Pelican Sound Golf & River Club

See why you will want to come and experience this lovely resort community for yourself... And you may be able to stay for free.*

Pelican Sound Golf and River Club
Southwest Florida’s Best Kept Secret

Seven years ago WCI Communities began to market this ‘Resort Style’ community in little-known (then) Estero, Florida. At that time there were Naples and Bonita Springs to the south and Fort Myers to the north, and virtually nothing but cows and vegetable stands in between. Known as a savvy company with a vision for where growth is heading, WCI enjoyed a huge success with Pelican Sound, which attracted folks from Naples and surrounding areas to the quiet charm of Estero.

What lured people to this community was a phenomenal combination of great amenities and unique location: First and foremost the golf course is spectacular…It is both a scenic nature preserve where birds and wildlife abound, and an exceptional course to play … There are 27 holes that are challenging enough to be highly lauded by the pros during the ACE Qualifying Event that was held there a few years ago, and yet designed with five tees to be member friendly. The excellent quality Tifeagle grass on the large and undulating greens makes them quick and true! Pelican Sound golf course has 27 holes are organized as three nine-hole courses, and with course rotation this really adds a lot of interest and different challenges to play. Eighteen-hole course length from the tips is around 6850 yards with slope ratings from 145 to 149. From the forward tees the average length is about 5200 yards and slope ratings are from 121 to 142 depending on the combination of nine-hole courses. Then there are three more tee placements in between, so wherever your particular game level is, you will enjoy the beauty and challenge of Pelican Sound’s links. The head golf professional, Steve Cox, is a PGA Master Professional and the club also employs the services of two to three additional teaching pros. Pelican Sound boasts a fully merchandised pro shop, with top quality golf equipment and clothing available at good member prices.

Secondly, although golf membership is included with the purchase of every home in Pelican Sound, the developer did not create just a golf course community. The unique location and geography of Pelican Sound prompted WCI to create a Golf and River Club with an emphasis on the River too. The Estero River serves as the northern border of the community and gives residents a peaceful and scenic way to travel to the Gulf beaches without the hassles of traffic and parking worries. Pelican Sound not only has its own ‘Water Taxi’ to the beach but there are canoes, kayaks and ‘john boats’ for residents to use anytime, a community boat ramp on the Estero River, and dry boat storage on site for residents’ use for a very small fee. Many residents are active members of the Fishing Club too.

Third, not content with just golf, beach access and boating, WCI created a great tennis center and fitness center…just in case a Buyer might not be that interested in golf, beach or boating. There are six lighted Har-Tru courts and tennis pro, Mike Shires, runs the programs, which includes virtually all levels of players. The pro shop is open daily and is complete with retail tennis merchandise. (Today there are Championship banners all around the fence and a large tennis contingent in the community.) The fitness center is a beautiful stand-alone building with new state of the art equipment, locker rooms, and it overlooks the gorgeous resort pool and spa by The River Club.

Since Estero was virtually in its infant stages of growth in 1999, WCI pulled out all the stops to attract Buyers…In addition to the amenities we’ve already described, WCI’s designers included sidewalks, fitness and nature trails throughout and around Pelican Sound. They gated its three entrances for privacy and exclusivity, and built not one but two beautiful clubhouses. There is an elegant ‘Golf Club’ with a sizable Grill Room adjacent, and a casual ‘River Club’ right on the Estero River, overlooking one of the community’s six resort style pools/spas, and adjacent to the Fitness Center. Residents are looking forward to another busy social season of parties and dancing. There are card groups and clubs of all kinds at ‘The Sound.’

To make a long story short, WCI sold out the community in record time, and today, because of all the great amenities and the perfect SW Florida location, Pelican Sound continues to be a community that is very much in demand. While there are other fine communities in Estero now, Pelican Sound is virtually one of a kind as far as SW Florida golfing communities, as it is the only private 27 hole, ‘bundled golf’ community west of US 41, and the only gated community of its kind that offers direct access to the Gulf of Mexico right from the neighborhood. Talk about a resort lifestyle…Every day is a vacation at Pelican Sound; just ask any resident, they really love it…In fact, we are told that many of the sales in the community are ‘move-up buyers’ who want a larger property but don’t want to leave Pelican Sound!

Located just west of the intersection of US41 and Corkscrew Road (near exit 123 of I-75), in what is now ‘grown up’ and booming Estero (some people call it the New Naples), it’s less than 20 minutes to the SW International Airport. Nestled about ½ mile back from US 41, the community’s beautifully wooded environment is charming and tranquil (except for the ping of golf balls)…Yet you are just minutes away from world-class shopping and gourmet dining. The new Coconut Point Mall and the Miromar Outlet Mall are just stone’s throw away. It’s really hard to beat the location of this great ‘Golf and River Club’…

The only way to try this great course however is to play on reciprocal, as a guest of a member, or to rent or own property there, as it is completely private. There are a relatively small number of properties available for sale in Pelican Sound, and they range in price from the low $300’s to around $1 million, and include two and three bedroom condos and coach, carriage, and single family homes. Rentals go from about $4,000 per month in season and include access to all of the amenities and golf privileges. Annual dues for owners have been $4,100 a year for the past several years for all of this fun!

Pelican Sound residents, Sarah Thompson and Mal Griffin are your best bet to get a tour of the facilities and show you available properties in the neighborhood. They are Realtors doing business as ‘The A Team’ with John R Wood Inc. Realtors. Mal and Sarah have lived in Pelican Sound since 2000 and have quite a corner on the market there. Take a look at their web site at www.TheAteamOnline.com which has lots more information about Pelican Sound as well as other SW Florida communities.

Stay and Play for Free* Sarah and Mal can also help arrange a golf/rental package so you can to ‘try out’ this great resort lifestyle for yourself! *Then, if you purchase a property anywhere in Southwest Florida through ‘The A Team’ within one year of your stay, ‘The A Team’ will rebate you one week’s stay, up to $1,000! You can reach them toll free at 800 966-3180 X4561 or call directly to Sarah at (239) 398-8333 or Mal at (239) 398-9908. They are also happy to respond to your email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it