Golf and Snorkel Year Round in the Sunny Bahamas

As autumn leaves swirl, it’s time to plan golf vacations where the sun shines all year round.  Just 55 miles of the east coast of Florida lies a golfer’s paradise:  the Bahamas.  With an average winter temperature of 70 degrees, the skies are nearly always blue, the grass is always green, including on the golf courses. 

While there are 700 spectacular islands in the Bahama chain, the major golf attraction is on Grand Bahama Island, which beacons to golfers from all around the world.  Great golfing can be found in Freeport, the “second city” in Bahamas, after Nassau.  This island city was transformed just 50 years ago from swampland to international resort by a wealthy Virginia lumberman.

 The result is a unique blend of cosmopolitan world-class resorts, historical charm, and tropical easy going manners.  In addition to fabulous golfing, visitors stream to Grand Bahama Island to enjoy water sports on endless beaches with emerald green waters. 

The best way to see the variety of marine life is up close and personal by snorkeling and diving, of course.  You can take a short catamaran ride to a shallow coral reef and feed tropical fish right out of your hand!  Tropical gardens and quaint fishing villages make island touring fun—and a photographic delight.

Freeport boasts two championship golf courses, both integrated into the luxury resort, Our Lucaya, considered number one in the Bahamas by LINKS magazine and named one of the top 100 golf resorts by The Golfer.  The Our Lucayan Course, designed by Dick Wilson, is a lush, tree-lined course with tropical greens and doglegs that will get you to hone your swing.  The Robert Trent Jones, Jr. sculpted the Reef Course which opened in 2000.

When golfing a la Freeport, it is easy to transform golf packages into something-for-everyone vacations, from spas to casinos, water sports to shopping and dining.  The 7.5 acres of soft sand beaches offer a different kind of sand trap for the dedicated golfer, as does hopping island nightlife.  You are likely to be tempted. 

Finally Freeport offers the opportunity to combine golfing travel with weddings and honeymoons.  Why not get married right there on the beach--and enjoy a round of golf in the afternoon?  Of course this is best advised for golfing couples!