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The 18-hole, Tom Fazio masterpiece at the Gateway Golf & Country Club facility in Fort Myers, Florida plays 7,047 yards from the longest tees with a par of 72. The course rating is 74.4 and carries a slope rating of 137. The golf course opened for play in 1989 and was immediately added to Golf Digest's list of Top 100 Courses. Tom Fazio himself rates our tenth hole as one of the top four greatest golf holes he has ever designed. Moreover, the course at Gateway is extremely well maintained; how well you score will depend on how you handle the fast greens and wind of this beautiful Tom Fazio design. Like many Florida courses, there is water on most holes; but as if that's not enough, you'll also find more than 100 bunkers. The front nine has a links-style feel to it, while the back nine winds clockwise through wooded areas. Concluding the day, Number 18 is considered by many to be one of the finest finishing holes in the country.
no. 1 - Cape Cod
Par 5, 511 yards. The starting hole at Gateway is a straight par 5 with a number of deep lipped bunkers that come into play off the tee. Your layup shot can be a little intimidating with sand on the right side and water on the left. More sand waits on the right side on your approach shot to a slightly elevated green, as does water on the left that shouldn't really come into play. But it's early and, if you pull your shot, it could be wet. The narrow green slopes back to front; the greens here tend to run on the fast side.
no. 2 - Hampton Green
Par 4, 381 yards. A long tee shot over small waste area needs to be placed to the left or large pot bunkers. Numerous bunkers surround this green, which requires a well-placed medium iron shot.
no. 3 - Feeleys Folly
Par 4, 384 yards. This dogleg right par 4 plays around a lake on the right side. A good drive will leave around a 100 yard approach shot to fairly flat green that falls off at the front. Make sure you take enough club as the hole seems to play a little longer than the yardage indicates.
no. 4 - Bear
Par 3, 201 yards. You need to play across a marsh area that starts out on your right side but runs diagonally all the way up to the green. The hole plays slightly uphill so be sure to take enough club. Anything left of the green could be trouble depending upon how hard you hit it and how the wind is blowing. The large bunkers on the right side should not come into play; if they do you’re in trouble! The green has some subtle undulation to it and is not as deep as it is long. Par is a good score here.
no. 5 - Half Moon Bay
Par 4, 382 yards. A wide fairway that doglegs slightly to the right, is tucked behind large mounds. A fairly long-iron, second shot into a two-tiered, elevated green makes this an enjoyable hole to play.
no. 6 - Taps
Par 4, 273 yards. A sharp dogleg right that moves clockwise around a seasonal pond. A medium length tee shot leaves a wedge into a very subtle green. The diagonal putting surface is wider than it is deep. Most golfers with any gumption will have a go at the green off the tee, although the smart play is to hit a hybrid or long iron off the tee and leave a short chip shot to the green. The green is slightly elevated so hitting the upslope off the tee will definitely slow the ball down and hopefully hold for an eagle putt.
no. 7 - Marsh
Par 3, 187 yards. Wind direction is the major factor on this fine par three with a huge teeing area overlooking a colorful native vegetation. Pot bunkers and mounding frame the splendid, shallow green.
no. 8 - Mahogany Run
Par 4, 410 yards. A waste area and water flank the entire right side of the fairway. A series of grassy knolls line the left side. A long drive and medium iron should put the golfer on a three-level green.
no. 9 - Himalayas
Par 5, 540 yards. This hole provides the best challenge of the outward nine. Water covers the entire length of the hole on the right side while out of bounds looms left for anything hooked wildly off the tee.
no. 10 - Westward Ho
Par 4, 363 yards. More water right and woods left on this medium length par 4. The hole is pretty straight so the emphasis will be on accuracy and control off the tee. The green slopes back to front and is well guarded by bunkers.
no. 11 - Gum Drop
Par 3, 134 yards.This picturesque, short par three is guarded by a narrow canal on the right. Sand mounds topped by grass were left untouched in front of the tee along with a large bunker fronting the green turn an ordinary looking green into a unique one.
no. 12 - Water Snake
Par 4, 450 yards. There’s a little bit of a carry over water as well as water all down the left side on this long par 4. Long and straight off the tee is required to score well on this long par 4. Two large fairway traps on the right side, about 120 yards from the green shouldn’t come into play for most golfers playing from the blue tees. You’ll want to avoid these traps at all costs as they are about 6 feet deep and can leave a very challenging approach shot. The green is small and surrounded by nasty little pot bunkers. Par or better here and you’re ready for the tour!
no. 13 - Hardwood Hammock
Par 5, 515 yards. Cypress and pine trees along the entire right side of the fairway plus a long, snake-like sandtrap on the left, bring out the beauty of this double dogleg par 5. The well-bunkered green is a simple putting surface that can be reached by a driver, 3-wood and short iron.
no. 14 - Signature
Par 3, 161 yards. "Awesome" is the only way to describe this truly spectacular par 3. The generous green is framed by a magnificent cypress stand to the back. But what first catches the eye is a large waste area to the left and the superbly sculpted grass knolls that throw contrasting shadows.
no. 15 - Breakers
Par 4, 404 yards. Enough contours are in place on this hole to provide many an uneven lie. The flat elevated landing area stands out against the contouring. The green is nestled in a amphitheater made up of large mounds and deep bunkers. Premium is on a long drive here, when a mid-iron should complete the trip to the putting surface.
no. 16 - Coral Ridge
Par 4, 365 yards. Water on the left and out of bounds on the right put the focus once again on accuracy off the tee on this very narrow, medium length par 4. Play your approach shot to an elevated green with four deep bunkers on the right side. The water on left shouldn’t come into play off the tee.
no. 17 - Watergate
Par 4, 395 yards. There’s water on the right side that can easily come into play however the water on the left, behind a large cluster of fairway bunkers should not. Your approach is to an elevated green with several bunkers between you and the green.
no. 18 - Tom's Broadest
Par 5, 557 yards. Magnificent finishing hole with a generous teeing area and skillfully placed depressions that flank each tee box. This clearly defined hole features beach area fronting a huge lake that cuts a zigzag path along the entire left side of the fairway. Reach the first landing area and remaining water becomes visable. The second landing area is lined with bunkers to the right. The third shot requires a short iron into a huge, 10,500 square -foot three level green guarded by four bunkers on the right side and a pair of grass depressions in front. Any golfer would need to come up with two "career" shots to get home in two on this hole.
