Discover Home: How One Couple Found the Perfect Life at Gulf Harbour

When Candace Kelly-Brown and Richard Brown describe their life at Gulf Harbour Yacht & Country Club, a pattern emerges. They mention the word "home" repeatedly, but they're not talking about their house. They're talking about a place where, as Richard puts it, "some people don't leave the gates" because everything they need is right there.

For anyone weighing the decision between different membership levels at a private club, the Browns' 21-year journey offers a revealing perspective. This isn't a story about choosing the most expensive option or feeling pressured to commit to amenities you won't use. It's about finding what actually fits your life.

Candace first joined Gulf Harbour in 2005, drawn by her parents' enthusiasm as original members. Richard came later, and together they've built a life that revolves around tennis courts with water views, state-of-the-art fitness facilities and a community that greets them by name at Friday happy hours. They chose Sports membership over Golf membership, a decision that might surprise people who assume the full golf package is the only way to truly belong at a private club.

"We weren't golfers," Richard explains simply. "So it was a better value for us to get everything else except the full-time golf at a much reduced price." The Sports membership gives them unlimited access to tennis, the wellness center, dining and the full calendar of social events. During the off-season months, they can still play golf with cart fees, making it "extremely reasonable" to enjoy what Richard calls "a fantastic track."

Candace has recently started learning golf with a friend, taking advantage of those seasonal playing privileges. "I'm actually enjoying it," she says. "So maybe we might switch to the golf membership soon." But for now, after more than two decades, the Sports membership continues to deliver exactly what they want.

A Club That Grows With You

The Browns have watched Gulf Harbour evolve alongside their own lives. Candace joined in her thirties and is now in her fifties. During that time, the club has transformed its fitness facilities from a small gym into a two-story wellness center with red light therapy, saunas, state-of-the-art equipment and views of the marina from every angle. They've added Pilates classes, expanded the spa services, and kept pace with wellness trends that matter to members.

"We could have moved anywhere we wanted to basically, but we've stayed because of that," Candace reflects. "We've grown with it."

Their five blended children, ranging from 23 to 33, grew up enjoying the club under the family membership that extends to age 23. Now three grandchildren visit from the Carolinas, participating in Easter egg hunts and Christmas activities. The Browns' friends' children grew up alongside their own kids, creating a second generation of relationships.

Richard competes on the tennis team, playing matches against other Fort Myers clubs in a season that runs from December through early spring. They walk to the gym after work, sometimes stopping for a quick bite at the Waterside Grille before heading home. They take their dog to the beach along Eagle Perch Island, where a sandy walking path offers off-leash freedom and sunset views. On Tuesday and Friday happy hours, they see familiar faces, including seasonal members returning after months away.

Your Preference Is All That Matters

If you're considering club membership and wondering whether you need the golf package to feel like you belong, the Browns offer this perspective: golfers will want the golf membership. “They're going to want to have the golf membership for sure,” Candace says. “You're going to want to golf. It's a beautiful course with plenty of activities and tournaments.”

But Candance points out if you're the casual player who enjoys an occasional round, or if tennis, fitness, dining, and community matter more to you than weekly tee times, the Sports membership delivers full access to club life.

"You get everything the same except for the full-time golf," she notes. That means access to the pool, the fine dining upstairs and casual dining downstairs, the fitness center and the spa – it’s all included. The same goes for the active social calendar, the cigar and whiskey nights, the live music and the full band concerts on the 19th hole. There’s something for every taste and preference at Gulf Harbour.

The club maintains year-round programming, which the Browns particularly appreciate as full-time Florida residents. Many clubs focus solely on the winter season, but Gulf Harbour keeps events and activities running throughout the year. "I think you're seeing a lot more people also deciding to be here full-time because there's so much stuff going on," Richard observes, noting how that continuity is changing the makeup of the membership.

What resonates most about the Browns' story is how naturally they talk about Gulf Harbour as an extension of their daily lives. They walk over. They golf cart over. They know everyone by name. After 21 years, they're still discovering new aspects to enjoy, like the island beach that sets Gulf Harbour apart from other clubs or the renovated clubhouse that will soon offer even better water views.

"I don't even want too many people to know about it," Candace laughs, describing their Fort Myers location with quick proximity to Sanibel, Captiva, and downtown, all within 15 minutes. "It's our own little boutique-y area and I love it."

But she's willing to share one insight for anyone weighing their options: you don't need the most expensive membership to find your place. You just need the one that fits your life.