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Play these golf gems
Brilliant designs and unique challenges
While snowdrifts cover golf courses up north, the warm Bahamian sun shines daily on three unique layouts here on Grand Bahama.
Joe Lee and Dick Wilson, who built many famous courses–including LaCosta in California, Warwick Hills in Michigan and Doral in Florida– designed two of them, The Ruby and Fortune Hills.
The Ruby is a par-72 18-hole championship course that still displays many of its original characteristics, although the Jim Fazio Golf Design Group revamped this layout in 2009. Fazio enlarged the greens and relocated many of the bunkers after hurricanes damaged the course in 2004. Lee and Wilson also built the neighbouring Emerald course, which remained closed at press time.
Robert Trent Jones and Ty Butler laid out the links-style 6,920-yard Reef course in 2000. It features wide, winding fairways, undulating greens and scenic ponds on 13 holes.
Fortune Hills, which was built by Lee in the 1960s, is a nine-hole membership course of about 6,900 yds that also welcomes visitors. Golfers play the “front” nine from the white tees and the “back” from the blues.
The most challenging hole, according to owner Doug Kitchen, “is definitely the third hole–a par four of about 370 yds, which plays into a prevailing breeze.
“Golfers are faced with a challenging tee shot with water in play on the right and bush on the left.”
If that isn’t enough difficulty, the landing area is narrow and the fairway slopes to both sides. From there golfers face a long shot over water to a bunkered green. There are more than 60 bunkers around the course.
A deceptively easy-looking hole is the par three fifth of about 150 yds. The tee is located about 40 yds above the green and the shot is usually played into the wind. “This hole is more difficult that it seems,” warns Kitchen.
“The elevated tee makes getting the right distance a challenge. It’s ranked as the easiest hole on the course but it is highly underrated.”
Like other courses on Grand Bahama, Fortune Hills is in great shape for winter play.
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