In the fall of 1991, David Molyneaux, then travel editor of the Cleveland Plains Dealer, Judi Dash a free-lance writer, my wife Fran and I were on a post trip to Eleuthera, Bahamas after spending five days at the Society of American Travel Writers convention on Paradise Island, Bahamas. 

Vegetation abounds on the island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas

Staying at the Cotton Bay Club and being avid golfers, we inquired as to the nearest golf course.  The desk clerk gave us one of those “shaking head” responses and told us that “yes, there was a golf course there, but it had been closed for quite some time.”  So what, we had the afternoon to kill and wanted to play golf…so, we did.  Having played at a course at the convention, we had brought our clubs.

My friend, when I say the course was overgrown and in disrepair, is like saying you’ve never choked on a three foot putt.  In order to keep up with the golf balls, three people had to watch where the ball landed so you could find the ball and have another shot; or, the ball was lost in the weeds and grass.  To say the least, we only played a few holes and then opted to enjoy the beautiful beach.

This was the only course on the island and was designed by the famous Robert Trent Jones.  It was his only contribution to the courses of the Bahamas.  We all felt it was a pity to see this course in such despair.

Back in the 1960s Pan American Airlines executive Juan Trippe is credited for building the original Cotton Bay Club.  Due to many reasons, not to mention several severe hurricanes in the early 1990s, the Cotton Bay Club was eventually sold in 1995. 

Recently, Cotton Bay announced that Robert Trent Jones II, Golf Course Architects (RTJ II), the

Robert Trent Jones II, Golf Course Architects (RTJ II) will design a new 18 hole course at Cotton Bay (Click on photo for larger image)

preeminent golf design firm, will design a signature private 18-hole golf course at this waterfront resort community.  Already familiar with the island from family vacations to the former world-renowned Cotton Bay Club, Robert Trent Jones, Jr., chairman of Robert Trent Jones II, will design the new course adjacent to the former course Robert Trent Jones, Sr. designed. 

“My family has great memories of vacationing at the Cotton Bay Club, and I think my father loved his course there as much as any work he ever did,” said Jones, Jr.  “The chance to go back to Eleuthera to design a RTJ II course just a stone’s throw from one of my father’s true masterpieces is truly a gift, and I will do my best to match his achievement for a modern-day masterpiece in Caribbean courses.”

RTJ II has more than 240 golf courses worldwide, and real estate on his courses has appreciated more than homes on other designer courses over a 10-year period, according to a recent study conducted by market research firm Longitudes Group, LLC.  Homeowners and their guests at Cotton Bay Estates, as well as guests at Cotton Bay Villas, which will feature Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide’s first The Luxury Collection hotel in The Bahamas, will have access to Cotton Bay’s new golf course.

Wim Steenbakkers Managing Director Cotton Bay

Wim Steenbakkers is the new managing director of Cotton Bay.  I spoke with him about the new Robert Trent Jones II golf course and the creation of a new destination in Eleuthera.  Prior to coming to Cotton Bay over 3 years ago, he worked at such prestigious resorts as Port Harbor Island, Coral Sands Hotel, Resorts in Lake Tahoe and the Black Bute Ranch Resort. 

Steenbakkers indicated that three other golf course architects were considered, but Jones was picked because of his strong ties with the previous course, but most importantly John Strong, Jones’ CEO had a good approach to the project…plus, Jones’ reputation.

As in most successful resort developments, this one will be built in phases.  There are 964 acres in the total development that will include the new golf course, several subdivisions for estate homes and villas.  The fact that some of the elevations raise as high as 80 feet with some spectacular vegetation areas makes a prime location for viewing the ocean and the surrounding island.

Construction of the golf course is expected to begin in mid-2009 and be completed by late 2010.  This year is being spent not only in the design process but also in creating the environmental sustainability of this course.  It will open as an Audubon Signature Gold Level course.  The objective is to keep the course as natural and indigenous as possible. 

Villas with ocean views will be offered at Cotton Bay Club

Currently two holes will be built along the Atlantic Ocean and several others will have ocean views.  Golf carts will be required for players as this will not be a walk able course.  Wim indicated that it will cost significantly more to build this golf course than it would to build the typical golf course on the U.S. Mainland.  He said that the pricing for play on the course has not been determined and probably will not be until mid-2010.

Wim also indicated that only one other course is under design on Eleuthera at this time.  It is the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club on Royal Island, just west of Eleuthera.  This is touted to be the largest ever investment in the Bahamas.  

The Atlantic Ocean and beautiful pink sand beaches at Cotton Bay Club in Eleuthera

“As native Bahamian developers, we’re committed to environmental sustainability at Cotton Bay,” said Franklyn R. Wilson, chairman of Eleuthera Properties Limited, the developer of Cotton Bay. “Robert Trent Jones, Jr.’s company embodies this, and paired with his love for Eleuthera and history on the island, Robert Trent Jones II was the obvious architect of choice.”

Additional amenities at Cotton Bay will include Ocean Fox at Cotton Bay, the first full-service dive shop on South Eleuthera in more than 30 years; Davis Harbour, a private marina currently open with 38 slips with plans for expansion; miles of private, pink-and-white sand beaches; and professional property management.  Cotton Bay will also boast two privately-owned islands for residents and guests to escape to for barbequing, fishing and sunbathing daytrips.  

Bedroom in one of the Cotton Bay Villas

Eleuthera is easily accessible from Nassau and south Florida by commercial air carriers, and an exclusive partnership with Sentient Jet will offer private jet services to and from the island.

At this point, no name has been given the course.  GoGolfandTravel.com plans to follow the progress of this project and keep its readers informed through text and photos.  Even though the new Robert Trent Jones II course will not be ready until late 2010, I am anticipating this one to become a real classic and not to be grown up in weeds for a very, very long time.

For more information on Cotton Bay or to schedule an appointment, please call 800-255-4539 or 786-888-6306 or visit www.discovercottonbay.com.