Where Naples and Fort Myers ranked on this list of the best cities to play golf

When it comes to best places to play golf rankings and lists, it's no surprise to see cities from the Sunshine State dominating the shout-outs.

But our very own and very beautiful Naples has distinguished itself as the only Florida city to crack the Top 10 in Apartmentguides just released "The Best Cities for Golf" in the United States.

According to Apartmentguides' data and research, Naples is the No. 2 city for golfers in America.

Who is No. 1? That would be Bandon, Oregon.

Does the sun even shine there?

Apartmentguide studied factors from course availability to prestigious rankings from golf cities across the country. Also taken into consideration were the city hosting prominent pro events and catering to locals.

Aprtmentguide's website says "it is the premier site for multifamily communities connecting qualified renters with their ideal apartment home… and connecting our clients with results far beyond the lead."

Not too far down the list are other Florida cities with Fort Myers in Lee County coming in at No. 12 sandwiched between The Villages (11) and Orlando (13). Bonita Springs, also located in Lee County, was ranked No. 48 out of 50.

When it comes to golf, Naples has a lot going for it and can back up its "Golf Capital of the World" it has billed itself as.

From Apartmentguide: "The name of the game in this gulf coast city is volume. For a population of just 20,000, the city offers 155 courses, the most for any city overall. Naples has the environment one would expect for a city rife with golf courses. It's a well-to-do city, with the sixth-highest average income in the nation and some of the world's highest real estate prices. It's also extremely popular for retirees, with a median age of 66 years old."

All very true and a big reason why so many people visit or move here permanently.

The other big factors are the three high-profile professional golf tournaments Naples hosts every year starting with the LPGA's season-ending CME Group Championship in November. That is followed by Greg Norman's QBE Shootout in December and the Senior PGA/Champion's Tour Chubb Classic in February, which was played at Tiburon Golf Club this year. 

"The city's most renowned golf course is the Gold Course at Tiburón Golf Club, a semi-public course." the report said.

What does Bandon, Oregon have that Naples doesn't? It appears the overall quality of the golf courses there and their ratings by golf experts puts this city over the top as the very best for golf.

From Apartmentguide: "The city of just over 3,000 residents offers seven full courses. Six of these lie just north of the center of town at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. Four of the Dunes courses are Championship level and each ranks in Golf Digest's top 15 best public courses in the nation. Pacific Dunes ranks second in the U.S., with Bandon Dunes, the site of the 2020 U.S. Amateur Championship, coming in seventh."

And what about that Pacific Northwest weather?

"Bandon's location is a big part of its golf superiority. The Pacific Northwest rains and ocean breezes grow tall vegetation in the roughs and keep the turf firm. The fairways and bunkers are primarily shaped by the choppy weather and nature."

Other Florida cities ranked: 

Ponte Vedra Beach (19), Jacksonville (24), Boca Raton (25), Sarasota (34), West Palm Beach (35), Tampa (45).