Lely Resort — Mustang

The Mustang is Lee Trevino's only course design in Southwest Florida, and it carries the playing philosophy that defined his career: the course should challenge accomplished golfers without humiliating higher-handicap players. Opened in 1996 at Lely Resort, the Mustang achieves this through generous fairway widths combined with well-positioned hazards that create different levels of risk depending on which tee box a golfer selects. Trevino's personal approach to the game favored shotmaking and creativity over brute force, and the Mustang reflects that sensibility in its routing and its green complexes.

Twelve lakes integrate into the routing, but Trevino positioned them to function as lateral boundaries rather than forced carries on most holes. The effect is a course that presents water as a visual constant without making it the dominant strategic element. Golfers who stay in the center of the fairway rarely encounter water on their second shot; golfers who chase distance by cutting corners will find the lakes positioned precisely where ambition exceeds execution. This is the central design tension of the Mustang: the safe play is always available, but the aggressive play offers tangible rewards for golfers with the skill to execute it.

At 7,230 yards from the tips, the Mustang is the longest course in the mid-range tier and carries a slope of 141 and a course rating of 75.3. Those numbers indicate a serious test from the back tees, comparable in difficulty to several of the premium courses in the destination. The forward tee options, however, bring the course into a range that recreational golfers can enjoy without losing a sleeve of balls per nine. This scalability is Trevino's central design achievement here. The course plays fundamentally differently depending on the tee selection, and the variety makes it one of the better choices in Naples for groups with varied handicaps traveling together.

The conditioning at Lely Resort is consistent across both courses, and the Mustang benefits from the same maintenance standards that keep the Flamingo Island tournament-ready. Greens run true, bunkers are well-maintained, and the fairways provide clean lies throughout peak season. The shared clubhouse and practice facilities between the two courses create an efficient operation that keeps pace of play moving and provides a seamless experience for golfers playing both layouts. The practice range is adequate for a proper warm-up, and the putting green gives an accurate preview of the speeds golfers will encounter on the course. The overall facility feels well-managed without reaching for resort-level service, which is appropriate for a public-access operation at this price point.

Green fees of $150 to $200 in peak season and $75 to $120 off-peak match the Flamingo Island pricing, with cart included. Booking is available through the resort directly, GolfNow, and TeeOff. For golfers choosing between the two Lely courses when time permits only one round, the Mustang is the better choice for higher-handicap players and mixed-ability groups. The Flamingo Island rewards the accomplished golfer who enjoys navigating water hazards and reading large, contoured greens. The Mustang provides more room off the tee and a fairer test from the middle tees, which is what most visiting golfers actually need from a mid-range round.