To golfers, 2018 is a sign that the new year calls for new courses to play a round of 18 holes. And there’s no reason to wait for winter to end. Here are a few Caribbean destinations where you can easily go from sand trap to beach paradise.
The Abaco Club at Winding Bay, Abaco Island, Bahamas
The Abaco Club at Winding Bay on Abaco Island offers a true Scottish-style links course designed by renowned golf architects, Donnie Steel and Tom Mackenzie. The par-72 course is 7,138 yards and makes the most of its seaside location with pot bunkers and challenging, sloping greens. A long course that is designed to play firm and fast, the course is not typical of the Caribbean. Although the club is private, there are rental villas on the property and guests are able to play the course.
The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Paradise Island, Bahamas
The Ocean Club's golf course offers striking views of the Atlantic Ocean and Nassau Harbor. The Tom Weiskopf-designed course is a par-72 that stretches over 7,100 yards on Paradise Island peninsula, where crosswinds challenge even the most experienced players. Like other Weiskopf courses, this one was designed to integrate the natural landscape. Management of The Ocean Club was recently taken over by Four Seasons Resorts & Hotels. The Ocean Club is a private resort, and only guests are able to use the golf course.
Mid Ocean Club, Bermuda
Recognized as the best golf course on Bermuda by golf aficionados, the Mid Ocean Club was designed by famed golf architect Charles Blair Macdonald in 1921 and modified by Robert Trent Jones during the 1950s. The Mid Ocean Club is a private members' club with 20 guest cottages for members and their guests. Visitors are welcome to play the course mid week, subject to availability.
The golf course at the Four Seasons Nevis
Four Seasons Nevis
The Four Seasons Nevis, above, offers a course designed by Robert Trent Jones II with beautiful views of Nevis Peak. The par-71 course opened in 1991 with a yardage of 6,766 and a rating difficulty of 73.6. There's also a natural grass practice facility on site.
The Tryall Club, Jamaica
The Tryall Club is set on 2,200 acres of natural beauty and its golf course is rated as one of the Caribbean's finest. Designed by Ralph Plummer, the course is built around the 17th century sugar plantation's layout with the coastline and landscape's natural features. Overseas golf non-equity memberships are offered to those who do not own a home in Jamaica and temporary memberships are extended to guests renting Tryall villas.
The Sandy Lane, Barbados
The Green Monkey at the Sandy Lane hotel features a course designed by Tom Fazio on the site of an old limestone quarry and is exclusive to guests staying at the Sandy Lane hotel. A caddie is mandatory with every tee time and there are two other courses at the resort, including The Old Nine and The Country Club .
Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic
Casa de Campo offers three courses designed by award-winning designer Pete Dye. Dye Fore is comprised of 27 holes stretched over more than four miles, with 360-degree views of the Caribbean, the Dominican mountains, the Chavon River and Casa de Campo Marina. Teeth of the Dog is consistently ranked the number-one course in the Caribbean and ranks among the top 50 courses worldwide. The Links course, also designed by Dye, is reminiscent of traditional English and Scottish courses, except with magnificent sea views and lagoons dotting the terrain.
By: Carrie Coolidge