Golf Insider

You can stand on the edge of the Rookery golf course on Marco Island and see well into Southwest Florida's famed Ten Thousand Islands. In fact, you'd be standing on one of the first of those islands, Marco Island, where the Calusa Indians once roamed wild and free.

It is a beautiful course in one of the most beautiful parts of the state, and it's one of the last wild parts of Florida. Hawks swoop overhead, egrets and herons stalk the flats and maybe even a gator snout will poke just above the surface of the water.

You have the chance to see pretty much anything that crawls, swims or flies in wild, south Florida while you're playing an excellent, well-groomed resort track. Though there is development along the course, resort officials here have done a good job of allowing the flavor of the Rookery to blend in with its surroundings: Nothing can improve on nature.

It's a good time of year to play the course and enjoy the nearby Marriott Beach Resort, because of the cooler weather and several specials the resort and club are offering.

The unlimited golf package allows two people to play til they drop. Rates start at $279 and that includes the room, breakfast buffet and range balls.

You might also want to check out the three-night package involving a free Nike driver and the three-night golf school package.

Click here for more information.

Click here for a video of the Marco Island Marriott.