OB Sports Golf & Leisure

l DESTINATIONS OB SPORTS GOLF & LEISURE x SUMMER 2017 x obsports.com T he unveiling of any new golf course is filled with excitement, expectations and even a mild sense of apprehension. Just because you build and open it, will golfers come? Will the conditions and staff be ready? And, most important, how will those first players feel and what will they say about the experience? Those are all questions that Royal Blue Golf Club at Baha Mar in the Ba- hamas faced before it opened a few months ago – even though it's located in one of the world's most picturesque lo- cations and is the first Jack Nicklaus Signature course in the region. The verdict? "Unbelievable golf experience," said one reviewer on the course's Facebook page. "The staff was first class and I would recommend Royal Blue to any- one who wants a world-class golf expe- rience." What makes the layout so distinct is the way its two strikingly different nines contrast from the other. "The front has dramatic views of undulating fairways, rolling white sand dunes, brackish ponds and glimpses of a turquoise Atlantic Ocean," Head Golf Professional Andy Deiro said. "The back nine, however, provides a very different look. Players will navigate stunning limestone 'moonscapes' through dense jungle. The inward half is anything but typical of island golf." Another interesting wrinkle to the course is that the tee positions can change dramatically from day to day. Each morning, a member of the golf team determines various tee locations around the course taking weather and playing conditions into consideration to create unique and optimal golfing experiences. Having these freeform tee- ing areas rather than traditional boxes means any hole can change in yardage by as much as 100 yards each day. "This allows for guests to play multi- ple variations of the course throughout their stay, while maintaining a similar overall yardage," Deiro said, adding that the course is typically set up with the resort golfer in mind but provides a test for players of all abilities. "The more accomplished player can easily play the golf course at more than 7,100 yards," he said. "For the not-so- avid golfer, our big, wide fairways allow for wayward shots and our free- form tees allow you to play from a more comfortable yardage." And for those who are planning a visit, there's no need to worry about lugging your clubs along. "Resort guests are treated to a one- of-a-kind rental club experience featur- ing top-of-the-line equipment from Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade, PXG and Itobori," Deiro said. "Before play- ers tee off, a member of our golf profes- sional team provides a club fitting on our warm-up range to assist in identi- fying the perfect equipment match." A GRAND OPENING n ROYAL BLUE GOLF CLUB DEBUTS WITH A SPLASH BY GREG BALL Freeform tees allow for a variety of setups at Royal Blue Golf Club. VISIT ROYAL BLUE GOLF CLUB

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