For the ultimate golf experience in one of America's most beautiful cities, the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in upscale Naples, Florida, offers an exhilarating challenge for both the amateur and professional golfer. Naples, the self-proclaimed golf capital of the world, is home to more than 80 championship golf courses, and the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort ranks high in Naples' collection.
History
The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort was built in 2001 as a hotel and golfing facility to accommodate guests of both the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort and Naples' flagship, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, located on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. The Mediterranean-style golf resort in the northern-interior part of Naples offers guests not only the luxury of well-appointed rooms and suites, exceptional dining facilities and a spacious pool, but also two world-class golf courses. Guests of the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort can also enjoy the amenities of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel; a convenient shuttle can transport you from the resort to the beach hotel, located 3 miles away.
Identification
The beautiful Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort offers a thrilling challenge on the Tiburon golf course, designed by the esteemed golfer and businessman Greg Norman. (Tiburon is Spanish for "shark".) Tiburon is considered a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, nestled in the pristine interior of Southwest Florida's northern tip of the Everglades and a short distance from the Gulf of Mexico.
Features
The Tiburon Golf Club includes two 18-hole championship golf courses carved out of more than 800 acres of Florida's natural foliage. Norman designed this golf course to play like a European links course but without the long fescue grass that typifies a links course, blending both traditional and modern elements to offer a beautiful and challenging golf experience. The course features stacked sod wall bunkers, orange-colored coquina shell sand, no rough, approaches cut to the height of most greens and five sets of tees on each hole. Tiburon also offers a full-service practice area with chipping and putting greens.
Significance
The Tiburon Golf Club of the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort hosts the annual Franklin Templeton Shootout every November. The Shootout--formerly known as the Shark Shootout--invites 24 PGA Tour professionals to compete for a purse of more than $2 million. This tournament was founded by Norman in 1989 as a fundraiser for children's charities.
Considerations
The greens fees at Tiburon Golf Club are $155. Hotel rooms at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort are from $189 per night. Golf carts are required on both courses.
About The Author
Teresa Kelly graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. She was an editor for seven years for several magazines and publishing houses. Kelly is an avid golfer, a well-known children's book and golf author, and is currently the president of Highview Press/Golfing Lady that produces all occasion golf greeting cards.
