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Big names fuel golf renaissance
WELCOME BAHAMAS - NASSAU, CABLE BEACH & PARADISE ISLAND - 2006
Big names fuel golf renaissance
New courses, redesigns mean more golf
Two recent announcements have excited Bahamian and visiting golfers alike. Jack Nicklaus is redesigning Nassau's Radisson Cable Beach Resort course and Greg Norman is revamping the South Ocean Golf and Beach Resort course in western New Providence. Norman also designed the Emerald Bay course on Exuma.
"Projects like this help in the growth of golf as well as the destination, and create a huge opportunity for The Bahamas," said Norman at a news conference announcing the rebirth of the South Ocean course. Joe Lee originally designed this track and Norman plans to improve the property's already magnificent layout.
Improving Bahamian golf
Agatha Delancy, president of the Bahamas Golf Federation, says the current boom in golf development heralds a new era for the sport in The Bahamas. Local golfers will have increased opportunities to compete with visiting players.
"The two work hand-in-hand in promoting and developing the sport," says Delancy. "We've just had two local women players announce their decision to turn pro and, at the beginning of the year, the federation hosted the First Exuma Open, including a pro section. We're ready to go vigorously into growing golf in The Bahamas with our 500 members and seven divisions."
Radisson golf manager Chris Lewis agrees that The Bahamas is destined for golfing greatness with the massive investment being poured into refurbishing some of the game's most desirable courses. The Nicklaus rebuild of the Radisson is part of a $1.6 billion Cable Beach redevelopment by Baha Mar Resorts Ltd.
"We wanted a formidable and reputable name in the design business, and Nicklaus is the top," says Lewis. "You stick a big name like that up, the course will sell. That's important in expanding on meetings and convention business, but it's also great news for Bahamian players. There's a flourishing of more courses and accessibility."
In announcing the deal, Nicklaus commented, "We are honoured and excited that Nicklaus Design has been asked to create the golf amenity for a project of this scope and magnitude. The owner's commitment to bringing the highest-quality resort to Nassau is impressive, and I know that commitment extends to the golf course as well."
In the Out Islands too
Golfers are also buzzing about the opening of the Donald Steel/Tom Mackenzie-designed links course at Peter de Savary's Abaco Club at Winding Bay. Golf journalists ran out of superlatives trying to describe that course.
Like the lovely Lyford Cay course on New Providence, the Abaco Club is for members only. Guests, however, may rent $1,000-a-night beach cabanas in order to test the greens. Club pro Kenny Gargiulo effuses when he talks about the 18th hole, his favourite.
One fantastic golf hole
"It's the signature hole" for good reason," he says. "It's a 572-yard par-5 that plays off an elevated tee with the entire left side (of the fairway) hugging the Atlantic Ocean. The wind is ever-present off the water and plays havoc with any lofted iron. The two-tiered green has many hole placement opportunities and it may be hard to concentrate on your putting when the waves come crashing into the shoreline and provide a dazzling white-water display high overhead, next to the green."
On Paradise Island, the One&Only Ocean Club Golf Course has long been a favourite of members and guests at Sol Kerzner's Atlantis resort. It's famous for hosting the annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Tournament. Ocean Club golf manager T J Baggett welcomes the revitalization and building of additional courses throughout the islands.
"The way things are moving, golf and tourism are being interlinked, and that's integral to accessing more of the market," says Baggett. "Golf has spiked in popularity in the last 10 years, and The Bahamas can be positioned as the choice Caribbean destination. When you can see the ocean from almost any hole, and have the wind play with your game" that's an attractive option for players sitting at home in the snow in January."
Winter or summer, however, there are great options for golf getaways in The Bahamas.
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