Tiburón Golf Club (Black)

There are 36 holes at Tiburón Golf Club, which forms part of the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, and Greg Norman designed both courses. The Gold course is now the site of the annual QBE Shootout (formerly called the Shark Shootout) but it’s the second and oldest course at Tiburón, the Black, that generally receives the accolades.

Naples is the golf course capital of the world with more courses per square mile than anywhere else, so when the original 27 holes at Tiburón opened for play in 1998, the facility initially struggled for recognition alongside the sea of green fairways. Enter the Great White Shark (ironically Tiburón literally translates to “shark” in Spanish).

The QBE Shootout is a bizarre two-man 54-hole team tournament which combines a cocktail of alternate shot, better ball and scramble into one rather unusual PGA Tour event. The tournament dates back to 1989 when it was called the RMCC Invitational and was played at Sherwood Country Club in California. In 2001 the re-branded “Shootout” moved to Tiburón and the club has never looked back.

The Black course is routed through acres of pines and if you stray too far offline you’ll either be taking a drop from one of the many water hazards or playing from the huge bunkers which flank the fairways or you’ll have to manufacture a recovery shot in a Masters-like style from the pine straw underneath the trees.

We’re not the first to say that Naples is a far cry from Magnolia Lane but Tiburón is certainly a very special golfing destination and the Black course fits the land like a comfy slipper. Consequently, the property has been awarded Audubon International certification.