The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples
Were it not for the trees that obscure it from Airport Pulling Road about 10 miles northeast of Naples proper, the Ritz Carlton Golf Resort hotel might well qualify as a landmark. As you drive through the gate on Tiburón Drive and make your way up the slight hill to the entrance, 30-foot tall palms lining both sides of the drive stand tall and proud, like sentries paying tribute to this most impressive edifice.
The Majestic Ritz Carlton Golf Resort, Naples Hotel
Opened in January 2002, the hotel stands immediately adjacent Tiburón Golf Club at the eastern end of Tiburón, a spectacular 900-acre forested and lake endowed development that also includes a gated community of some of the area's most elegant homes. When you stay at the golf resort, you get two for the price of one. Its sister resort is the Ritz Carlton Beach Resort, which is 15 minutes away on the Gulf, and guests at either venue have access to the amenities of both.
WCI Communities developed Tiburón Golf Club's two Greg Norman-designed golf courses in partnership with Ritz Carlton, and resort guests share the courses with the club's members, playing the black and gold courses on alternate days. Much smaller than the hotel, the clubhouse is equally impressive with a comfortable and casual restaurant and bar, carpeted locker rooms, photos of famous golfers on the wall, and a golf shop with the best merchandise on the market.
The huge practice area, including chipping greens, is first class. At the back of the range is the Rick Smith Golf Academy that offers private and class instruction that can be booked through the golf club. Smith, mentor to Phil Mickelson and several other Tour players, is widely regarded as one of the best instructors in the world.
Less celebrated than the Gold Course, which hosts the Merrill Lynch Shootout in December, is the Black Course. This course which serpentines through tall stands of pines and meanders around lakes is somewhat tighter than the Gold and has a higher slope from the Championship and Back tees. Though it measures only 6323 yards from the designated Back tees, the slope is 138. The signature Gold Course, measuring 6523 yards from the Back tees and nearly 7300 yards from the tips, is noted for its mammoth coquina shell waste bunkers, myriad lakes, large fast greens and large fairway and greenside bunkers. Generous landing areas tease golfers into complacency until they face some very challenging approach shots to greens, some of which, like #18, sit right beside the ubiquitous lakes (water comes into play on 17 holes).
Tiburon Golf Means Plenty of Water and Sand
Both layouts are a tribute to Norman's creativity and design restraint. Norman created few mounds and other artificial features, but instead let the natural roll of the land dictate his plan. The result is that when you play from the correct tee markers (each course has six sets of tees), you are in for a challenging but fair and very fun round of golf. Take your camera to record the stunning scenery.
The exterior of the 295-room hotel, with its bright orange and yellow colors and barrel roof, has a distinct southern Mediterranean look to it, while the interior, with its prominent wood features and darker colors, has an English feel. Befitting its Mobil four-star rating, the hotel has every convenience and amenity that the sophisticated vacationer or business traveler needs.
Exceptional dining in five restaurants is complemented by nearly 17,000 square feet of state-of-the-art communications-equipped meeting and conference space. There are also a massage and fitness center, a heated outdoor pool with poolside restaurant, and even pet-friendly rooms.
Aside from golf, the Ritz Carlton is gaining a reputation for its involvement with the Naples Winter Wine Festival, which in a few short years has turned into one of the world's leading wine festivals. The 3-day event, held annually in January, is marked by many private dinners served by some of the world's greatest chefs, but the festival's crowning event is the auction held at the hotel.
The auction raises millions of dollars for local children's charities and this year it raised some $18 million, topping last year's tally by over $3 million. In addition to the finest wines, auctioners, who pay $10,000 to attend, bid on such other items as a Rolls Royce and vacation packages to exotic destinations. 
2600 Tiburón Drive
Naples, FL 34109
239-593-2000
http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/NaplesGolf/Default.htm
Naples Area Golf
Cock your wrist up (not back), swing your arms back, turn your shoulders and rotate your forearms
Rotate around your axis and maintain the same posture throughout your swing in order to pivot properly
CHRIS TOULSON demonstrates pitching basics including set up, wrist hinge, turning of the body and finish position
Hold one arm out with your palm down and with the other hand push all five fingers up and back to stretch the flexor on the bottom of your wrist
Hitting the ball with the sweet spot of the putter allows the putter face to stay square and not twist
Sandy demonstrates the correct one plane golf swing.
