New Providence Island -- The main draw is the 18-hole Cable Beach Golf Club (tel. 242/677-4175; www.crystalpalacevacations.com). The oldest golf course in The Bahamas, this par-71 green was the private retreat of British expatriates in the 1930s. Today, it's owned by Cable Beach casino marketers. Small ponds and water traps heighten the challenge, amid more than 6,453 yards of well-maintained greens and fairways.
Paradise Island -- Tom Weiskopf designed the Ocean Club Golf Course (tel. 242/363-2510; www.oneandonlyresorts.com), an 18-hole, par-72 course, and it's a stunner. With challenges that include the world's largest sand trap and water hazards (mainly the Atlantic Ocean) on three sides, the course has received praise from Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. For the best panoramic ocean view -- good enough to take your mind off your game -- play the par-3 14th hole.
Grand Bahama Island -- The Lucayan Country Club now boasts two separate courses. The Reef Golf Course (tel. 242/373-1333; www.ourlucaya.com), a sandy course with links-style greens designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., opened in 2000. The Bahamian press called it a bit like a Scottish course, "but a lot warmer." The Lucayan Course (tel. 242/373-1333; www.ourlucaya.com) is a well-respected, renovated tree-lined course originally laid out in 1964. Both courses have 18 holes and a par of 72. Though they aren't immediately adjacent, shuttle buses carry golfers from one course to the other at frequent intervals.
The Exumas -- At long last, the Southern Bahamas has a world-class golf course: The Four Seasons Resort Emerald Bay Golf Club (tel. 242/366-6800; www.fourseasons.com) opens onto Emerald Bay's waters. The par-72, 18-hole course was designed by Greg Norman, who created six oceanfront holes. The course is challenging yet not daunting, so it appeals to golfers of various skill levels.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
