FLORIDA FEATURES
Welcome to Paradise: Our Lucaya Beach and Golf Resort
By Robert Lewis
FREEPORT, GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND (Jan. 22, 2002) – Despite all of its sun, beaches, and affordability, golfing in the Bahamas was little more than an afterthought ten years ago. Many a stunned duffer would make his way around this archipelago over 700 islands only to find one or two venues worthy of playing.
The times, however, are a changing in this tropical island paradise.
In the mid 1990’s, a $100 million investment from a Hong Kong-based firm earmarked for the construction of 1,300 rooms along the Lucayan beach in Freeport kick started a golf and resort development boom that would forever change the face of Bahamian tourism.
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From this building boom emerged the Our Lucaya Beach and Golf Resort – a jewel of a venue perched on the shores of the Bahamas, replete with two immaculate, challenging resort golf courses.
The first layout is the venerable Dick Wilson designed Lucayan Course, built in 1962 and known for its tight fairways, sharp turning doglegs, and emphasis on precision. Wilson is well known for his work at Bay Hill, in Orlando, Fl. and the Blue Monster at Doral in Miami, and the Lucayan Course doesn’t disappoint.
On the other hand, there is the new Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed Reef Course, fresh off the line having opened in 2000.
The Reef Course was designed in a contemporary links style, requiring a different approach than the Lucayan Course. A solid short game goes a long way on this modern course, and the wide fairways may be a little forgiving but the huge bunkers that protect the greens are not.
Jones, in a true democratic fashion, lets players choose their route to the green. Pull your wedge and go for the pin via the air, or opt for the classic links style bump and run with your seven or eight iron.
The large, level greens may please the eye but their speed will harm your scorecard. Couple that with an unpredictable ocean wind and you have yourself a redoubtable challenge. Water is in play on 13 of 18 holes – rare for a links style course – and Jones II has truly combined the best of island golf with traditional course design.
Over on the classic Lucayan Course, elevated greens and thick stands of tropical foliage will test your shotmaking ability. The course’s tall trees give shade from the sun and provide total privacy from other players on the course.
There's no tight schedule in this island paradise, and time is something to be spent over a tough approach or a tricky putt, not waiting in line at the first tee. With wide target areas off the tee and well-protected and elevated greens, the courses of Our Lucyan’s courses are great places to enjoy the nuances of the game.
The Jones Reef Course, in all its newness, plays to nearly 7000 yards from the back tees. The older Wilson track is much shorter, at only 6600 yards, but pulling driver off the tee is not always the best option on this shotmakers course. Having your doubts about your capacity for conquering either layout? Hone your game at the Butch Harmon Golf School, available on site at the resort. Harmon’s school has new indoor and outdoor practice facilities, an extensive short game area, state-of-the-art computerized video equipment to help analyze your unique swing.
Most important of all, the top of the line facility has a teaching philosophy that began with Butch’s father, Claude Harmon, and has been honed by the Harmon family and associates ever since. It's a philosophy that's based on helping you understand your own individual game.
Since the instruction is so personalized, it can work for players such as Tiger Woods, Darren Clarke, and Mark Calcavecchia - all of whom have very different styles.
This facility is unrivaled in the Caribbean, so whether you're a beginner, an experienced high handicapper or a serious competitor, the Butch Harmon School of Golf will improve your game and bring you closer to your golfing potential.
For more information on the resort courses or the Butch Harmon Golf School, log on to www.ourlucaya.com.
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