How you can spend a weekend at the Ritz (and play Tiburon!) for less than $2,500

The PGA Tour’s annual QBE Shootout has been a staple of the so-called “silly season” since 1989. In addition to watching some of the Tour’s familiar names battle it out in fun, relatable two-player team formats like scramble, foursomes and fourball, part of the event’s charm is seeing a beautiful course in peak condition and perfect weather.

Since 2001, that host has been Tiburon’s Golf Club’s Gold Course, a Greg Norman design in Naples, Fla., that also plays host to the the LPGA Tour’s season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.

Here’s how to spend a luxe weekend at the Ritz-Carlton resort on property and play a round at both the Black and Gold Courses at Tiburon for less than $2,500 per person.

Though winter is considered high season for warm-weather destinations like southwest Florida, you can still find some excellent deals on airfare — especially from the northeast. From BOS and JFK, I found January direct flights to RSW, which is only about a half-hour drive to Naples, ranging from $141 to $182, while west coast starting points like LAX must endure a layover but start at $265 (prices via Kayak).

TOTAL AIRFARE: ~$200

When you spend a long weekend in a single location (like a Ritz resort), renting a car becomes less important when airport transfers via Uber or Lyft are so convenient, and you know you won’t be driving anywhere once you reach your destination (this is especially important when onsite parking incurs an additional fee).

From RSW, an Uber to the Ritz is about $42, so that’s $84 round-trip, and $42 per person — and could be even less if you’re traveling with others.

TOTAL SPEND: $200 + $42 = $242

A round at either one of Tiburon’s two courses (Black and Gold) can be as expensive as $289 per person, but when you book the Ritz-Carlton’s “Fairways and Greens” golf package, you not only get three nights of accommodation and three rounds of golf for two, you also get a daily breakfast buffet. The total price for the long weekend I checked in January? $4,000.54 (inclusive of taxes and fees), or $2,000.26 each.

TOTAL SPEND: $242 + $2,000.26 = $2,242.26

A long weekend at a Ritz-Carlton golf resort is never going to be cheap, but you can mitigate some of the cost with some smart budgeting when it comes to dining. Your breakfasts are covered with the package, so you only have to worry about lunch and dinner. Here’s a guide to reign in your spending:

Arrival dinner: $40

Day 1 golf course lunch:$25

Day 1 dinner: $50

Day 2 golf course lunch: $25

Day 2 dinner: $50

Day 3 golf course lunch: $25

Total dining: $215

TOTAL SPEND: $2,242.26 + $215 = $2,457.26

And there you have it! Three nights and three rounds of golf at a luxe Ritz-Carlton golf resort for under $2,500 per person! Ready to book? Happy travels!

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