Tiburon Golf Club delivers a stunning golf experience. Magnificent landscaping, meticulous manicuring, shimmering lakes, tall pines with Spanish moss and stacked sod-wall bunkers combine to beautify two impressive course layouts by Hall of Fame golfer Greg Norman.
The Ritz Carlton Golf Resort Naples is one of the finest golf resorts in Florida. The Italianate architecture of the main lodge with the Mediterranean villas and homes surrounding the course contrast with the lush green landscaping to create a unique tranquil feeling. Guests at this resort and a sister Ritz-Carlton Resort three miles away on the beach enjoy privileges at both properties.
Tiburon Golf Club Courses
Tiburon’s Gold course opened in 1998, with the Black course following in 2001. These are two of the most magnificent golf courses in all of Florida. With short rough, flat terrain and large undulating greens, normally one wouldn’t expect such superlatives. But Norman created a challenge by incorporating water hazards, adding difficult stacked sod-wall bunkers and converting critical areas of rough into coquina shell waste bunkers.
Course conditioning is spectacular, rivaling the finest private clubs. Stacked turf bunkers provide a memorable and challenging signature characteristic. The meticulous turf manicuring extends into the natural tidy areas while still providing shot challenges. Black has more trees and is tighter with a higher slope rating but is shorter. The Gold Course has wider fairways with larger greens and is longer but easier.
The Gold Course
They maintain the course to the highest standards as it meanders through pine & palm trees and wetlands. Beautiful native landscaping integrates well with the lush green fairways and the fluffy white sand. The greens are large, and the bunkering is numerous, sprawling and severe. But fairways are wide, flat and sometimes rolling. Water comes into play on thirteen holes, prompting constant risk/reward decisions, such as the opening Par5 Hole #1. We faced an unnerving shot over the water to get home in two. Par3s require solid shot-making to keep out of the trouble. Carries over water, marshland, coquina waste bunkers and short-sided pins are regular features. A variety of features made this an exceptional experience. Scenic drives over wooden bridges through marshland and over water, green-side bunker complexes with cool-looking steep dark sod-faced walls, massive waste bunkers comprising local crushed coquina shells, tall pine & palm tree groups intermixed, countless bunch grass bushes and well-positioned water features – in perfect condition.
The magnificent Tiburon Golf Club Clubhouse and the adjacent Ritz-Carlton hotel provide spectacular views from the 9th and 18th holes. They even have a photo-op sign on the 18th tee. I can see spectacular homes and Mediterranean villa complexes. The LPGA Tour Championship plays here in November. The course is expensive, but we’ve paid more for a lot less. Each starting time includes a fore-caddie (not including a $25+ tip per player).
Norman deftly integrates unique features into a robust shot-makers layout. Tiburon Golf Club invests in top magnificent landscaping and maintains superb conditioning. The result is memorable, scenic, and challenging. The Black course is tighter but shorter. Play both.
Explore other Southeast golf course profiles from Quintessential Golf Magazine.
