'The Black is more of a shot-maker's course,' said Phil Werz, communications manager at the Ritz. That counts for a bit more on the Black Course, which, though shorter than the gold, is narrower and more intense. But it isn't all good: With no rough, there is nothing to slow wayward shots, and your ball can scoot well off the fairway. That sounds good on the surface: It seriously curtails the number of lost balls and eliminates nasty lies out of foot-high grass. Once you've learned to pick the ball clean, they become less fearful.įinally, neither course has rough. They aren't as penalizing as sand bunkers, once you get used to them, because the crushed shell acts almost as hardpan. The grass is cut short at both courses, and you can putt from well off the green.īoth Black and Gold sport coquina shell bunkers, which are designated as waste areas, enabling you to ground your club without penalty. They share a huge, luxurious clubhouse you could spend most of the day in.īoth are Greg Norman designs, and they show a British influence, with stacked-sod wall bunkers and fast, firm fairways.

They both wear the Ritz-Carlton badge well, with immaculate conditioning, attentive service and beautifully groomed fairways, greens and grounds. (Some of the between-holes rides are long enough that you might want to pack a lunch.)īut these siblings at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in prosperous Naples (not to be confused with the Ritz-Carlton's beach property a short drive away) share some traits.

Tiburon's Black Course isn't conducive to television coverage, nor is it walker-friendly for the spectators. But for logistical reasons, it's played at the Gold.

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