A tee time rarely tops a list of nassau attractions, but New Providence has enough range for several rounds without repeating a hole. Five courses run from a Nicklaus design open to the public to a private club with its gates closed, and each plays differently.
Royal Blue Golf Club, the Nicklaus Course
At Baha Mar, Royal Blue Golf Club is the only Bahamas course designed by Jack Nicklaus, ranked the country's number one golf course by Golfweek in 2024. The front nine runs along the ocean through rolling dunes, the back nine cuts through limestone regulars call the moonscapes, near a 16th hole bordering Lake Cunningham. At 7,189 yards, par 72, it stays open to the public and resort guests, one of the more accessible things to do near nassau cruise port for a golfer with time.
Atlantis Ocean Club Golf Course, the Paradise Island Round
On Paradise Island, the Ocean Club Golf Course was designed by Tom Weiskopf, 7,100 yards at par 72, with crosswinds that turn short holes like the 208-yard 12th into a real test, according to Golf Monthly's course guide. It has hosted the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic and stays available only to guests of Atlantis or The Ocean Club, keeping the pace slower than a public round. For anyone weighing best things to do in nassau with a room already booked, this is the closer resort course to the airport.
Albany Golf Course, Built for the Pros
Ernie Els designed the golf course inside Albany, the private resort community on the island's south shore, covered in the site's own guide to Nassau's two sides. Albany hosts the Hero World Challenge every December, the PGA Tour event Tiger Woods has run since 2014, but outside tournament week it stays reserved for residents, members, and guests, a step beyond what to do in nassau without a connection inside the gates.
Lyford Cay Golf Course, Classic and Closed
Lyford Cay Golf Course dates to the late 1950s under original designer Dick Wilson, with a 2006 redesign by Rees Jones bringing the tree-lined, par-72 layout to 7,007 yards. The club is private, membership-only, and keeps a low profile that extends to its social media. Visitors turned away at the gate can spend that afternoon at Fort Charlotte instead. Anyone building a nassau travel guide around private-club golf should treat an invitation here as the exception.
BGF Golf Academy, Where the Game Starts
Run by the Bahamas Golf Federation at the Baillou Hill Sporting Complex, the BGF Golf Academy is a nine-hole, walking-only, par-3 course with a driving range, built to train juniors, beginners, and tournament players. It welcomes newcomers rather than testing them, and for visitors curious about nassau tourism beyond resort golf, it shows the sport's grassroots side.
Choosing Between Them
These five courses do not compete for the same golfer. Royal Blue and the Ocean Club accept outside play through their resorts, Albany and Lyford Cay stay closed outside of membership or a tournament invitation, and the BGF Academy exists to build the next generation rather than host a scenic round. Anyone planning nassau excursions around golf should confirm access directly with each course, and anyone arriving from a ship can check the Nassau cruise port guide for transport before a tee time eats into reboarding time. Between a Nicklaus design, a Weiskopf layout, two members-only clubs, and a grassroots academy, this stretch of island covers more of the sport than its size suggests, earning its own section in any bahamas travel guide and turning a single things to do in bahamas list into a full week of tee times.
FAQ
Which golf courses in Nassau are open to the public?
Royal Blue Golf Club at Baha Mar and the Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island both accept outside play, typically through the attached resort.
Is Albany Golf Course open to visitors?
No, Albany Golf Course is private and reserved for residents, members, and their guests, apart from Hero World Challenge tournament week.
Who designed Royal Blue Golf Club?
Jack Nicklaus designed Royal Blue Golf Club at Baha Mar, his only course in the Bahamas.
Can beginners learn golf in Nassau?
Yes, the BGF Golf Academy at the Baillou Hill Sporting Complex offers a nine-hole, par-3 course and driving range built for beginners and juniors.
