By Tim McDonald
The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples is one of the swankiest golf resorts in the state and the country for that matter. You come here to play golf, you get treated like royalty.
Speaking of royalty, at least in golf terms, the resort's two courses were designed by Greg Norman, who loves those classic courses of the British Isles. That British influence is all over the Gold and Black courses, with their stacked sod wall bunkers and fast and firm fairways. You feel like you should speak in a clipped, British accent.
Both are exceptionally well-groomed, as you might expect under the Ritz-Carlton banner, with immaculate greens and fairways; you will rarely get a bad lie here, which always means better shots and lower scores.
And for those of you who hate rough -- rejoice! Neither course has any rough to speak of. They are both a joy to play. The Black is more of a shot-makers course while the Gold is wider off the tee and easier to post a low score.
Now is a good time to check out – or should I say check into – the Ritz. The resort has some last-minute travel deals, with drastically reduced room rates for selected dates in May, from $119 to $159. These are rooms regularly priced at $350 and more.
The resort also has several additional golf packages, starting at $179 per night. For more information, call 239-254-3340 or click here.
