Along the banks of Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve, endless greens, weaving trails and lakes stretch before me. I have always loved this location—the former Raptor Bay Golf Club course was one of my favorite places to tee off. Today, I’ve returned to uncover the secrets that lie within the site’s new resident: Saltleaf Golf Preserve.
The elevated Saltleaf experience begins when golfers venture into the remodeled clubhouse. The course and amenities are part of London Bay Development Group’s master-planned community, Saltleaf on Estero Bay—home to the emerging The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Estero Bay development, expected to open in 2026. The crew brought in Naples-based CID Design Group—behind local interior design projects like Kalea Bay—to refresh the clubhouse, with floor-to-ceiling windows, subtropical-themed art and lots of greenery. The pro shop got an upgrade, too, adding luxury brands, like Peter Millar and Lacoste to the repertoire. The sophisticated styles on display riff off of the club’s atmosphere, where guests abide by a dress code on the green (polos and slacks, blouses and Bermuda-length shorts).
Head Golf Pro Dave Allyn teased the course would play differently from what I remembered, but I’m glad to see some Raptor standbys remain. London Bay brought back four-time major champion golfer Raymond Floyd and golf course architect Harry Bowers to update the course the pair first created in 2001. The new course, recently ranked by GolfPass’ Golfers’ Choice award as one of the Top 25 courses in Florida, follows Floyd’s philosophy of keeping as much of the original Florida habitat and topography intact as possible. The course itself has much to desire. I love that the fairways are still devoid of traditional sand bunkers—a rarity among golf courses; having no sand bunkers speeds up the pace of play, so Saltleaf poses a fun challenge for enthusiasts ready to spend the day on the green.
Courtesy Saltleaf Golf Preserve/Jensen Larson Photography
Estero saltleaf golf preserve aerial view
When redesigning the former Raptor Bay Golf Club, four-time major champion Raymond Floyd and architect Harry Bowers introduced sod-stacked bunkers along the fairways, keeping the ball in play.
The scenery is diverse, with more open views across the holes, accented with cabbage palms, muhly grass, dune sunflowers and cordgrass. Since the grounds reside next to a 144-acre uplands preserve, the course works in harmony with the neighboring bay to attract a variety of birds, including bald eagles, egrets, herons and owls (bring binoculars in your stand bag for a bird’s-eye view of the wildlife).
When I grab my clubs to start a round, the course’s evolution is immediately evident. The remodel reconfigured the front 9 (the first nine holes), so the former hole 1 is now played backward as hole 3. Raymond and Harry also took the old hole 10 and part of hole 11 to create The Leaf—a fun 9-hole, par-3 walking course. Golfers can pick up a pull cart to take their bags and get some practice swings on the short course before grabbing a golf cart and proceeding to the 18-hole course. The Leaf made for a great wind-down after my round. But it’s also incredible for beginners or recreational golfers, like myself, looking for a pared-down course that can be played within 60 to 90 minutes with easy access to refreshments from the clubhouse.
Raymond and his team lengthened the par-72 main course from about 6,400 yards to almost 7,100 yards, emulating a championship course length, which could attract tournament play events down the line. And, golfers can experience something new every time they play the course. Each hole has four sets of tee boxes (black, blue, white and gold levels) that can be combined into seven playing options.
As I work my way through the holes, I discover more gems within the redesign: There are no more sloping crowned fairways, keeping the ball in play; the new Bimini Bermuda grass is denser than the previous Tifway 419 and helps the ball sit up nicely; and dozens of revetted bunkers (thin horizontal stacks of artificial turf) are visually appealing and help keep the ball in play and away from hazard areas. There aren’t yardage markers on the fairways, but the GPS on the provided cart makes for a handy tool to assess the signature hole 2 (with a driveable par 4) and the tight landing area on hole 4.
The design team smartly centered the on-course snack bar, so golfers pass it four times while working through the front 9 (golfers on the back 9 take comfort in a beverage cart). If you’re not looking for a full game, the starter areas with a 16-player driving range and putting green let you practice your swings. By the time I’m through the 18 holes, I’ve made three pars and shot 92 (close to bogey golf), a good round for playing a new course that feels lovingly familiar.
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aerial view of golfer putting
Part of the new The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Estero Bay, community, the golf club remains independent and open to the public. Saltleaf’s mix of short- and championship-length courses (a rarity among local clubs) allows players to warm up and choose the length and intensity of their round.
Back in the clubhouse, I swing by the Saltleaf Bar & Grill, the new in-house restaurant. Chef Douglas Landy, who’s been with luxury golf management companies Icon Golf and Troon for eight years, serves a refreshing lunch menu. The bruschetta avocado toast with caramelized onions and balsamic drizzle satiates my post-play cravings, and the Fuji apple, walnut and bleu cheese salad with a tart cherry vinaigrette balances the meal with a lighter bite. There’s no better way to end a day on the green.
Courtesy Saltleaf Golf Preserve/Jensen Larson Photography
estero saltleaf golf preserve pond side view
Saltleaf maintained the course’s intimate connection to its setting, surrounded by a 144-acre upland preserve and Estero Bay.