|
|
 |
| |
 New Providence | Grand Bahama | Abaco | The Out Islands EXCERPT WELCOME BAHAMAS - GRAND BAHAMA - 2005  Golfing around The Bahamas Sun and sea vistas are a golf-lover's dream Originally published WELCOME BAHAMAS - GRAND BAHAMA - 2005 © Etienne Dupuch Jr Publications Ltd Golf and The Bahamas have been sporadic bedmates since near the end of the 18th century. Sometimes the relationship has been dynamic; sometimes restrained. If you count all the existing, planned and potential public, private and resort golf clubs the list stretches to 22, but there are about 12 that you can play today. Grand Bahama has five public or resort courses and two under development. The Out Islands have a few including one mature 18-hole layout, another half completed and a third on the way. New Providence and Paradise Island boast four courses, but one is private and another is available only to members and guests at Atlantis and One&Only Ocean Club. Abaco courses Abaco boasts a mature and well-maintained course at Treasure Cay, north of Marsh Harbour, and another fledgling layout to the south at Cherokee Sound. Treasure Cay is an 18-hole, par-72, 6,985-yard, Dick Wilson layout, the first course on Abaco. With 66 strategically placed sand bunkers, the Treasure Cay course presents a formidable challenge with ocean winds, tight fairways and a layout that makes you ponder every club selection. The front nine runs parallel to the ocean at the north end of Treasure Cay Resort, and is relatively straightforward with two par fives of 555 and 500 yards from the white tees. The back nine is tighter, requiring more precision and thought with slightly more water in play. A couple of ponds (with interesting wildlife) represent minor hazards, particularly on number 11, a 515-yard par 5. Despite its length, Treasure Cay can be played in less than three hours. Cherokee Sound Just off the drawing boards and scheduled to be playable by Thanksgiving 2004 is a unique 18-hole championship Scottish-style tropical links golf course. The course is the centrepiece of a $160-million sporting estate now under development at Winding Bay, Abaco, by British entrepreneur, Peter de Savary. Situated on a peninsula of more than 500 acres, surrounded by 2.5 miles of pink sand beach and highlighted by bluffs, the course has been designed by Donald Steel and Tom Mackenzie, pre-eminent Scottish links-style architects. The 7,183-yard, par-72 links opens with a challenging 547-yard par 5 - third longest hole - as the course plays for seven holes out along the beach. Shots will be assisted by prevailing winds for most of the winter. The 8th marks the start of the return towards home. This is the classic out-and-back configuration of the great seaside courses of Britain and Ireland, with 14 of the holes traversing dunes alongside the beach and the waters of Winding Bay. The final four holes are a change of scene. The 15th is high above the first 14 holes with spectacular views along the length of the bay. On the 17th tee, a panoramic view opens up of the picturesque short 17th and down the length of the 553-yard 18th hole. There are few finishing holes where both the tee and green are right on the ocean's edge, according to Steel. |
 |
|||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||
Go to TOP | Go to NEXT article | See ALL articles |
|||||||||||||||||||
RELATED LINKS THE ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
BAHAMAS HANDBOOK, DUPUCH PUBLICATIONS, the 'D' Device, and CARIBBEAN.COM are
Registered Trademarks of Etienne Dupuch Jr. Publications Limited.
BAHAMASNET is a Registered Trademark of Bahamas Multi-Media Limited.