Most couples come to Sanibel and spend a week doing the same thing: beach, shells, lunch somewhere on Periwinkle Way, repeat. And there is nothing wrong with that. The beaches are beautiful. The shelling is world-class. Periwinkle has good restaurants.
But by day three, you are sunburned, you have enough shells to fill a carry-on, and you are both quietly wondering what else there is to do.
Here is the answer. And it does not involve sand in your shoes.
Morning: Play Something Together
The best couples activities are the ones where you are actually doing something together, not just sitting next to each other. Sanibel has three options that most visitors do not know about — and all three are at the same place.
Golf for Two
The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club has an 18-hole championship course designed by 10-time PGA Tour winner Marc McCumber. It sits inside an Audubon-sanctioned wildlife preserve, which means your round includes osprey, herons, alligators, and occasional bobcat sightings alongside the golf.
You do not need to be a member. You do not need to be good. The course is open to the public, Callaway club rentals are available through the pro shop, and the Aqua Driving Range is open daily if you want to warm up or if one of you needs a quick refresher before teeing off.
A morning round for two is one of the most memorable things you can do on Sanibel — and by 10:30am, you have a shared experience that beats any beach day.
Book a tee time: (239) 472-3355 | sanibeldunesresort.com/book-a-tee-time-public
Tennis on Har-Tru Clay
If you and your partner play tennis — or have ever wanted to try — The Dunes has six Har-Tru clay courts that are open to the public. Har-Tru plays slower than a hard court, which means longer rallies and more fun even if your levels are different.
The daily adult clinic starts at 8am and costs $25 per person. Show up, hit for an hour with other players, and cool down at the clubhouse after. If you want a private court, non-members can reserve a 90-minute session for $24 per person ($12 after 1pm).
The Tennis Concierge will even pair you with a doubles team if you want to play with others — it is one of the best ways to meet people on the island.
Court reservations: (239) 472-3355, option 2
Pickleball
If neither of you has tried pickleball yet, this is your chance. The Dunes has four dedicated pickleball courts with daily drop-in open play starting at 8:30am. You do not need experience, you do not need your own paddles (rentals available), and the culture of the sport is social and welcoming.
Most couples who try pickleball on Sanibel end up playing every day for the rest of their trip. It is fast to learn, competitive enough to be interesting, and short enough (games last 15-20 minutes) that you can play three or four rounds before lunch.
Drop-in play: (239) 472-3355, option 2
Late Morning: The Pool
After a morning of golf, tennis, or pickleball, the pool and sundeck at The Dunes is the perfect reset. It is quieter than the public beach access points, well-maintained, and surrounded by tropical landscaping. Grab a chair, cool off, and let the morning settle.
Pool access is included with summer memberships ($999 single, $1,299 family through September 30). For couples spending a week or more on the island, the membership often pays for itself through activities alone — and includes unlimited golf, courts, pool, and dining discounts.
Afternoon: Lunch and Happy Hour on the Patio
This is the part of the day most visitors get wrong. They leave the club and drive to Periwinkle Way to wait 45 minutes for a table at a restaurant they found on TripAdvisor.
Do not do that.
Stay at The Dunes. The clubhouse serves lunch daily from 11am to 3pm, and the menu is significantly better than most visitors expect. The signature steak sandwich with caramelized onions and gorgonzola fondue has been called the best sandwich on Sanibel. The coconut shrimp is a perennial favorite. The crab cakes and red grouper are excellent. And the burger is one of the best on the island.
But the real draw is the patio. The dining area overlooks the 18th fairway, a chain of lakes, and a palm tree-lined horizon. On a clear day, you can see the water reflect the sky in a way that stops conversation. It is one of the most beautiful lunch settings on Sanibel — and most people on the island have no idea it exists because the club sits off the main road.
Happy hour runs daily from 3 to 6pm. Cocktails, appetizers, and sunset views that rival anything on the beach. The espresso martini has quietly become one of the most popular drinks at The Dunes, and the bartenders know what they are doing.
You do not need to be a member. The clubhouse is open to the public.
Reservations: (239) 472-3355
Evening: Sunset and Dinner
There are a few places on Sanibel where you can watch the sunset and eat dinner at the same time. The Dunes patio is one of them.
On Friday nights, the clubhouse runs a dinner service from 5:30 to 8:30pm with live music. The Friday menu features certified Black Angus prime rib, slow-roasted with creamy horseradish. The combination of a quality dinner, live music, and a sunset over the golf course is the closest thing to a resort dining experience on Sanibel — without the resort prices or the crowd.
And starting in late August 2026, Edgar’s Steakhouse reopens inside The Dunes. Edgar’s is Sanibel’s only steakhouse — char-grilled filet mignon, Scottish key lime salmon, rosemary rack of lamb, craft cocktails, and live music nightly at 5pm. For couples looking for a true date night dinner on Sanibel, Edgar’s is the answer. Open to the public. Members enjoy 15% off dining.
For a weekday dinner, the clubhouse offers a lunch-to-happy-hour flow that carries naturally into the evening. Many couples find that a long afternoon on the patio — lunch at noon, cocktails at three, sunset at seven — is the best “date” on the island.
The Perfect Couples Day on Sanibel — Start to Finish
Here is what we would recommend:
7:30am — Tee off together. Play 18 holes through the wildlife preserve. Watch the osprey. Argue about who had the better approach on 12. Finish by 11am.
11:00am — Cool down at the pool. Read. Relax. Decompress from the round.
12:00pm — Lunch on the patio. Share the coconut shrimp. Order the steak sandwich. Sit outside.
1:30pm — Rent bikes and ride the shared-use path to Bowman’s Beach. Stop at the Shell Museum if you feel like it. Or drive to Ding Darling for Wildlife Drive at low tide.
3:00pm — Back at The Dunes for happy hour. Espresso martinis on the patio. Watch the light change over the fairway.
5:30pm — If it is Friday, stay for dinner and live music. Starting late August, Edgar’s Steakhouse reopens nightly at 5pm — filet mignon, craft cocktails, and the best date night dinner on the island.
Total cost for two (non-members): green fees for two, lunch for two, happy hour drinks, and a sunset — all at one place, all in one day. Compare that to paying for a tee time somewhere else, driving to a restaurant, waiting for a table, and then driving to a beach for sunset. The Dunes puts the entire day in one location.
Why This Matters for Your Trip
Sanibel is a small island. The more time you spend driving between activities, the less time you spend actually enjoying the island. The Dunes puts golf, tennis, pickleball, pool, dining, and sunset views all in one place — which means you can fill an entire day without getting in your car after you arrive.
For couples, this is the difference between a good day on Sanibel and a great one. You are not managing logistics. You are not waiting in lines. You are playing, eating, drinking, and watching the sunset in the same beautiful setting with the person you came here with.
That is what a day on Sanibel should feel like.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a member to golf, play tennis, or dine at The Dunes? No. The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club is open to the public. Non-members can book tee times up to five days in advance, reserve tennis and pickleball courts, and dine at the clubhouse without a membership.
How much does it cost for a couple to play golf at The Dunes? Rates vary by season. Summer rates are significantly lower than peak season. Callaway club rentals are available through the pro shop if you did not bring your own clubs. Call (239) 472-3355 for current rates, or consider the summer membership at $999 per person which includes unlimited golf with no greens fees through September 30.
Can beginners play pickleball at The Dunes? Yes. The Dunes offers daily drop-in open play starting at 8:30am, beginner clinics, and private lessons. Paddle rentals are available. No experience is needed — the staff will get you started.
What is Har-Tru tennis and why does it matter? Har-Tru is a soft clay court surface made from crushed stone. It plays slower than hard courts, produces longer rallies, and is significantly easier on the body — especially the knees, hips, and back. The Dunes has six Har-Tru courts, all recently resurfaced.
Is there a restaurant at The Dunes? Yes. The clubhouse serves lunch daily from 11am to 3pm and happy hour from 3 to 6pm, both open to the public. Edgar’s Steakhouse reopens in late August 2026 with dinner nightly at 5pm — Sanibel’s only steakhouse with premium steaks, seafood, craft cocktails, and live music.
What is the best time of day for a couples round of golf on Sanibel? Early morning. A 7 or 7:30am tee time means you finish by 10:30 or 11am before the peak heat. In summer, the course is quiet and you may have the place nearly to yourself. The wildlife is also most active in the early morning hours.
Does The Dunes have a pool? Yes. The swimming pool and sundeck are available to members and summer members. Summer memberships start at $999 for a single and $1,299 for a family, and include unlimited pool access along with golf, tennis, pickleball, and dining discounts.
How do I book a tee time or reserve a court? Call (239) 472-3355 for tee times or option 2 for tennis and pickleball court reservations. Non-member tee times can also be booked online at sanibeldunesresort.com.
The Details
The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club 949 Sand Castle Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957 (239) 472-3355 Open to the public — golf, tennis, pickleball, dining
Book a tee time | Reserve a court | View the lunch menu | Learn about membership
The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club features an 18-hole championship golf course inside an Audubon wildlife preserve, six Har-Tru tennis courts, four dedicated pickleball courts, a swimming pool and sundeck, and a full-service clubhouse. Open to the public. Follow us on Instagram for events, sunset photos, and island updates.