Jack Nicklaus recently visited Baha Mar—the 1,000-acre resort enclave currently under development on the Bahamian Riviera—to review progress on his 18-hole, par-72 Signature Golf Course.
The golf icon and designer of nearly 300 golf courses worldwide toured the site with Baha Mar President Tom Dunlap and Nicklaus Design Senior Design Associate Chris Cochran. Nicklaus assessed construction progress, provided insights on strategy and playability, and discussed the development schedule with on-site teams.
Baha Mar’s Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course—the highest tier of design offerings from world-renowned Nicklaus Design—will showcase “two golf courses in one.” The front nine is highlighted by ocean views and several water features, while the back nine winds through inland forest and native habitat. Taking advantage of the terrain’s natural contours to promote strategy and memorable shot-making is paramount, as well as maintaining the ecological integrity of the course and its surrounds.
The course is scheduled to open December 2013. Other resort amenities—including four hotels, the Caribbean’s largest casino and more than 300 private residences—are slated for a December 2014 unveiling. Baha Mar is the largest luxury resort destination currently under construction in the Western Hemisphere.
Nicklaus Design is widely regarded as the world’s leading golf course design firm, with over 375 courses open for play in 36 countries and 39 states, and is chief among the reasons why Golf Inc. Magazine voted Jack Nicklaus the “Most Powerful Person in Golf” for a record six consecutive years. Nicklaus Design has offices and representation in more than a dozen countries.
At least 70 Nicklaus Design courses having been ranked in various national or international Top-100 lists, and no fewer than 95 Nicklaus courses have hosted a combined total of more than 650 professional tournaments worldwide.
Baha Mar www.bahamar.com
Nicklaus www.nicklaus.com