Fortune Hills and Our Lucaya’s Reef and Lucayan courses in prime shape
WHAT-TO-DO - FREEPORT/LUCAYA, GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND - JAN 2006 EDITION
Grand Bahamas’ three courses are in great shape once again after surviving a glancing blow from Hurricane Wilma in October, 2005.
“Conditions are perfect,” affirms Seth Henrich, director of golf at both the Lucayan Course (on Balao and Midshipman rds) and The Reef (on Sea Horse Rd).
“We had a lot of tree damage on the Lucayan but that is all cleared away now. I was just out on it and the course is in fantastic shape,” Henrich said at press time. As for The Reef, “we have just finished renovating the traps there, and that course is also in great shape.”
The Reef, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr, is billed as a links-type course with big greens and wide, but winding, fairways. Look out for the par-4 12th, which is a long 444 yards from the back tees into a prevailing wind. It’s justifiably the number one handicap hole. There’s water on quite a few holes, challenging golfers to place their shots carefully against strong tropical winds. The easiest hole is the pretty 14th, a par 3 of 167 yards. Also outstanding is the beautiful 16th, with white-sand bunkers defining the fairway.
The Lucayan, at just over 6,800 yards, was built in 1962 by another famous designer, Dick Wilson. It is now home to the Jim McLean School of Golf, where Billy Manzene is the director of golf.
McLean is the founder of the eight-step swing teaching system, which focuses in detail on body motions, angles and positions at various points in the swing. McLean himself will be in Grand Bahama twice this year, in February and May, to personally handle the teaching chores. His three-day schools feature an all-inclusive price with accommodations at either the Sheraton or the Westin hotels.
Both of these courses feature Bermuda grass, which is an additional challenge for northern golfers who are used to the finer bent grasses back home. “Bermuda greens are slower,” advises Henrich, and there are differences in play through the green, too.
Depending on whether the grain is with you or against you, you will get different distances than you are used to from the fairway. And “the rough is gnarly,” warns Henrich, adding that “you’ll have more trouble getting out of trouble.”
A nine-hole gem
Grand Bahama also features the Fortune Hills Golf and Country Club, a superb nine-hole course, originally designed in 1971 by Dick Wilson and Joe Lee. You can play it twice, from different tees, to get in a full game.
Be prepared for huge, elevated greens and some challenging holes, particularly the par-4 third, a 400-yard test. There’s water down one side and bush down the other.
Owner and manager Walter Kitchen reports that Fortune Hills, which has an active local membership, is in great shape for the winter and spring season and has completely recovered from two hurricanes that ripped through Grand Bahama in September 2004.
Two other courses, The Ruby and the Emerald, both on West Sunrise Hwy, were closed at press time but there is still a world of challenge for golfers on Grand Bahama’s three remaining courses.
For more information check the See & Do listings for Grand Bahama at www.caribbean.com.
Disclaimer: The information in this article/release was accurate at
press time; however, we suggest you confirm all details and prices
directly with vendors.
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