Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the best seaside conditions. You must arrange tee times at any of the island's eight
courses in advance through your guesthouse or hotel. Women's and men's clubs
(right- and left-handed) are available at each course, and most leading stores in Ber-
muda sell golf balls. Generally speaking, children under 18 are usually not welcome
on golf courses; definitely check in advance if you have any underage duffers in your
party.
The
Tucker's Point Club
is one of the most scenic courses on the island (though
it is a private club), while the
Port Royal
course, designed by Robert Trent Jones,
Sr., is a challenge. Two famous courses—the
Mid Ocean Club
at Tucker's Town
and the
Riddells Bay Golf and Country Club
—are private, and require introduc-
tion by a member before you can play, though certain luxury hotels can sometimes
secure playing privileges at the Riddells Bay course. One of the most photographed
courses on Bermuda is the
Fairmont Southampton Golf Club,
where a landscape
of rolling hills and flowering shrubs adds to the players' enjoyment.
The golf courses listed below that are part of hotel complexes permit nonguests to
use their facilities. All of these golf courses have pros and offer lessons.
Top players participate in tournaments throughout the year. For information, con-
tact the
Bermuda Golf Association,
P.O. Box HM 433, Hamilton HM BX, Ber-
muda (
&
441/295-9972;
www.bermudagolf.org).
Belmont Hills Golf & Country Club
This course, one of the most respected in
Bermuda, was originally designed by Scotsman Emmett Devereux in 1923. In 2002,
California-based designer Algie M. Pulley, Jr., radically reconfigured its layout as a
means of adding a series of golf “features” that brought the standards and allure of
this course up to the demands of modern-day golf pros. Since its reopening, amid
justifiable brouhaha surrounding the most extensive golf course rebuilding in the his-
tory of Bermuda, there has been endless discussion about the peculiar features of this
relatively short (6,017 yd.) but chal-
lenging course. Despite the fact that
some of the undulations in its terrain
were flattened during the 2002 over-
haul, an interconnected network of
caves beneath the turf sometimes
cause the ball to roll unpredictably.
Another odd feature involves excep-
tionally narrow fairways. But despite
these quirky disadvantages, golf pros
recommend the Belmont for beginners
as well as seasoned pros. Although the
first hole is said to be “confidence building,” holes 6 and 12 are both relatively diffi-
cult (each with a par of 5). Likewise, the 17th and 18th holes, arguably the most
difficult on the course, reward golfers with some of the best ocean views. It's esti-
mated that with a 9 or 10 handicap, golfers will shoot in the 70s at Belmont—but
there aren't any guarantees. With the exception of the above-mentioned 17th and
18th holes, most of the course is inland, so unlike most of the other golf courses in
Bermuda, this one provides few views of the Atlantic.
Greens fees (which do not include golf carts) are $110 daily. A full set of clubs
rents for about $45 to $60 depending on the brand you select. Carts rent for $35.
Btw. Harbour and Middle roads, Warwick Parish.
&
441/236-6060.
www.newsteadbelmonthills.com.
Daily 6am-5pm. Holes: 18. Par: 70. Length: 5,501m (6,017 yd.). Ferry from the City of Hamilton. Bus: 8.
6
The Golfer's Dress Code
Remember to dress appropriately for
your golf game. Most courses have
strict dress codes that require shirts
with collars, Bermuda-length shorts or
slacks, and soft-spiked golf shoes or
tennis shoes. No bathing suits, cutoffs,
short shorts, or jeans.
