Spectacular Golf Views Grand Isle Resort – Bahamas

Spectacular Golf Views at Grand Isle Resort – Bahamas by Tim Cotroneo

You love to golf and your spouse loves the beach. Where can you go to experience the best of both worlds? Welcome to Grand Isle Resort in Great Exuma.

Great Exuma is the largest of the Bahamas’ 365 Out Islands and cays. On Great Exuma’s northeastern edge, you’ll find the luxurious Grand Isle Resort. The Greg Norman-designed Emerald Reef Golf Course wraps seven of its 18 holes directly under Grand Isle’s balconies.

Emerald Reef Golf Course

What’s fabulous for golfers seeking a Caribbean getaway.  The seven holes that hug Grand Isle’s villas, restaurant, and pool are Emerald Reef’s ocean holes. These Caribbean Sea show-stoppers are possibly the most scenic, rugged, and breathtakingly beautiful golf holes you’ve ever seen. The good news is they sit patiently right outside your Grand Isle balcony.

Spouse Will Love You

Ocean View from balcony at Grand Isle Resort

Now let’s not forget your spouse, the dear person you’re suggesting Grand Isle Resort to in the first place. Your better half loves the beach and Grand Isle Resort delivers spectacular powder white sand and turquoise water that will have your significant other singing your praises. The wonderfully crescent-shaped Emerald Bay Beach is mere steps from your villa.

Emerald Bay Beach

When the two of your aren’t enjoying the golf course or the beach, you’ll love Grand Isle’s luxurious accommodations. This 11-acre pristinely landscaped resort features one and two bedroom villas. If you’re considering the mother-of-all Caribbean Sea and golf course views, Grand Isle also offers two massive penthouse living options. All villas include spacious kitchens, dining and living areas, well-appointed bedrooms with on-suite baths, and of course, fabulous balconies.

View of 11th Tee from Palapa Grill

Your beach-going partner will also enjoy Grand Isle’s scenic Palapa Grill. This al fresco restaurant has a romantic Caribbean ambiance, and a well-rounded menu that will more than satisfy your breakfast, lunch, and dinner needs. Shhhhhhh. Don’t tell your spouse, but the Palapa Grill displays a great view of Emerald Reef’s 11^th hole tee box.

Then there are the views!

Emerald Bay Beach

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or on your first island escape, feasting one’s eyes on the Caribbean Sea is a bucket list favorite. You discover that the turquoise water Grand Isle guests fawn over delivers shades of blue and emerald green that will not be found anywhere else in the world. As you step out to your balcony and swivel at your villa’s sweeping view, the words, “I could get used to this,” scrolls through your subconscious.

Best of Both Caribbean Worlds

So while your spouse settles in with a book on the beach, you can zip to the neighboring Emerald Reef clubhouse in the electric golf cart that’s included with your villa. That’s right, stop pinching yourself, your villa comes with a golf cart.

Outstanding Staff

Palapa Grill at Sunset

As great as the Grand Isle Resort accommodations are, the staff encourages guests to see what makes Great Exuma great. General Manager Don Jelinek said it best, “You need to explore Great Exuma by boat to really experience our island’s once-in-lifetime color, snorkeling sites, fishing, beach bars, swimming pigs, and private islands.”

When Jelinek refers to color, he’s speaking of the amazing shades of blue and green that made their Caribbean Sea the perfect setting for two of the most popular movie series of all-time. Great Exuma is home to James Bond’s “Thunderball,” as well as Johnny Depp’s “Pirates of the Caribbean.” Depp loves Great Exuma so much, he purchased a home there. In fact, Great Exuma and its 365 islands are so magical; David Copperfield purchased his own island on nearby Musha Cay.

Emerald Reef Golf Course

At Emerald Reef Golf Course, you can not only play 18 unforgettable golf holes, you may also want to fine tune your game while on vacation. Rich Gibson, the Emerald Reef Golf Professional, was trained under Ken Venturi and Bob Toski. Gibson is not only long off the tee, he also humbly admits to a legendary short game. So while your spouse is sipping a Pina Colada and drinking in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” water color, you can knock strokes off your game.

Emerald Reef Golf Course view from Balcony

On this vacation, give a little. Take your beach-loving spouse to one of the ultimate Caribbean beach destinations in the world. The fact that your Grand Isle Resort villa includes a balcony view showcasing Emerald Reef Golf Course, one of Greg Norman’s finest designs ever, is just a coincidence.

For more information visit www.grandisleresort.com

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Tim Cotroneo is a freelance writer from St. Paul, MN, with a passion for golf and a future Caribbean zip code. www.traveldreamsmagazine.com.