By Graham Real Estate
The Bahamas is known for turquoise water and white-sand beaches, but the archipelago is also home to some of the finest golf courses in the Caribbean. We work with buyers from across the world who are drawn to the Bahamas not just for the real estate opportunities, but for the lifestyle — and for many of them, proximity to great golf ranks high on the list. Whether you are searching for a primary residence, a second home, or an investment property, knowing where the best Bahamas golf courses are can help you understand the communities that make island living so appealing.
Key Takeaways
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The Bahamas is home to world-ranked courses designed by legends including Jack Nicklaus, Ernie Els, Tom Weiskopf, Greg Norman, and Tom Fazio
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Courses are spread across multiple islands, from New Providence to the Abacos to Great Exuma
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Options range from exclusive private clubs to resort-accessible layouts open to visitors
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Proximity to golf is a real factor in Bahamas real estate values and lifestyle appeal
New Providence (Nassau)
Nassau and its surrounding communities are home to four of the most celebrated courses in the Bahamas — from Golfweek's top-ranked layout in the country to one of the most storied private clubs in the Caribbean.
Royal Blue Golf Course at Baha Mar
Located along Cable Beach, Royal Blue is the highest-ranked course in the Bahamas. Designed by Jack Nicklaus — his only Signature course in the Bahamas — it holds the top spot in Golfweek's Best and ranks among the top 20 courses across Mexico, the Caribbean, the Atlantic islands, and Central America.
What Makes Royal Blue Stand Out
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An 18-hole, par-72 layout designed as two distinct nines: the front plays through rolling white sand dunes with Atlantic views; the back moves into dramatic limestone formations and dense jungle
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Tee locations are moved each morning based on weather and conditions, so no two rounds play the same
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PGA professionals offer instruction to resort guests and non-guests alike, with a rental program featuring top-manufacturer equipment
Ocean Club Golf Course at Paradise Island
Just across the bridge, the Ocean Club Golf Course is an 18-hole, par-72 layout stretching over 7,100 yards. Originally built in 1962, it was completely redesigned by Tom Weiskopf in 2000, who opened up spectacular coastline views by removing dense vegetation. The course winds through wetlands and lagoons on a peninsula surrounded by the Atlantic and Nassau Harbour.
Course Highlights at Ocean Club
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Par-72, 7,100-yard layout with multiple oceanfront holes along the Paradise Island coastline
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The par-3 17th is the signature hole, playing to a green alongside the water
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PGA-certified instructors available through the Ocean Club Golf Academy
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Part of The Ocean Club, a Four Seasons Resort
Albany Golf Course
On the southwestern tip of New Providence, the Albany Golf Course was designed by Ernie Els and opened in 2010. This par-72 layout combines links and desert design — windswept dunes, strategic water hazards, and wide waste areas. It is the annual host of the Hero World Challenge, the PGA Tour-sanctioned invitational hosted by Tiger Woods that draws 20 of the world's top professionals each December.
What Sets Albany Apart
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Links-style layout with five par-5s and five par-3s, plus dunes and water features throughout
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Multiple teeing areas make it playable for all skill levels, but the demand is real when trade winds pick up
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State-of-the-art practice facilities including a 400-yard driving range, short game area, and swing performance center
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The clubhouse, NINETEEN, features a grill room, locker rooms, a golf shop, and an 18-seat media room
Lyford Cay Club
On the northwestern tip of New Providence, the Lyford Cay Club is one of the most storied private golf communities in the Bahamas. Originally designed by Dick Wilson in 1959 and redesigned by Rees Jones in 2006, the course stretches 7,007 yards at par 72. It has long been a retreat for international business leaders and global figures who value privacy and serious golf in equal measure.
Why Lyford Cay Belongs on This List
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A 7,007-yard, par-72 Dick Wilson original updated by Rees Jones in 2006 — the classic mid-century architecture preserved intact
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Elevated, bunker-guarded greens and subtle doglegs that reward course management over raw distance
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Set within a gated private enclave with its own marina, beach, tennis complex, and guest accommodations
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Members-only access that very few clubs in the Caribbean can match for privacy and pedigree
The Abacos
The Abaco Islands, roughly 175 miles northwest of Nassau, are home to two exceptional private courses accessible by small plane or boat — which only adds to the sense of arrival.
The Abaco Club on Winding Bay — Great Abaco
Consistently ranked the number-one golf course in the Bahamas, the Abaco Club on Winding Bay is the world's first tropical links course. Designed by Donald Steel and Tom Mackenzie, the par-72 layout stretches 7,183 yards — played firm, fast, and hard against the Atlantic wind. The 18th hole sits 60 feet above the crashing surf. The course hosts the Great Abaco Classic on the Korn Ferry Tour and allows one-time non-member visits before any membership decision.
What Defines the Abaco Club
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A 7,183-yard, par-72 Scottish-style links designed by Donald Steel and Tom Mackenzie — the first of its kind in a tropical setting
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Classic features: pot bunkers, firm and fast surfaces, and sloping greens that punish imprecision
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The 18th plays along the shoreline 60 feet above the Atlantic surf — one of the most dramatic finishing holes in the Caribbean
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Host of the Great Abaco Classic (Korn Ferry Tour) and consistently ranked the best course in the Bahamas
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Non-members may play once before joining — contact the club directly to arrange access
Baker's Bay Golf and Ocean Club — Great Guana Cay
Baker's Bay Golf and Ocean Club occupies 585 acres on Great Guana Cay between the Sea of Abaco and the Atlantic Ocean. Designed by Tom Fazio and opened in the early 2010s, the par-72 course stretches 7,390 yards with ocean views from more than half the holes. Platinum paspalum grass runs tee to green across wide fairways and generous greens. The course is famous for its barefoot golf policy and on-course bars — a deliberately relaxed ethos unusual at this level of design. Access is limited to members and escorted guests within this Discovery Land Company community.
What Defines Baker's Bay
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A 7,390-yard, par-72 Tom Fazio design on Great Guana Cay with views of both the Atlantic and the Sea of Abaco
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Platinum paspalum grass tee to green across wide fairways built for enjoyable play at any skill level
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Famous for barefoot golf and on-course bars — a laid-back experience rare at this tier of course design
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Members-only access through Discovery Land Company's private residential community
Great Exuma
Sandals Emerald Bay Golf Course — Great Exuma (Currently Closed)
The Sandals Emerald Bay Golf Course was one of the Out Islands' premier public-access courses. Designed by Greg Norman and opened in 2003, the par-72 layout stretches 7,001 yards along the Emerald Bay peninsula. Six signature holes hug the coastline, and the back nine delivers some of the most dramatic ocean-side golf in the region. It has been ranked among the top Caribbean courses by Travel + Leisure Golf and hosts the Korn Ferry Tour's Bahamas Great Exuma Classic. Currently closed we are eager to hear when this course will reopen to resort guests and the public. It is being transformed into Beaches Exuma, a family friendly resort and it is the most accessible world-class course in the Out Islands.
What Defined Sandals Emerald Bay
What Defined Sandals Emerald Bay
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A 7,001-yard, par-72 Greg Norman design winding through seaside dunes and along the Emerald Bay peninsula on Great Exuma
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Six signature oceanfront holes on the back nine with spectacular views of the Exuma's famously electric-blue water
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Ranked among the top Caribbean resort courses by Travel + Leisure Golf and host of the Korn Ferry Tour's Bahamas Great Exuma Classic
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Open to resort guests and the public — the most accessible world-class course in the Out Islands
FAQs
Are Bahamas golf courses open to visitors, or do they require membership?
It depends on the course. Royal Blue at Baha Mar and the Ocean Club Golf Course are accessible to resort guests and often non-guests through advance tee time booking. The Abaco Club allows one-time non-member visits before any membership commitment. Albany, Baker's Bay, and Lyford Cay Club are accessible only through membership.
Does living near a golf course in the Bahamas affect property values?
In our experience, proximity to a premier course has a meaningful effect on values within communities directly tied to those amenities. Albany and Baker's Bay are the clearest examples — golf is integral to the residential product in both communities, and the lifestyle offering commands a real premium. Lyford Cay operates similarly, where golf is one part of a comprehensive private community that has sustained strong demand for generations.
What is the best time of year to golf in the Bahamas?
The Bahamas enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine annually, so courses are open and playable year-round. The cooler, drier months from November through April are the most popular for visitors from North America and Europe, but residents find it easy to play whenever they like. Wind is a real factor on the more exposed courses, particularly at the Abaco Club and Albany.
Connect With Graham Real Estate Today
The Bahamas' golf courses are a window into the islands' broader lifestyle — and for many of our buyers, they are a starting point for understanding which communities feel like home. From the resort living near Cable Beach to the private experiences at Albany, Lyford Cay, the Abaco Club, and Baker's Bay, each course sits within a distinct slice of Bahamian real estate.
If you are exploring property in Nassau and want guidance from a team with deep roots in the Bahamian market, reach out to us, Graham Real Estate, and we will help you find a home that puts you exactly where you want to be.
If you are exploring property in Nassau and want guidance from a team with deep roots in the Bahamian market, reach out to us, Graham Real Estate, and we will help you find a home that puts you exactly where you want to be.
