Two southwest Florida stalwarts -- Old Corkscrew and Tiburon -- honored by Golf Magazine

There’s plenty of competition to be considered among the best public golf courses in southwest Florida.

I was in Naples in March (read here) and experienced its many golf riches (read here). Coupled with the restaurant scene (here), Naples is a world-class vacation destination.

But two clubs consistently stand out. Golf Magazine recently ranked Old Corkscrew Golf Club and the Black Course at Tiburon Golf Club No. 16 and No. 17, respectively, among the top 20 public golf courses in Florida.

I wrote a review of Tiburon in Naples and Old Corkscrew in Estero (read it here and here). They both deserve such praise. Tiburon has two strong 18-hole courses and plays host to the PGA Tour’s Franklin Templeton Shootout each December.

Old Corkscrew, a Jack Nicklaus design, has been the qualifying site for the Champions Tour’s ACE Group Classic the past two years. It’s among Jack’s best work. His bunkers bleed into natural areas like wetlands and ponds (see photo above). It’s scenic fun, yet difficult. If you haven’t been to Naples lately, it’s definitely worth a look, especially if you can secure rounds at these two beauties.