during the October-to-April season of the East Coast Hockey League. And the Firecats bring arenafootball2 to enthusiastic crowds at Germain April through July.

Golf

Collier County

Marco Island

Public Golf Courses

Marco Shores Country Club, 1450 Mainsail Drive, (239) 394-2581. An 18-hole, par-72, 6,879-yard championship golf course, driving range, practice green and bunker.

Rookery at Marco, 3433 Club Center Blvd., (239) 793-6060. An 18-hole, 7,180-yard, par-72 course. Lessons available from professional staff. Open to guests staying at the Marriott Resort as well as the public. 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Naples

Public Golf Courses

Arrowhead Golf Course, 2205 Heritage Greens Drive, (239) 596-1000. An 18-hole, par-72, 6,850-yard course. Pro shop, restaurant, aqua range. Club rentals and lessons. Open seven days, 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Cypress Woods, 3525 Northbrooke Drive, (239) 592-7860. Gordon Lewis-designed 18-hole course with a pro shop and restaurant.

Forest Glen Country Club, Forest Glen Blvd., (239) 354-1898. An 18-hole, 5,719-yard, par-72 course. Open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Golden Gate Country Club, 4100 Golden Gate Parkway, (239) 455-9498. An 18-hole, 6,200-yard, par-72 course. Open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Hibiscus Golf Club, 175 Doral Circle, (239) 774-0088. A par-72 course with PGA instruction, complete practice facilities, pro shop; group outings available. Bar and restaurant. 7 a.m. to dusk.

Naples Golf Club South, 18100 Royal Tree Parkway, (239) 732-0034. An 18-hole, par-72, 6,476-yard course. Driving range, restaurant and lounge.

Riviera Golf Club, 48 Marseille Drive, (239) 774-1081. An executive 18-hole, par-62, 4,500-yard course. Nine- and 18-hole fees. 6:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. www.rivieragolf.com.

Valencia Golf and Country Club, 1725 Double Eagle Trail. (239) 352-0777. An 18-hole, Gordon Lewis-designed 7,145-yard, par-72 course. Open 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Semiprivate Golf Courses

Glen Eagle Golf and Country Club, 1403 Glen Eagle Blvd., (239) 353-3699. An 18-hole, 5,648-yard, par-70 course. Golf club rental and lessons available. 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week.

Naples Lakes Country Club, 4788 Inverness Club Drive, (239) 732-6700. An 18-hole, 6,804-yard, par-72 Arnold Palmer signature course. Open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Tuesdays.

Vanderbilt Country Club, 8254 Danbury Blvd., (239) 348-2663. An 18-hole championship golf course designed by Gordon G. Lewis. North Naples; amenities include clubhouse with casual and formal dining open to the public. 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Closed to the public in season.

Resort Courses

LaPlaya, 333 Palm River Blvd., (239) 597-2991. Bob Cupp-designed course open to guests at the LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort features an 18-hole, par 72, 6,907-yard championship layout, driving range and practice area. Home of the David Leadbetter Golf Academy. www.laplayaresort.com.

Lely Resort Golf and Country Club, 8004 Lely Resort Blvd., (239) 793-2223. Two 18-hole championship golf courses designed by Lee Trevino and Robert Trent Jones Sr., offering a complete pro shop, restaurant and lounge. Given 4 1/2 stars by Golf Digest. Twilight golf, corporate tournaments and outings available. Computerized-yardage system on every golf cart. Extensive tee options. Doug Higgins Golf Academy. Open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Sunday. www.lely-resort.com

The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, 851 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., (239) 261-2222. The oldest course in Naples; an 18-hole, par-72, 6,488-yard course. Golf-club rental, complete pro shop, practice range and lessons available. Off-season, open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week, in-season, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. www.naplesbeachhotel.com.

Naples Grande, 7760 Golden Gate Parkway, (239) 659-3700. Guests staying at the Registry Resort & Club and the Edgewater Beach Hotel & Club have golf privileges at this 7,078-yard, par-72 course designed by Rees Jones. www.naplesgrande.com

Quality Inn and Suites Golf Resort, 4100 Golden Gate Parkway, (239) 455-1010. An 18-hole, par-72 championship golf course with lighted driving range. 7 a.m. to sunset.

Tiburón Golf Club, 2620 Tiburón Drive, (239) 594-2040. A certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, Tiburón offers two 18-hole championship golf courses designed by golf legend Greg Norman. Home of the Rick Smith Golf Academy, the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, and the Franklin Templeton Shootout, Tiburón features an award-winning clubhouse and a 2,500-square-foot golf shop ranked among America's 100 Best Golf Shops by Golf World Business. Limited golf memberships available. Open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. www.tiburongcnaples.com.

Practice Ranges

Briarwood Golf and Practice Center, 5051 Radio Road, (239) 262-4955. Forty grass tee areas, putting, chipping and pitching greens, two sand traps, five elevated target greens. Complete pro shop with club repair and custom clubs provided. Full-service teaching center for juniors and adults. Free clinics 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. every Saturday.

Coral Isle Golf Center, 4748 Championship Drive, (239) 732-6900. Putting and chipping greens. Golf school and full pro shop. Demo clubs and large section dedicated for children. Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and to 10 p.m. in season.

Naples Golf Center, 7700 Davis Blvd., (239) 775-4242. Driving range, practice greens, pro shop and PGA instruction. 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Lee County

Bonita Springs

Semiprivate Golf Courses

Bonita Fairways, 9751 W. Terry St., (239) 947-9100. An 18-hole, 3,400-yard, par-61 executive course. Driving range and lessons available. Restaurant facility. Open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; until 6 p.m. during summer. www.bonitafairways.com.

Bonita Springs Golf Club,10200 Maddox Lane, (239) 992-2800. An 18-hole, 6,800-yard, par-72 course. Open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; until 6 p.m. during summer.

Hunters Ridge, 12500 Hunters Ridge Drive, (239) 947-6467. An 18-hole championship golf course, beautiful preserve setting. Two-day advanced reserve tee times. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 5:30 p.m. in season.

Resort Courses

Raptor Bay Golf Club, 23001 Coconut Point, (239) 390-4600. Guests of the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort can play this Audubon International Gold Signature Sanctuary certified, 27-hole, Raymond Floyd-designed course. Open 6:45 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cape Coral

Public Golf Courses

Cape Coral Executive, 4003 Palm Tree Blvd., (239) 574-4454. A nine-hole, 1,765-yard, par-30 course. Leagues start at 7 a.m. and end at 8:30 a.m. Open 8:30 a.m. until dark.

Coral Oaks Golf Course, 1800 N.W. 28th Ave., (239) 573-3100. An 18-hole, Arthur Hills-designed championship course. 6,623 yards, par 72. Local pro Gary Carpenter gives lessons. Driving range and restaurant on site. Open daily 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Memberships available.

Semiprivate Golf Courses

Royal Tee Country Club, 11460 Royal Tee Circle, (239) 283-5522. A Gordon Lewis-designed course with four sets of tees. Pro shop opens at 6:30 a.m.

Alden Pines Country Club, 14261 Clubhouse Drive, Bokeelia. (239) 283-2179; 18 hole, 5596 yards, par 71.

Resort Courses

The Golf Club, 4003 Palm Tree Blvd., (239) 542-7879. As one of Dick Wilson's finest designs, this 18-hole, par-71 championship course provides players of all skill levels a pleasurable and challenging round of golf. Aqua driving range, putting greens, club rental and storage, fully stocked pro shop, clubhouse, locker facilities and PGA professional instruction available. Open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Estero

Public Golf Courses

Stoneybrook Golf and Country Club, 21251 Stoneybrook Golf Blvd., (239) 948-3933. An 18-hole, par-72, 7,353-yard course. www.stoneybrookgolffm.com.

Semiprivate Courses

Grandézza Golf Club, 11471 Grande Oak Blvd., (239) 948-2900. Darwin Sharp-III designed this 18-hole, 7,089-yard, par-72 course. Open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Miromar Lakes Golf Club, 18520 Miromar Lakes Blvd. W., (239) 482-7644. This 18-hole Arthur Hills Signature Championship course is a 7,400-yard, par 72, with practice green and driving range. Home of Mike Calbot's TRIAD Golf School. 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.miromarlakes.com.

Pelican Sound Golf and River Club, 4561 Pelican Sound Blvd., (239) 948-4333. A 27-hole championship course designed by Chip Powell and Mike Hill. Teaching facility available. Only open to the public during off-season.

Villages at Country Creek, 21131 Country Creek Drive, (239) 947-3840. An 18-hole executive course with PGA professional golf shop, lessons available, top brand-name clubs and apparel, restaurant and lounge. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday-Sunday.

Fort Myers

Public Golf Courses

Eastwood Golf Course, 4600 Bruce Herd Lane, (239) 275-4848. An 18-hole, 6,772-yard, par-72 course rated one of America's top 50 public golf courses by Golf Digest for 13 consecutive years. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lessons available with pros.

Riverbend Country Club, 6270 River Club Court, (239) 543-2200. An 18-hole, 3,106-yard, par-60 course. Restaurant and lounge on site.

Summerlin Ridge Golf Center, 16660 Pine Ridge Road, (239) 432-0000. An 18-hole executive lighted course. Range with grass tees. Pro shop and snack bar.

Terraverde,17000 Terraverde Circle, Fort Myers. 433-7733. Par-three, nine-hole executive course. Open 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Reserve morning tee times at least one day ahead.

Semiprivate Courses

Bay Beach Golf Club, 4200 Bay Beach Lane, Fort Myers Beach. (239) 463-2064. An 18-hole, par-60, 3,091-yard course. Visiting pros, practice range, lessons and fully stocked pro shop available. 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. www.baybeachgolfclub.com.