Whinding Bay Golf Course ☆ Follow

The Abaco Club is a private 18-hole golf course located on Winding Bay in the Bahamas, designed by architects Donald Steel and Tom Mackenzie. It is widely recognized as the number-one golf course in the Bahamas and is distinguished as the world’s first tropical links course. The layout is set within a rugged dune landscape hard by the sea, featuring classic links characteristics such as pot bunkers, firm and fast playing conditions, and challenging, sloping greens. The course plays to a par of 72, with yardages ranging from 158 yards on the shortest par 3 to 578 yards on the longest par 5. The design emphasizes precision and strategic shot-making, with many holes featuring severe drop-offs and tiered greens that punish inaccurate approaches. Hole 5, a short par 4 situated along the edge of Winding Bay, is cited as the signature hole, offering a risk-reward scenario where longer hitters may attempt the green directly. The front nine includes demanding holes such as the 446-yard par 4 second, which requires a narrow tee shot and a precise approach to a green with a parallel tier, and the 425-yard ninth, an elevated and undulating target that is heavily influenced by wind. The back nine continues the test of links golf, highlighted by the 461-yard thirteenth hole, which features a blind tee shot over a large bunker and a dogleg to the right. The fourteenth hole, a 578-yard par 5, offers a birdie opportunity for those who can navigate its bunkers and execute a long second shot. The closing holes include the 204-yard seventeenth par 3, set against an ocean backdrop with hazards surrounding the right side, and the 572-yard eighteenth par 5, which concludes the round on the Winding Bay property. A world-class practice facility supports the course, featuring a double-end range, a dedicated short-game area with four individual green complexes, and a practice putting green. The club offers year-round golf instructional programs and private lessons through its PGA professional staff, catering to players seeking to refine their skills in this unique coastal environment.