Golfing Bermuda: More Than Just the PGA Grand Slam

Where: Bermuda

The west edge of the Port Royal course

During the height of summer, all we want to think about are islands. All this week, Jaunted's transatlantic attach� Kai MacMahon will fill us in on what's up with Bermuda lately.

Pound for pound, Bermuda is one of the best golfing destinations on the planet. It's just the truth. With eight courses spread over 21 square miles, the island has the highest concentration of golf courses anywhere in the world; there's approximately one for every two and half square miles. For such a tiny place, that is quite remarkable and, for a little perspective, imagine nine golf courses on the island of Manhattan, which at 23 square miles is roughly the same size as the whole of Bermuda.

We�re talking serious, PGA-level golf too. The PGA Grand Slam will again be played here later this year (October 23rd and 24th 2012), just as it has been since 2007. For those that aren�t familiar, the Grand Slam is the tournament with the toughest qualification requirement of all: to get in, you need to win one of the year�s four majors. Over the years the event has been won by the likes of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ben Crenshaw, Greg Norman and Nick Price.

The 2012 Grand Slam will be played at Port Royal, a stunning Robert Trent Jones-designed course that Golf Digest ranked one of the best public courses in the world, and that's saying nothing of its beauty. The ocean views on the back nine are particularly stunning. It's a real bucket list course. It�s not just pretty though, the course is actually extremely challenging. Trent Jones� golf design mantra of "no risk, no reward" is very evident here.

Another view of Port Royal

Port Royal, though the best known of Bermuda�s courses, is not the only course on the island. It�s public but most of the others are private. Your hotel will be able to secure you a tee time, but expect to pay handsomely for the privilege.

It�s also worth noting that golf here remains a rather charming, some would say old fashioned, affair. Dress codes are strictly enforced (Bermuda shorts qualify), and just like everywhere else on the island, manners are of the utmost importance. In fact, Bermuda seemed to us like it could be the most polite island on the planet.

A fairway at Tucker's Point

One of the best things about Bermuda as a golf destination is how easy it is to get around. If some of your party isn�t here to golf, there are plenty of other things to keep them occupied within a few minutes of the greens. For that reason it may be the perfect hybrid destination—miles of perfect beaches just minutes away from hole after hole of championship level golf.

Another big selling point is that you can golf there year-round, though the (relatively) cooler winter months tend to be more popular with golfers. Best months for a golf trip are November through March.

Bermuda�s Golf Courses:

· Belmont Hills, 18 holes, 6100 yards, par 70
· Fairmont Southampton Golf Club, 18 holes, 2737 yards, par 54
· Horizons, 9 holes, about 800 yards, par 27
· Mid Ocean Club, 18 holes, 6548 yards, par 71
· Ocean View Golf Course, 2940 yards, par 35
· Port Royal, 18 holes, 6842 yards, par 71
· Riddell's Bay Golf and Country Club, 18 holes, 5800 yards, par 70
· Tucker's Point Golf Club, 18 holes, 6361 yards, par 70

At Tucker's Point

Disclosure: We traveled to Bermuda for the Lennon unveiling as a guest of the Bermuda Department of Tourism, but all opinions and images are completely our own.

[Photos: Kai MacMahon for Jaunted]

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