Few destinations make golf travel as easy as The Bahamas. Nassau sits roughly 185 miles southeast of Miami, and within a short drive of its airport are three of the region’s most talked-about layouts: a Tom Weiskopf design on Paradise Island, a Jack Nicklaus Signature course at Baha Mar and the Ernie Els-designed home of Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge. Add a pair of Out Island options on Great Exuma and Abaco, and this Bahamas golf guide covers everything from a quick long-weekend escape to a multi-island golf trip.
Nassau and Paradise Island: The Heart of Bahamas Golf
Ocean Club Golf Course, Paradise Island
Occupying the eastern peninsula of Paradise Island, the Ocean Club Golf Course is an 18-hole, par-72 championship layout by Tom Weiskopf that stretches to about 7,100 yards. The Atlantic and Nassau Harbour are in view throughout, and the crosswinds that come with that setting make club selection a constant puzzle. The course is associated with the Four Seasons Ocean Club and is also marketed to guests of neighbouring Atlantis Paradise Island, some of whose golf packages are limited to Atlantis guests. A golf academy, club rentals and tee times up to 60 days ahead round out the offering.
Royal Blue at Baha Mar, Cable Beach
Opened in 2017 as the first Nicklaus Design course in The Bahamas, Royal Blue is the golf centrepiece of the Baha Mar resort complex on Cable Beach. The par-72 course plays to roughly 7,189 yards and is often described as two courses in one. The front nine rolls through white-sand dunes and brackish ponds with glimpses of the ocean, while the back nine turns inland through limestone and dense tropical vegetation, building to an island green at the 16th on the edge of Lake Cunningham. Golfweek’s Best 2024 list ranked Royal Blue first in The Bahamas and inside the top 20 across Mexico, the Caribbean, the Atlantic islands and Central America. Lessons are open to resort guests and non-guests, and Titleist and Ping rental sets are available.
Albany, Southwest New Providence
On the island’s southwestern shore, Albany is a private resort community whose Ernie Els-designed course opened in 2010. At 7,309 yards and par 72, it is the longest of the three Nassau-area tracks, and its unusual mix of five par 5s and five par 3s keeps the rhythm of the round unpredictable. Els blended links character with desert-style features, routing holes past dunes that rise as high as 30 feet. Albany is best known as the December home of the Hero World Challenge, the limited-field event hosted by Tiger Woods. Access is geared toward owners and those staying in the resort or its villas, so plan accommodation accordingly if Albany is on your list.
Out Islands Golf in The Bahamas
Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma. Greg Norman designed this 18-hole course, which opened in 2003 and measures a little over 7,000 yards. The front nine works through mangrove terrain before the back nine delivers the payoff: a long run of holes, roughly the 11th through the 16th, hugging a rocky shoreline, with the closing holes set out on a peninsula. Fairways are salt-tolerant seashore paspalum. Play is aimed at guests of the Sandals Emerald Bay resort, and the course offers a driving range, instruction and club and shoe rentals.
The Abaco Club at Winding Bay, Great Abaco. Designed by Donald Steel and Tom Mackenzie, this par-72 layout of just over 7,100 yards bills itself as a Scottish-style links in a tropical setting. Early holes play along Winding Bay, a pair of holes on the back nine pass through an old rock quarry and the finish runs along the shoreline high above the surf. It is a private, members-oriented club, so prospective visitors should enquire directly about any guest arrangements before planning a trip around it.
Practical Tips for a Bahamas Golf Trip
- Base yourself in Nassau for variety. Ocean Club, Royal Blue and Albany are all on or next to New Providence, so one hotel can cover three courses without extra flights.
- Book early in high season. Ocean Club takes reservations up to 60 days out, and resort courses can fill quickly around holidays. Atlantis lists blackout dates on some golf offers in late November and over the Christmas and New Year period.
- Check access rules before you fly. Albany and the Abaco Club are private, and Sandals Emerald Bay caters primarily to its own guests. Confirm eligibility for a tee time when you book your stay.
- Prepare for wind. Coastal exposure is the main defence on nearly every Bahamian course. Expect to adjust by a club or two depending on direction.
- Watch the calendar. If you want to see the pros at Albany, the Hero World Challenge is played each December, so check tournament dates before booking a golf stay there that month.
Choosing Your Bahamas Golf Itinerary
A long weekend in Nassau is enough to sample Royal Blue and Ocean Club, with Albany added if you are staying on property. Golfers chasing solitude and scenery should add a few days on Great Exuma, where Emerald Bay’s shoreline stretch on the back nine is the kind of finish golfers travel for. Whichever combination you choose, the short flight from the United States and the concentration of quality courses make The Bahamas one of the most efficient golf getaways in the region.