By Carling Nolan

Imagine playing a championship golf course with some of the smoothest fairways and greens you've ever seen. Now, imagine there were only fairways and greens and NO rough.

Stop daydreaming… it’s a reality at Tiburón Golf Club in Naples.

I was visiting a few days ago, and I couldn’t believe my eyes. Don’t get me wrong, the course was filled with sand traps, lakes, and environmental areas that could snag your ball off the tee, so it wasn't easy.  

You could literally putt the ball from 50 yards out and have a pretty good shot at getting it close to the flag. I don’t know who their golf course superintendent is, but this guy/gal deserves a raise.

Designed by Greg Norman, the word Tiburón is Spanish for “Shark.” Greg is one of my favorite players.  I remember watching the PGA Shark Shootout here for many years, and it's now called the Franklin Templeton Shootout.

Tiburon is also host to the LPGA’s CME Group Titleholders, where the winner goes home with $700,000. Not bad for a weekend’s work.

There are two championship golf courses at Tiburón, The Gold and The Black. The Gold is a little more open off the tees, and The Black is perfect for those short and straight hitters. Each day, one course is for the Tiburón members and the other is for the Ritz Carlton Resort players, and then they will switch the next day. I had the chance to play both, and I couldn’t decide which was more impressive.

The course is in such impeccable shape, the good shots are rewarded with smooth bounces and virtuous spin. There are some risk/reward situations out there so all I can say is…

Hit ‘em straight!

If you go…

Tiburón Golf Club
2620 Tiburon Drive
Naples, FL 34109
(239) 593-2200

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