History
The Rookery at Marco opened in 1991, born of the same wave of Southwest Florida development that turned Naples and Marco Island into a golf destination during the late twentieth century. It was built as a resort course, part of the amenity package that Marriott and its associated properties used to draw visitors to the barrier island communities south of Naples, where the game had become as much a part of the regional identity as the beaches themselves.
Robert Cupp Jr. took on the design, and his signature is evident in the course’s scale — a par-72 layout stretching to 7,170 yards from the championship tees, with a slope rating of 138 that ranks among the more demanding tests in the area. Cupp, who had worked under Jack Nicklaus before striking out on his own, brought a reputation for bold, sculptural design work, and Marco Island’s flat, low-lying terrain gave him a blank canvas on which to build a course of considerable length and difficulty rather than one dependent on natural topography.
In the years since its opening, The Rookery has remained a fixture of the Naples-Marco Island resort golf scene, maintaining its standing among traveling golfers as reflected in its consistently strong guest ratings. It continues to operate as a resort access facility, serving the same purpose it was built for three decades ago — anchoring the golf offerings of the island’s hospitality trade.
Playing notes
At 7,170 yards from the tips with a slope of 138, The Rookery plays as tough as any course on Marco Island, and the numbers alone should tell you to check your ego at the first tee if you're not hitting it long and straight. Water comes into play across a good number of holes, so bring extra balls and be honest with yourself about carry distances before pulling driver — this is a course that penalizes guessing. Wind off the Gulf can shift club selection mid-round, especially on the back nine, so pay attention to how shots are moving through the air rather than trusting yardage alone. The greens run true and quick, which means lag putting matters more than it might at other Naples-area courses, and approach shots need to account for speed, not just distance. It's a cart-path course by necessity given the length and the terrain between holes, so don't plan on walking it. Bunkering is well-placed rather than decorative — expect sand to guard the areas short and around greens where a bailout would otherwise be easy. Overall, this rewards golfers who can control distance with irons and stay patient off the tee; bombers who spray it will have a long day.
Tee boxes
| Tees | Yardage | Par | Slope | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Championship | 7,170 | 72 | 138 | 75.4 |