Buying In Spanish Wells: Golf Memberships And HOA Basics

Thinking about a home in Spanish Wells and wondering how the golf memberships and HOAs really work? You are not alone. This gated Bonita Springs community offers flexible ways to enjoy golf and amenities, but the details vary by neighborhood and membership level. In this guide, you will learn how bundled vs optional memberships differ, what HOA fees commonly cover, what costs to expect, and a clear checklist to verify before you buy. Let’s dive in.

Spanish Wells at a glance

Spanish Wells is a gated, golf-focused community in Bonita Springs set on roughly 600 acres with three 9-hole courses for a total of 27 holes. The community includes 1,361 residential lots across multiple neighborhoods. Governance runs through the Spanish Wells Community Association, with master and sub-association layers that handle common areas and neighborhood responsibilities. You can explore the neighborhood map and governance overview on the community’s official site under neighborhoods and general information.

The golf operation follows a semi-private model. The course is open to public play, while clubhouse amenities require membership. The club confirms this on its FAQ page, which is also the best starting point for membership contact info.

Bundled vs optional membership

Cordova is bundled

Only one neighborhood in Spanish Wells is bundled: Cordova. If you buy in Cordova, a club membership is required at closing. Confirm a property’s exact neighborhood status on the community neighborhoods page and in the listing documents.

Most neighborhoods are optional

All other sub-associations in Spanish Wells are non-bundled, which means membership is optional. You can join at a level that fits your lifestyle or enjoy the course through public, pay-as-you-play access. This flexibility is a key reason many buyers choose Spanish Wells.

Public play and pay-as-you-go

Because the course is open to the public, you can book tee times without joining. Members receive clubhouse access and other privileges depending on tier, but casual players appreciate the ability to pay per round. The club outlines its semi-private model on the FAQ page.

Membership types and access

Membership categories commonly seen in local listings include Full Golf, Sports, Social, and Executive or non-resident options. Exact names and privileges can change, and the club may use updated category documents at different times. Non-resident memberships are allowed. The most reliable way to confirm eligibility, inclusions, and current status is to contact the club directly through the FAQ contact details.

Common add-on costs appear in many regional club schedules. Examples include food and beverage minimums, cart plans or trail fees for private carts, handicap or service fees, and guest fees. Be sure to request an itemized schedule in writing so you understand total annual spend and any seasonal or promotional differences.

What membership costs look like

Published membership figures vary in the market because broker pages, promotional offers, and membership tiers change. Some sources show a traditional model with an initiation fee and annual dues for Full Golf. Other sources show monthly dues with little or no initiation for certain categories. These differences are normal and reflect timing, tiers, and offers.

To budget accurately, ask the membership office for the current written rate sheet. Request a breakdown of initiation or capital contributions, monthly or annual dues, food and beverage minimums, cart or trail fees, guest fees, and any waitlist or cap policy. The club directs membership inquiries through its FAQ page.

Here are common line items to include in your estimate:

• Initiation or application fees, if applicable
• Base dues by category (Full Golf, Sports, Social)
• Food and beverage minimums
• Cart rental plans or private cart trail and storage fees
• Handicap, locker, or bag storage fees
• Guest fees and event charges

HOA structure and fees

Spanish Wells has eight sub-associations, each with its own budget, fee schedule, and responsibilities. Some neighborhoods cover exterior building maintenance, roof reserves, landscaping, and shared amenities, which produces higher association fees typical of condos or attached homes. Other pockets with single-family homes keep fees lower and leave more maintenance to the owner. Review the neighborhoods overview on the community site and request the sub-association budget and most recent financials early.

What HOA fees commonly include:

• Management, grounds, landscaping, and irrigation
• Building insurance for condos and attached products
• Common area maintenance, pools, security or gate access, street lights
• Trash, sewer, and water in some sub-associations
• Reserve funding for future capital items, especially in condo enclaves

Fee ranges you might see in recent listings:

• Condo and villa enclaves can run higher due to building insurance and reserves. Recent examples in a condo sub-association have shown fees near the low ten-thousand range per year.
• Cordova, the bundled single-family neighborhood, has shown HOA fees in the low six-thousand per year range on a recent listing, with community privileges included according to that neighborhood’s structure.
• Owner-maintained single-family pockets elsewhere in Spanish Wells often show materially lower annual fees than condos, reflecting limited exterior coverage.

The takeaway: verify the exact inclusions for your specific sub-association. Always read the budget and the reserve study before you finalize your offer. The community’s general information page explains how owners access documents through DwellingLive and where to request records.

Transfer fees and leasing rules

Transaction fees and lease restrictions vary by sub-association. Recent listings in Spanish Wells have shown transfer fees for buyers, minimum lease lengths such as 90 days, and limits on the number of leases per year. These numbers are neighborhood-specific and change over time. Request the estoppel or resale certificate for the property, which is the binding source for current assessments, transfer fees, and leasing rules.

Property types and pricing today

Spanish Wells offers condos, coach homes, attached villas, and single-family homes, all inside a gated setting with a resort-style clubhouse and amenities such as tennis or pickleball, bocce, fitness, and pool areas. Many homes feature screened lanais, tile roofs, impact windows, and even golf-cart garages in some units.

As of mid-February 2026, active MLS snapshots showed condos roughly in the 235,000 to 435,000 range and single-family homes from about 539,000 to 1.1 million. Inventory and pricing move quickly, so use these as a moment-in-time reference and request a fresh market read before touring.

Due diligence checklist for buyers

Use this sequence to confirm the numbers that matter for your purchase:

1. Identify the exact sub-association. Confirm if the home is in Cordova or a non-bundled neighborhood on the neighborhoods page. Cordova requires a membership.
2. Order the estoppel or resale certificate. This will state current HOA dues, special assessments, transfer or processing fees, and the leasing policy.
3. Review budgets and reserves. Request the sub-association budget, most recent financials, and the reserve study. The community’s document guidance shows how owners access records.
4. Get the club’s written rate sheet. If you must or want to join, ask the membership office for initiation, dues, food and beverage minimums, cart or trail fees, guest fees, and any waitlist details. Use the club’s FAQ page to connect.
5. Read board meeting minutes. Minutes often reveal upcoming capital projects, assessments, or litigation.
6. Confirm leasing rules. Note minimum lease length, number of leases allowed per year, and whether approvals are required.
7. Verify private cart policies. If you plan to use a personal cart, confirm whether it is allowed, and ask about trail and storage fees.
8. Note who manages what. The Spanish Wells Community Association oversees community matters, and the golf club is managed separately. The community site lists contacts.

Sample cost pictures

These scenarios show how household carrying costs can differ by home type and membership choices. Use them as illustrations, then confirm actual figures with the HOA and the club.

• Scenario A: A non-bundled condo showing an HOA near 10,400 per year, paired with an example of about 10,680 in full golf annual dues reported by a broker page. Combined, that would be roughly 21,000 per year, or about 1,750 per month.
• Scenario B: A bundled Cordova home with HOA near 6,100 per year where the HOA includes a social-level privilege in that neighborhood. Upgrading to a full golf example near 10,680 per year would push the combined figure to roughly 16,800 per year.
• Scenario C: A lower reported membership example near 500 per month with no initiation in a broker snapshot, plus an owner-maintained single-family HOA near 2,300 per year. The combined total would be materially lower than the scenarios above, depending on your exact home and membership tier.

Compared with top-tier private clubs in the Naples area, Spanish Wells often lands as a more approachable golf option. Your actual carrying cost will depend on the sub-association you choose and the membership category you prefer.

Is Spanish Wells a fit for you?

Choose Spanish Wells if you want a flexible golf lifestyle where you can join for full-club access or keep things casual with public play. If you like the idea of multiple home styles inside a gated setting, with fees that align to the level of maintenance you want, this community is worth a close look. The key is verifying which neighborhood you are buying into, then matching that to the membership experience you prefer.

Ready to compare neighborhoods, line up current dues and HOA documents, and tour the best fits for your lifestyle? Reach out to Kyle R. Suhr, P.A. for a curated, step-by-step plan tailored to how you want to live in Southwest Florida.

FAQs

What makes Spanish Wells’ golf setup different?

• Spanish Wells is semi-private. The course is open to public play, while clubhouse amenities require a membership tier. See the club’s FAQ for the model and contacts.

Is a golf membership required for all Spanish Wells homes?

• No. Only Cordova is bundled with a required membership at closing. All other neighborhoods offer optional membership. Confirm the sub-association on the neighborhoods page.

How much are HOA fees in Spanish Wells?

• Fees vary widely by sub-association and home type. Condo and villa enclaves commonly run higher due to reserves and insurance, while owner-maintained single-family pockets are lower. Review budgets via community documents.

Are non-residents allowed to join Spanish Wells Golf & Country Club?

• Yes, non-resident memberships are allowed. Contact the club’s membership office through the FAQ page for current categories and pricing.

Can I play golf without joining the club?

• Yes. The course offers public play, so you can pay per round without membership. Membership is for clubhouse access and member privileges. Details are on the club’s FAQ.

What documents should I request before buying in Spanish Wells?

• Ask for the estoppel or resale certificate, sub-association budget and reserve study, recent board minutes, and the club’s written membership rate sheet. The community site explains owner document access.