x

Here’s how to take a golf trip to the Bahamas for less than $1,700

December 6, 2019

If watching Tiger Woods and his elite Hero World Challenge field take on Albany Golf Course in beautiful Nassau, Bahamas, has you itching to book your own weekend golf getaway to the easy, breezy island, here’s how to do it for less than $1,700.

AIRFARE: ~$315

Nonstop flights to Nassau (NAS) are plentiful, and fairly reasonable, from big-city starting points like BOS, JFK and ORD. I found January round-trip itineraries ranging from $309-$319 on Kayak. From a west coast starting point like LAX, you’ll have to endure a layover, but you can still get a flight for under $350.

TOTAL AIRFARE: ~$315

GROUND TRANSPORTATION: $65

I normally recommend renting a car, but hey, you’re in the Bahamas — let’s eliminate as many hassles as possible. Taxis can get you just about everywhere you need to go in under 20 minutes and generally for less than $30-$40 each way, depending on the destination, so let’s assume you’ll spend around $130 for the weekend. Split in half, that’s only $65 per person.

TOTAL SPEND: $315 + $65 = $380

A view of the sprawling Baha Mar resort complex in The Bahamas.
A view of the sprawling Baha Mar resort complex in The Bahamas.
Courtesy

LODGING:

Not only does the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar have a fantastic location and a golf course onsite, the resort complex is part of was also recently named as one of GOLF‘s Top 100 Resorts in North America. In short, it’s a perfect place to put your feet up between rounds. It’s also only a 10-minute drive from the airport.

If you’re traveling with a significant other, a king bedroom is only $251/night, while a room with two beds is $278/night (prices via Expedia). That comes out to $855-$936 when you include taxes and fees for a three-night stay, or as low as $427.50 each.

TOTAL SPEND: $380 + $427.50 = $807.50

The Royal Blue Golf Course at the Baha Mar.
The Royal Blue Golf Course at the Baha Mar.
Jim Mandeville/Nicklaus Designs

GREEN FEES: $645

Here’s the only problem with golf in the Bahamas: the top-tier courses can be very expensive. If you’re well connected and can get on the private Hero World Challenge host course, Albany, good for you! For the rest of us, public resort golf in Nassau is just pricey. The good news? The courses offered are pretty much guaranteed to be awesome.

Case in point: the highly-rated Royal Blue Golf Course at Baha Mar. Green fees will set you back $350 on the weekend as a Grand Hyatt guest, but who can put a price on those views, amirite?

For a second-round option, the Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island is also highly acclaimed, with a slightly lower green fee of $295.

TOTAL SPEND: $807.50 + $645 = $1,452.50

DINING:

As I tend to frequently reiterate, dining is the one semi-unknown when you travel — especially at a resort — and offers the opportunity to splurge or save (and generally it’s the former as opposed to the latter). To reign in your budget, try the following breakdown:

Arrival dinner: $40

Day 1 golf course lunch: $30

Day 1 dinner: $45

Day 2 golf course lunch: $30

Day 2 dinner: $45

Miscellaneous breakfasts and snacks: $50

Total dining: $240

TOTAL SPEND: $1,452.50 + $240 = $1,692.50

And there you have it! Three nights at a Top 100 Resort and two premium rounds of golf in the Bahamas for less than $1,700! Ready to book? Happy travels!

To receive GOLF’s all-new newsletters, subscribe for free here.