Community Comparison: TwinEagles vs. Ave Maria

Ave Maria broke ground in 2007, and is located just northeast of Naples. With plans for 11,000 homes upon completion, Ave Maria provides the amenities that appeal to all kinds of residents. The centerpiece, of course, is the 18-hole Panther Run Golf Club. Architect Gordon G. Lewis designed the course with his signature incorporation of surrounding wildlife, which includes rare aquatic birds, wild pigs, and coyotes. The course also offers a driving range, five practice greens, and three practice bunkers. PGA professionals are on staff to give lessons to residents.

TwinEagles, which opened in 2009, offers a more intimate community experience than Ave Maria. The community contains just 716 homes spread across approximately 1,000 acres.

What it lacks in size, however, it more than makes up for in attractions. TwinEagles hosts two 18-hole golf courses: Talon Course and Eagle Course. The former, designed by world-renowned architect Jack Nicklaus, offers 7,193 yards of deceptive approaches and rolling greens. It is consistently ranked as one of the finest courses in all of Florida.

The Eagle Course was designed by Steve Smyers and Patrick Andrews, who based the it off the famed courses of Scotland. The Eagle Course incorporated a classic design intended to accommodate modern equipment and features challenging angles and a lush backdrop.

The Scottish-inspired course complements the community’s 47,000 square-foot clubhouse, which pays homage to the highland manors found in Scotland. Indoors, residents have access to a 6,430 square-foot fitness center, complete with locker rooms, space for aerobics and yoga, and state-of-the-art equipment. TwinEagles also has an on-site restaurant with one of the region’s most celebrated chefs, Chas Tatigian, at the helm. There is also a meeting room for community gatherings and a pro shop for stocking up on gear before your next round of golf.

The landscape surrounding TwinEagles also boasts incredible amenities spread throughout the community, including a 2,500 square-foot, zero-entry pool; Har-Tru tennis courts; chickee bar and grille; fitness center; and more than a dozen lakes connected via a series of walking and biking paths.

Not to be outdone, Ave Maria boasts some of the most extensive amenities in the area. Ave Maria has two sprawling parks that contain a softball field, eight bocce ball courts, trails, amphitheaters, tennis courts, basketball courts, and baseball fields. There is also a water park with a resort-style pool, beach volleyball court, and a kid’s pool. The community even has Orange Jeep Tours, giving residents a front-row seat to Southwest Florida’s most beautiful terrain and native species.

Ave Maria also takes pride in its convenience. The centrally located Town Center has dozens of businesses, ranging from restaurants to legal services to dentists to dance academies. With seven distinct neighborhoods to choose from, residents who want to call Ave Maria home will have a neighborhood for them. Two of those neighborhoods in Ave Maria, Maple Ridge and the age-restricted Del Webb Naples, even have their own sets of amenities that are exclusively for the use of homeowners in those neighborhoods.