What’s Going On in Southwest Florida? …And What Can We Learn?

Six great clubs serving the hottest club marketplace in the nation are pointing the way for how to not only sustain, but continue to build on, success. 

Over the past five years, McMahon Group has been fortunate to be able to serve some of the best clubs in the nation as the membership movement continues to shift south, creating waiting lists for many club communities in warmer climates. Clubs in states such as 

Texas and Tennessee are also benefitting from the southern migration that is occurring, most notably out of the high-tax Northern states and Eastern Canadian provinces. But Florida—with the Atlantic Ocean on one side, the Gulf of America on the other, and plenty of extended winter warmth in between—remains the leader in attracting all ages from other parts of North America to its shores and golf courses, and particularly to its Gulf Coast region. 

Businesses, too, are now also heading south to escape the tax-crazy Northeast, adding further to the influx of new residents—and potential club members. As a result, we have seen many Florida clubs—particularly in the Naples-to-Sarasota-to-Tampa triangle—become even more of a “winter wonderland” that is attracting people from the eastern half of North America. In the past five years, we have worked with many clubs on Florida’s west coast, including Bonita Bay Club, Club Pelican Bay, Fiddlesticks Country Club, Isla Del Sol Yacht & Country Club, Royal Poinciana Golf Club and Wilderness Country Club, to help them plan major clubhouse, facility and grounds improvements. 

Yes, there is the occasional hurricane that this region must deal with, but those primarily affect clubs along the coast and, fortunately, very few of the gated club communities. Even with the potential for those disruptions each year, no other area of the country is achieving on the same scale what southwest Florida is doing to attract members and improve club and community facilities. The southward population relocation from expensive Northeast cities has generated a steady stream of potential new club members with millions of dollars in their pockets after selling their homes who will either retire or continue working from home after they relocate—and realize significant tax savings as they do (Florida does not have a personal state income tax). 

The migration to the region has resulted in existing club communities now being full with long waiting lists to join. Initiation fees have skyrocketed as demand has outpaced supply. There are not enough clubs for all who want to join them, and this situation will, of course, stimulate the emergence of new gated communities with supporting clubs—but they will be more inland and even safer from hurricanes. 

What’s Their Secret? 

So what are these clubs and communities offering that is making them so successful? And can we learn anything of value for the entire club industry?

Here are some thumbnail sketches of the impact McMahon Group is seeing from this member migration for six clubs we have recently had the honor and pleasure of working with, to conduct member surveys, develop Facility Master Plans and help get improvement projects approved, along with other services:

Bonita Bay Club – North Naples, Fla.

From its North Naples location, this high-end gated community serves its more than 2,000 homeowner members with multiple golf courses and facilities in two separate locations. Its primary club facility on the coast includes a beach, marina, and full-service offerings, and a new main clubhouse has just been approved for construction. 

Frederick Fung, CEO & General Manager

Club Pelican Bay – Naples, Fla.

This large residential community along the Gulf Coast’s Pelican Bay serves all of the Naples area as a full-service private club. In addition to continuing to improve its 27 holes of championship golf courses, it has built a new clubhouse and other new facilities. Ryan Shaw, CCM, CCE, General Manager/COO

Fiddlesticks Country Club – Fort Myers, Fla.

This gated community in Fort Myers with full-service club offerings is now starting a major clubhouse renovation project. Located near Fort Myers’ primary airport, Fiddlesticks also continues to enhance its two Arthur Hills golf courses. 

Al Antonez, CCM, CCE, General Manager

Isla Del Sol Yacht & Country Club – St. Petersburg, Fla.

Unique to the Tampa/Clearwater/St. Petersburg area, this beach club and community has its own marina, improved golf facilities and a renovated clubhouse that includes popular dining facilities. 

Robert Rankin, General Manager

Royal Poinciana Golf Club – Naples, Fla.

This freestanding, full-service country club has a central Naples location and is one of the finest clubs in the region. A new clubhouse has been approved, with construction to start soon. David Mangan, General Manager

Wilderness Country Club – Naples, Fla.

As we reported in the April 2026 McMahon Report, a new clubhouse has brought new life to this central Naples club that was founded in 1974 and holds the distinction of being the first gated golf course community in the city. Wilderness’ excellent golf course is now complemented by an elevated dining program, attractive new pro shop and other amenities that have prompted many members to make it their second club in Naples because of its convenient location and high-quality, full-service offering. 

Alan Raulerson, CCE, CCM, General Manager/COO

No End in Sight

As they say in real estate, location is everything—and today, Florida is proving this for private clubs and gated communities. Not surprisingly, the success of the clubs featured in this article, along with many others, is also attracting many top club managers and hard-working Board members to come to the region and be part of riding the new wave of success that the combination of a great location, low taxation, winter warmth and ocean/Gulf waters can provide. 

As a result, in the club world we now see more and more people, members and managers changing the old prescription for success of “Go west, young man” to be “Go south, men and women of all ages, as Florida is the future.”