Local News
Collier County commissioners to consider East Naples 18-hole golf course proposal
WINK Digital Team
•9/21/2026
Source: WINK News
NAPLES, Fla. — Collier County commissioners are set to make a big call on a proposed private golf course in East Naples.
On Tuesday, commissioners will consider whether to approve land-use and zoning changes that would allow an 18-hole private golf course and up to 10 member and guest golf cottages on about 169 acres along the south side of Sabal Palm Road, roughly 1.4 miles east of Collier Boulevard.
The proposal would create the 341 Sabal Palm Road Golf Course Subdistrict and shift the property's land-use designation to allow the golf course, which would be managed under Audubon International's Gold Signature Program.
This project did not start out as a golf course plan.
The property was originally proposed for 423 residential units at a density of 2.5 dwelling units per acre, which the County Commission heard on Jan. 13 before postponing a decision.
RELATED: Neighbors push back on developer's plans for Collier County citrus grove
Commissioners asked the applicant to look into other development options and suggested talks with Conservation Collier and other groups.
The applicant came back to the Collier County Planning Commission on Aug. 20 with the revised golf course proposal.
The Planning Commission voted 5-1 to recommend approval, with Commissioner Paul Shea voting against it, saying the plan lacked a public benefit.
There is also a legal wrinkle tied to the state's Live Local Act.
County staff determined in May that the property did not qualify for development under Live Local after the applicant asked about it in April.
However, the county's legal team flagged that the proposed golf cottages could be seen as a commercial use, which might allow a future owner to pursue a Live Local application down the road.
The county's legal memo laid out two options: reject the golf cottage units entirely or require a restrictive covenant on the property to block any future Live Local attempt, though the memo noted it is uncertain whether a court would uphold such a covenant.
The county agenda recommends approval of both the land-use amendment and the companion zoning ordinance, and if approved, the amendment would be sent to the Florida Department of Commerce.
On Tuesday, commissioners will consider whether to approve land-use and zoning changes that would allow an 18-hole private golf course and up to 10 member and guest golf cottages on about 169 acres along the south side of Sabal Palm Road, roughly 1.4 miles east of Collier Boulevard.
The proposal would create the 341 Sabal Palm Road Golf Course Subdistrict and shift the property's land-use designation to allow the golf course, which would be managed under Audubon International's Gold Signature Program.
This project did not start out as a golf course plan.
The property was originally proposed for 423 residential units at a density of 2.5 dwelling units per acre, which the County Commission heard on Jan. 13 before postponing a decision.
RELATED: Neighbors push back on developer's plans for Collier County citrus grove
Commissioners asked the applicant to look into other development options and suggested talks with Conservation Collier and other groups.
The applicant came back to the Collier County Planning Commission on Aug. 20 with the revised golf course proposal.
The Planning Commission voted 5-1 to recommend approval, with Commissioner Paul Shea voting against it, saying the plan lacked a public benefit.
There is also a legal wrinkle tied to the state's Live Local Act.
County staff determined in May that the property did not qualify for development under Live Local after the applicant asked about it in April.
However, the county's legal team flagged that the proposed golf cottages could be seen as a commercial use, which might allow a future owner to pursue a Live Local application down the road.
The county's legal memo laid out two options: reject the golf cottage units entirely or require a restrictive covenant on the property to block any future Live Local attempt, though the memo noted it is uncertain whether a court would uphold such a covenant.
The county agenda recommends approval of both the land-use amendment and the companion zoning ordinance, and if approved, the amendment would be sent to the Florida Department of Commerce.
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