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Golfing in style at the new Ritz-Carlton Naples

Championship Golf course hits the tee

By Phyllis Steinberg

I have always been a fan of The Ritz Carlton Naples and when I heard that a second Ritz Carlton was completed last year in this luxurious Southwest Florida city, I was ready to go.

Especially because there are bargain prices in the summer. The $189 per night, “Stars and Pars” was a definite deciding point. The rate included great accommodations at the new Ritz Carlton Golf Resort and two rounds of golf on Tiburon, the Gregg Norman-designed championship layout that hosts the PGA Tour’s Franklin Templeton Shootout.

Not that I’m a great golfer, but it was awesome to play in style on two of  the top golf resorts in the world, according to the June 2002 issue of the Robb Report. 

Carved out of 800 acres of natural Florida foliage, with an unusual and challenging layout designed by Norman, Tiburon plays firm and fast in the links tradition, without the thatch of rough that typically troubles golfers.

I especially liked that the fairways were lined with pine straw, stacked sod and wall bunkers. The turf was also beautifully maintained at a fairway height on one-half inch or less.

The resort has two 18-hole courses, The Black and The Gold. The final nine were completed in October 2002.

Hole #2 on The Black course gave me the most trouble. There were trees on the right and trees on the left. I missed the tee shot and found it to be one of the most demanding tee shots on the golf course, but also one of the most scenic. Once through the narrow chute of pines, the fairway opens up to an undulating green surrounded by water on the right and bunkers on the left.

The Gold Course was no easier. Hole #3 was another Tiburon special with all of the ingredients to challenge the most experienced golfer, which I’m not. There is a rolling fairway, Coquina waste areas water and an elevated green with collection areas on all sides. At least my patient golfing partners didn’t laugh too loudly when my ball landed in the water, again! 

Just steps away from the resort’s front door was a 18-hole putting green, my best game, and the Rick Smith Golf Academy where golfers come from around the country to learn how to improve their game.

What I really enjoyed about the new 295-room Ritz Carlton Golf Resort was the peace and tranquility of the resort. The resort, which overlooks the golf course and lavish swimming pool area, has large balconies where you could just sit back, relax and let the world go by.

The Golf Resort is just three miles from the Ritz-Carlton Naples, located on the Gulf of Mexico and there is a convenient shuttle between the two resorts. The facilities of both resorts are available for guests at the golf resort. I paid a visit to the new Ritz Carlton 51,000 square foot spa. It is a totally separate building with massage rooms on the second level.  I tried a massage and it was a wonderfully soothing experience after my day of golf at Tiburon.

The resort also has a state-of-the art fitness center, heated outdoor swimming pool and four lighted tennis courts.

It was a lot of fun staying at the new Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples. And you can’t beat the summer rates of $189 per night for all that luxury.

For reservations, call 800-241-3333.

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