With its pristine white beaches and a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course that’s regarded as one of the best in the Caribbean, the exclusive area of Baha Mar just west of the Bahamanian capital of Nassau is a dream for visitors who grace the area.
But wouldn’t living there prove even better than sporadically stopping by?
No. 9 Lake Cunningham Estates is a golfer’s dream, backing up to the course, and getting the best of many worlds — close enough to Nassau with its dining and cultural options, yet secluded enough to enjoy peace, relaxation and a quiet 18 holes.
This expansive home boasts a 5-bedroom main house, plus a 1 bedroom cottage overlooking the pool. The ground floor welcomes its owners and guests with a seamless, open floor plan featuring a generously sized kitchen adjacent to a comfortable family living room. Complementing this space are a formal living and dining area, along with a separate TV room that opens to the pool, and more.
Before Royal Blue Golf Course came into being, another golf course sat on this property, an additional chunk of bait used to lure potential travelers to this remote paradise. The 9-hole course, then known as Cable Beach Golf Club, was loosely associated with the British Colonial Hotel nearly four miles to its east, and offered Floridians (and others from the nearby Southeast United States) a slice of home — a flat, tricky run of holes with a constant threat of water. It was completely renovated and an additional nine was also added, one that works through elevation changes and rock formation.
Bahamas resort offers opulence via three hotels and a scenic Jack Nicklaus golf course with separate but spectacular nines.
NASSAU, The Bahamas – From the 16th tee at Royal Blue, perched high above the green on the spectacular Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course at the uber-elegant Baha Mar Resort, there’s a sense you’re taking in the best the course offers.
The green isn’t on an island, rather a peninsula that juts into Lake Cunningham, taunting those above with a come-hither look but a difficult-to-hold putting surface. Although turquoise waves lap at Cable Beach close by, the lake water along the picturesque 16th is typically calm and dark, an unfortunate grave for far too many mis-hit shots.
Nerves are certain to be tested by this point in the round, as the course has wound through an irregular diet of holes, some that appear to be former swamp and others that look as if they could have been carved through the limestone-laden Queen’s Staircase, a popular tourist attraction in nearby Nassau.
Baha Mar in Nassau, the Bahamas, features three hotels: the Grand Hyatt, the SLS and the Rosewood. (Courtesy of Baha Mar)
Either elated or infuriated, players making their way out to the 16th green often have an epiphany of sorts — the look back toward the tee is even more striking as it reveals a series of rockscapes that look as if they could have been traversed by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. As odd as it may sound, it might be more interesting to look back on the 16th hole than to look forward. And considering how magnificent the view is looking forward, that’s an accomplishment.
But it’s also a perfect encapsulation of the entire resort, one that has risen from the ashes after once flaming out. Looking back at Baha Mar’s history might be just as interesting as looking ahead to its certain-to-be-brilliant future.
Because Baha Mar isn’t just a story of opulence and indulgence, but perseverance and persistence.
Before Royal Blue came to pass, another golf course sat on this property just west of the Bahamian capital, an additional chunk of bait used to lure potential travelers to this remote paradise. The course, then known as Cable Beach Golf Club, was loosely associated with the British Colonial Hotel nearly four miles to its east, and offered Floridians (and others from the nearby Southeast United States) a slice of home — a flat, tricky run of holes with a constant threat of water.
Jack Nicklaus designed the Royal Blue course at Baha Mar. (Courtesy of Baha Mar)
When Nicklaus’ group came in to revamp and add to what is now Royal Blue, designers stuck to the game plan, and smartly so. Although the front feels familiar, it’s an interesting run with just enough places to bail out and avoid the wet stuff.
As long as you can stay dry, the first few holes at Royal Blue ease you into the round. Views of the resort are ever-present in the opening stretch. Aside from the lengthy second hole, which is lined by a lake, it’s within reason for even average players to post a good number at the turn. Of course, staying dry isn’t exactly easy as considerable water hazards line eight of the first nine holes. Only the par-4 fifth is without water on the front, and that hole has so many bunkers it feels like an entire nearby beach must have been sacrificed.
And who’s to say any of this is easy? The resort itself has had trouble avoiding hazards, even those that seemed simple to navigate.
Originally a can’t-miss project in the hands of a billionaire native son – whose father had made his fortune through a monopoly of sorts in the peanut industry – the financial crisis of 2008 brought plans to a screeching halt. A Chinese conglomerate produced financing to pick the project back up, but then a steady flow of Chinese workers was imported, bypassing a largely unemployed island workforce. This wasn’t well-received by locals, who would often ridicule the project as a folly.
In 2016, before ever opening its doors and with work nearly complete, the resort declared bankruptcy, and it appeared this pristine combination of golf and surf would never get its day in the sun.
Fortunately a Hong Kong-based holdings company finally got the ball over the goal line, and guests have been coming ever since to three hotels — the aptly-named Grand Hyatt, which houses the vast majority of Baha Mar’s 2,300 rooms, the ritzy SLS and the super-swanky Rosewood.
As you’d expect, there’s more to do at Baha Mar than golf, as the largest casino in the Bahamas is surrounded by more than a dozen high-end restaurants, bars and lounges, including my favorite, Costa, offering upscale Mexican fare inside the elegant Rosewood. (I recommend lobster tacos and a side of brussels sprouts and mole.)
A lazy river flows at Baha Mar (Courtesy of Baha Mar)
But if you make it to Baha Mar, you do need to golf, mostly to be able to see a back nine that weaves its way through limestone and fun, starting with the short but interesting 10th hole, which drops from an elevated tee into what feels like a quarry.
Unlike the front, there’s almost no water on the back aside from the aforementioned 16th and the fairways aren’t quite as tight, but there’s still plenty of trouble to be found. On No. 14, for example, the second shot on the par 4 comes into a green that’s unprotected on the front. Pull the ball left, however, and you’re certain to find jail in a thick batch of Caribbean pine that will be tough to wriggle free from. Misjudge the distance and hit it long, which is easy to do with an uphill approach, and you’ll find a 15-foot-tall limestone embankment that has been known to rocket the ball back as fast (and almost as far) as it came in.
After the tricky shot on 16, a pair of holes climb to the finish with 18 again using a wall of limestone and some well-positioned bunkers to give players one last thrill ride.
With a series of free-flowing tee boxes, Royal Blue can play as long as 7,189 yards, but it’s best to see the course from the distance that suits you best. “They’re suggestions,” said Andy Deiro, the director of golf and resident Kansas City Chiefs fan, when asked about the tee placements on the massive staging areas. “Have fun with them.”
A pool at Baha Mar (Courtesy of Baha Mar)
After the history Baha Mar has survived and emerged from, that’s probably good advice.
The future looks bright at a resort that wound up costing more than $4 billion to complete. Royal Blue has triumphantly risen to No. 1 in Golfweek’s Best rankings in the Bahamas and top 20 overall on the 2022 list of top golf courses in Mexico, the Caribbean, the Atlantic islands and Central America.
But there have been many bleak moments in the not-too-distant past when it looked like this piece of paradise might never see players again come through.
With a lack of drawbacks — perhaps the only one I can even muster is a lack of genuine beachfront views — there’s plenty to look forward to, for certain. Looking back at the property’s history makes that view even more worth savoring.
The 2023 Golfweek’s Best ranking of tropical courses include plenty of water views.
Welcome to the Golfweek’s Best 2023 list of top golf courses in Mexico, the Caribbean, the Atlantic islands and Central America.
The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them based on our 10 criteria. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings on each course are averaged to produce a final, cumulative rating. Then each course is ranked against other courses in the region.
This list focuses on the golf courses themselves, not the resorts as a whole or other amenities. Each golf course included is listed with its average rating from 1 to 10, its location, architect(s) and the year it opened.
Ken Griffey Jr., Tino Martinez, Jorge Posada, CC Sabathia, Paige Spiranac and Ryan Rustand were all on hand.
Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Derek Jeter hosted the 2022 Derek Jeter Celebrity Invitational golf tournament at Baha Mar Resorts in Nassau, Bahamas, from April 28 through May 1. The tournament raised more than $1 million for Jeter’s foundation, Turn 2 Foundation. This event was hosted in partnership with Baha Mar, Icon International, JP Sports + Entertainment and Warner Brothers Discovery.
The Turn 2 Foundation works with young kids in different communities to inspire and motivate them to turn away from drugs and alcohol and “Turn 2” a healthy lifestyle through community service, various specialized programs and events.
The celebrities in attendance ranged from professional athletes, entertainers, media personalities, influencers, trick-shot artists and more. Anthony Anderson, D-Nice, Ken Griffey Jr., Tino Martinez, Jorge Posada, CC Sabathia, Joey Fatone, Paige Spiranac and Ryan Rustand were just a few of the notable names of the weekend.
Group celebrates on day two of the Derek Jeter Celebrity Invitational. (Jeffery Salter/ Turn 2 Foundation, Inc.)
A reception was held on the first night at Marcus at Baha Mar Fish + Chop House. The reception was hosted by Hall of Fame radio personality, Angie Martinez and featured music from award-winning DJ, D-Nice. The Turn 2 Foundation presented $25,000 to the Baha Mar Foundation, which will support youth development and healthy lifestyle initiatives in the local Nassau area. The venue served a seafood buffet, comfort foods, cocktails, appetizers, and desserts.
The weekend consisted of two rounds of golf at Royal Blue Golf Club of Baha Mar Resorts. Royal Blue is a Jack Nicklaus design with carpet-like fairways, rolling white sand dunes, fluffy bunkers, waterfront holes and untouched greens. The event featured closest to the pin contests, long drive contests, multiple bar stations and food stations. The Turn 2 Foundation team brought a party to every hole. Following round one of the tournament, the celebrities competed in a competitive shootout.
After the second round, the event’s signature DJCI Gala at Baha Mar’s Performing Arts & Convention Center took place. Guests experienced a star-filled red carpet, enjoyed a lobster and filet mignon dinner and were able to bid on live auctions. The evening closed with a performance from Grammy award-winning International artist, Pitbull.
Guests had the option of staying in one of the three hotels at the Baha Mar Resort, the Grand Hyatt, Rosewood or SLS. Baha Mar has over 2,300 rooms, more than 45 restaurants, over 30 retail shops, miniature golf, bars, water park, 100,000 square foot casino, spa, fitness center, kid zone, multiple pools and private beach entrances. The Turn 2 event used to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, but they selected Baha Mar as a more family-friendly location.
Each hotel within Baha Mar has a different energy. The Grand Hyatt is family-friendly and has access to different activities that will keep the kids busy and the adults relaxed. The Rosewood is elegant and quieter. This hotel features upscale bars, tea lounges and calming scents. SLS is a more modern, high-energy environment with pool clubs, nightclubs and rooftop bars. As a guest of Baha Mar, you have access to most of the other hotel’s amenities.
“I think a lot of the Icon International sponsors and clients thought it would be great to go to a place with more family involvement,” said Sharlee Jeter, Derek’s sister. We thought it would be nice where you could bring your family this time and it acts as a vacation also.”
Derek and Sharlee Jeter at gala. (Jeffery Salter/ Turn 2 Foundation, Inc.)
The tournament concluded with an 18-hole celebrity-only tournament on May 1 at Royal Blue. When asked about his favorite part of the weekend, Jeter said, “You always hear how athletes and entertainers talk about how good they are at golf and then you actually see how bad they are, that’s always a highlight.”
