Course Tour

Hole 1 - Par 4

Hole Description

Mr. Nicklaus eases you into the round with a fairly straight par 4 measuring 365 yards from the Paw Tee. The ideal placement for your tee-shot is the right side of the fairway avoiding the two left side fairway bunkers providing you a short approach shot to a receptive green that slopes from back to front.

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Hole 2 - Par 3

Hole Description

The first of four par 3's requires a good tee-shot to a shallow green guarded by a deep bunker front-right and a bunker long and left. When attacking a right hand pin placement, make sure you hit the correct yardage. The pin is more accessible when placed on the left side of the green and shots that bailout short and left will have a better chance of getting up and down. Par is always a good score here.

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Hole 3 - Par 5

Hole Description

The first par 5 is a great hole. There is plenty of room from the tee for your tee-shot, just avoid the fairway bunker left. Layup shots should be played down the left side of the fairway to avoid the two pot bunkers and to setup the ideal angle into the green that is protected by three bunkers: one back and two short and right. Be aware, the center bunker short of the green is about 12 yards from the green.

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Hole 4 - Par 4

Hole Description

A very scenic par 4 with multiple choices off the tee. Long hitters can choose to aim down the left side and carry the left fairway bunker which will setup a short iron approach. The safe play off the tee is playing just short of the right bunker leaving you a mid-iron approach shot. Be aware, if you try to hit past the bunkers on the right side you may bring the right-side water hazard into play. No matter your choice off the tee you will find this very wide green welcoming from any fairway shot. Just try to hit your ball to the same side of the green as the pin or you may have difficulty two-putting from across this two-tier green.

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Hole 5 - Par 4

Hole Description

Accuracy is more important than distance on this dogleg right par 4. Just finding the fairway off the tee doesn't guarantee a clear shot to the green. A well placed tee-shot down the left side of the fairway will leave you with a short or mid-iron over water to the green that cuts into the lake. Shots that are too long may find the bunker placed behind the green making saving par difficult.

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Hole 6 - Par 4

Hole Description

This is the longest par 4 on the course. To make par on this challenging hole, you will need a good tee-shot that avoids the two right-hand fairway bunkers and a solid second shot to one of the largest greens at Bear's Paw. The green is countersunk so you may only see the flag stick from the fairway. Long approach shots that land on the green will usually funnel to the right center portion of the green. Up and downs are easier from the right side of the green but don't bailout too far right because the water can come into play. Par here is a great score!

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Hole 7 - Par 5

Hole Description

This is a great par 5. Long hitters may reach with two good shots. Just avoid the fairway bunker off the tee. When choosing to layup on this hole, you must avoid the fairway bunker that sits on the left side of the fairway about 100 yards from the green. The green is elevated and guarded by bunkers all around, except for a narrow approach that allows shots that land short to run up onto the green.

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Hole 8 - Par 3

Hole Description

Don't let the short yardage fool you. This par 3 plays longer with the elevated green. Miss the green left and you will find one of the deepest bunkers on the course. The green is narrow in the front and widens the farther back the pin is.

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Hole 9 - Par 4

Hole Description

This is the number one handicap hole on the course. This long par 4 gives you lots of room off the tee. Avoid the water all down the left side. There is bailout room down the right side but you may end up behind a palm tree for your second shot. Even the long hitters will have a long approach to the green cut into the end of the lake. Lots of room to the right and long gives golfers that bailout an opportunity for an up and down. Make par here and go to the back nine with a smile.

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Hole 10 - Par 4

Hole Description

This is one of the most beautiful holes on the course. This scenic par 4 has a large lake that runs down the entire left side and comes out in front of the green. A good tee-shot that avoids the water will find a wide fairway and a short iron approach to a small round green with bunkers guarding the front, right, and left side.

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Hole 11 - Par 5

Hole Description

The first par 5 on the back is a fairly straight away par 5. Big hitters may have a chance to reach the green with two shots. To have a chance to go for this green in two shots you must avoid the two right hand fairway bunkers off the tee. When laying up with your second shot, make sure to avoid the fairway bunker that is placed on the right side of the fairway about 100 yards from the green. The green is guarded by two small bunkers in front and one bunker to the right.

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Hole 12 - Par 4

Hole Description

This straight away par 4 requires an accurate tee-shot positioned down the center or left center of the fairway. Tee shots down the right side of the fairway will have to contend with a group of large pine trees eliminating a clear shot to the green. The green is surrounded by three bunkers front left, right and back.

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Hole 13 - Par 5

Hole Description

Many golfers that have played Bear's Paw believe that this is one of the best par 5's in Southwest Florida. This hole doglegs slightly to the right. There is a generous amount of fairway off the tee golfers just need to avoid the two fairway bunkers left. Your second shot will be played to a narrow stretch of fairway guarded by water on the right and out of bounds on the left making the second shot the most important shot on this tough par 5. A well placed second shot will leave you with a short-iron shot to a small round green that is protected by water and a pot bunker in front and a bunker long and left. Three good shots here and you will have a birdie opportunity but par is never a bad score here.

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Hole 14 - Par 3

Hole Description

This is a very intimidating par 3 playing 218 yards from the Paw Tee. Your tee-shot must carry the lake that runs the entire length of the hole. If the carry is too much for you, there is bailout room provided to the right of the green but bring your short game. The green slopes back to front making any up and down a challenge.

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Hole 15 - Par 4

Hole Description

This is one of the most challenging holes on the course. Your tee-shot must find the fairway to have a chance to reach the green in regulation. The fairway is guarded by tall pines on the right side and a pot bunker in the middle of the fairway that will come into play for long hitters. The approach shot here is to a green that is angled to the right. The green is also guarded by three bunkers and tall pines short and to the right of the green making approach shots from right side of the fairway very difficult.

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Hole 16 - Par 3

Hole Description

The last par 3 on the course is a beautiful hole. This par 3 is over water with bailout room to the left. The green is surrounded by bunkers on all sides except for the front. Pay close attention to the wind that is usually coming out of the east or left, as accuracy is a must to make par.

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Hole 17 - Par 4

Hole Description

This is the toughest hole on the back nine. Lots of matches are decided on this hole. You will need a long accurate tee-shot to find the fairway and avoid the water off the tee. The approach shot is over another water hazard to a small elevated green guarded by two bunkers short and right. The bailout for the second shot is short and left. Shots that go long will have a more difficult chip to a green that slopes back to front. Par here is a great score!

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Hole 18 - Par 4

Hole Description

Mr. Nicklaus created a fantastic par 4 for the finishing hole. This great par 4 slightly doglegs to the left off the tee. A well place tee-shot will find the fairway in between the two left and one right fairway bunkers. After a good tee-shot you should have a mid to short-iron approach to the green that sits just to the right of the lake and is guarded by a bunker short and left. A bailout area is provided to the right of the green making for an easier up and down, giving you a chance to save par if you miss the green.

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