The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Greg Norman, great golf, so much more
Visit Naples and the Paradise Coast in southwest Florida.
It began three decades ago as a fun competition among friends. It’s evolved into the premier postseason event on the PGA Tour and for the past 18 years has shined a light on a southwest Florida city that’s grown to become one of the world capitals of golf.
Greg Norman’s QBE Shootout returns this December to Naples, Florida, where it’s become an annual fixture at Tiburón Golf Club at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples. And in addition to attracting some of the world’s top golfers to the Paradise Coast, it’s also showcased the spectacular natural beauty and unlimited attractions of a region where sparkling waters meet white sand.
“When I moved the QBE Shootout to Naples in 2001, I identified Southwest Florida as not only a market with a strong need for professional golf, but a community with the right ingredients to make my event a success,” Norman says. “Nineteen years later, Naples has proven to be an incredible home, and I couldn’t ask for better partners than Tiburón Golf Club and The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort. From volunteers to spectators to corporate partners, the local community has truly embraced the Shootout and allowed it to grow to where it is today.”
Scheduled for Dec. 11-15 at Tiburón’s Norman-designed Gold Course, the QBE Shootout will once again feature a 24-player field. But golf is only part of the attraction of a week that showcases all that Naples and the Paradise Coast have to offer.
QBE Shootout
Norman’s signature event is the centerpiece of the week and regularly attracts some of the top names in golf — with Graeme McDowell, Gary Woodland, Bubba Watson, Tony Finau and Lexi Thompson among those who have competed in recent years. The week includes a pro-am prior to the tournament, in which pros compete on two-golfer teams in scramble, alternate shot and fourball formats.
But the QBE Shootout is more than just a tournament — the week also includes a wide array of events aimed at golf fans and the wider public. “The QBE Shootout has grown to become more than a golf tournament, and that is a result of our efforts to attract a broader audience to the event,” Norman says. “Over the past few years, we have added a Brew House with local craft beers, a Fairway Yoga class, 5K road race, family golf clinic and family fun zone. For 2019, we are launching an outdoor concert, Live Fest, in conjunction with tournament week that will bring Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker to southwest Florida.”
Play like a pro
Nothing spurs the urge to tee off like watching the pros stripe it down the fairway. Scratching the golf itch is easy on the Paradise Coast, which features 90 courses, with several public layouts sprinkled in amid the resort courses that populate the region. And despite ample bunkers and water hazards, many local courses feature flat terrain and soft greens conducive to any skill level.
Popular area courses include The Rookery and Hammock Bay at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort, one of which is open for public play each day. Naples Grande Golf Club, a renowned layout designed by Rees Jones, is available to guests at the Naples Grande Beach Resort. Top public courses include the Naples Beach Hotel layout (recently renovated by Jack Nicklaus), Robert Trent Jones and Lee Trevino creations at Lely Resort, the PGA-affiliated TPC Treviso Bay and Panther Run at Del Webb Naples.
Arts & entertainment
When not on the golf course, the Paradise Coast offers plenty to explore. The region’s artistic heartbeat can be found at Naples Art, which features galleries and rotating exhibits, as well as outdoor shows — all free and open to the public. The Marco Island Center for the Arts offers galleries, a gift shop featuring items made by local artists and classes and workshops. And the Naples Art District has grown into the largest collection of artists, studios and galleries in southwest Florida.
For those seeking live entertainment, Gulfshore Playhouse offers professional, Broadwayquality theater in an intimate setting, while the Naples Players features everything from daring dramas to monthly improv shows at Sugden Theatre. The Naples Philharmonic and the Baker Museum of fine art can both be found at Artis-Naples. And the Seminole Casino Hotel offers gaming and entertainment in nearby Immokalee.
Relax & recharge
For those seeking a spa experience while visiting Naples for the QBE Shootout, a convenient stop is The Spa at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, which is available to registered guests. Treatments incorporate local herbs and botanicals and stones from the Gulf of Mexico, while facilities include a steam room, a sauna, an aqua lounge and an outdoor mineral pool.
At LaPlaya Beach and Golf Resort, Spa Terre features exotic treatments including Balinese and Himalayan salt stone massages. And at JW Marco Island Beach Resort, Spa by JW is a newly renovated 24,000-square-foot retreat featuring a full range of stressrelieving and revitalizing services. The Paradise Coast is also a center for wellness activities, featuring no shortage of yoga, paddling and other activities to calm the