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Golf in the Bahamas really took off in the 1950's, when
tourism development was a major priority. At one point, some
12 golf courses were in full swing, from Nassau to
Eleuthera. However, by the mid-1980's, the number of resorts
with a golf course had been reduced to about half that
number. Thankfully, as we approach the last year of the
century, a virtual re-birth and expansion of golf in the
Bahamas is underway. By the end of 1999, golfers will once
again have some dozen courses to play!
Early Prominence
 A frequent visitor to
the Bahamas, Julius Boros won his
1967 match at Cotton Bay against Arnold Palmer (Shell's
Wonderful World of Golf).
It may surprise you that Scottish soldiers played on the
slopes below Fort Charlotte in Nassau before 1800. A century
later, as hotels and cruises became fashionable, a 9-hole
course was built on Cable Beach, later expanded to 18 holes,
becoming the principal course of the pre-war era, now called
the Nassau Golf Club.
Exhibition matches held there include the Gene Sarazan,
Bobby Jones, Tommy Armour, Walter Hagan event in the 1940's,
hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The Duke, a very
keen golfer, was Governor of the Bahamas following his
abdication of the British throne.
The leading golf architects of the day were retained by
resort developers, among them Dick Wilson, Joe Lee, Bruce
Devlin, Robert Van Haage, and the ubiquitous Robert Trent
Jones, who created an excellent course at Cotton Bay in
Eleuthera for Juan Trippe, founder of Pan-Am airlines.
In 1967, Shell's Wonderful World of Golf television show
covered the exhibition match between a youthful Arnold
Palmer and Julius Boros. Julius Boros played many events
throughout the Bahamas and thrilled the galleries at the
Lucayan Country Club in the 1971 Bahamas Open, a PGA Tour
stop.
Residential
Developments
In the late 1960's, several residential housing and hotel
complexes were opened, including Treasure Cay in Abaco, the
Lucayan Country Club, and Bahamia projects in Freeport,
Grand Bahama, among others. Great Harbor Cay (Berry
Islands), Bahama Reef (Lucaya), and Shannon Country Club
(Lucaya), became very popular with visitors and residents
alike.
In the late 1960's, Treasure Cay saw the visit of Eric
Brown, British Ryder Cup captain, for a two-day golf
tournament pro-am organized by the Bahamas Golf Association.
Since its opening in the mid-60's, Treasure Cay has always
been open and remains a favorite spot for those seeking the
best of relaxing golf in a family island setting.
 Enjoying golf at Treasure
Cay Resort Hotel & Marina in Abaco, Bahamas.
(800-327-1584)
The appeal of the 3 1/2 miles of powdery pink sand on one
of the world's great beaches, is matched by this sporty Dick
Wilson design, set along the undulating ground of a gentle
ridge which gives a pleasant character to the tree-lined
course. Playing to some 7,000 yards, the golfer is
distracted only by lush tropical foliage and the brilliant
turquoise ocean framed by palms.
Frequent flights from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm
Beach (average 1 hour flight), will transport you to a land
of peaceful relaxation, a place to renew your batteries and
expand your horizons. The hotel has a marina view, with
luxurious beach villas, restaurant, two bars, 150-slips
marina, boat rentals, dive shop, tennis, and shopping.
The golf shop can provide all your needs, including
rental clubs, and best of all, no tee times are necessary.
Play when the spirit moves you and re-discover your game
without a ranger chasing you along! Its no problem, mon!
The Future
Right now, several new projects are on the drawing board
with named architects and major developers. Robert Trent
Jones II has been retained to design a course for Lucaya,
where the complex of several hotels and golf courses will be
the biggest news in the Bahamas since the Atlantis Resort at
Paradise Island ushered in the 1990's.
Hundreds of millions of dollars are being targeted for
residential and resort projects on Grand Bahama, Bimini,
Abaco, Eleuthera, Exuma, the Berry Islands, all of which
will have golf available, whether completely new or re-built
from earlier layouts. Paragon Construction International,
the North Palm Beach-based company (part of Golden Bear
Golf, Inc.-NASDAQ-"JACK"), is at the forefront of this
construction boom. Old Bahama Bay at West End, Grand Bahama
is the scene of Paragon's first Bahamas project, where they
are turning what was the closed Jack Tar Village into a
five-star private residential club and resort complex.
Phase I will include marina, customs a d immigration,
single family oceanfront and marina and canal-side
residences, with a 52-villa club hotel to open within a
year. Golf will certainly come in the future (Phase II), and
replace the Mark Mahannah-designed 27 holes which held many
tournaments in past years, like the Grand Bahama Four Ball.
With some 2,000 acres available, its own airport, and 56
miles to Worth Avenue, Old Bahama Bay is the closest Port of
Entry for all those who seek the pleasures of the Bahamas.
Paragon's clients are evaluating other projects in the
Bahamas, and current plans include golf as a major part of
each developers' resort. Not since the early 1960's has the
Bahamas seen so much construction activity, due in no small
part to its investor-friendly government. The wonderful
climate and charming people are additional incentive for the
quiet, economic revival of this part of the world.
Get your clubs, get out the map and start the golfing
odyssey of a lifetime. Play a little two dollar "Nassau"
&endash; where else &endash; but in the Bahamas!
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