If you can’t make a smoother, slower golf swing on Grand Bahama Island, then you probably never will. The fourth-largest island in the Bahamas has endless white sand beaches, perfect weather (70-75 degrees daily during the September to May dry season), and an ultra-relaxed atmosphere fed by easygoing residents, all of which should connect you with an optimal swing tempo just minutes after stepping off the plane. The island, some 55 miles east of Florida’s West Palm Beach, is home to Our Lucaya Beach and Golf Resort, which tees up a twosome of worthwhile layouts.

First is the Dick Wilson-designed Lucayan Course, which dates back to 1962 and measures 6,824 yards. Tropical breezes make the tree-lined dogleg fairways a few strokes harder, as do the small, elevated greens. The resort’s other layout—and newer, having debuted in 2000—is the 6,920-yard Reef Course, an acclaimed effort by Robert Trent Jones Jr. His handiwork resulted in a links-style track that also puts a premium on accuracy, largely due to the presence of water prominently featured on all but five holes. Both courses have hosted the PGA’s Bahamas National Open and multiple other championship events.

The resort itself is a mere 20-minute ride from the international airport in Freeport, which is serviced with direct flights of just under three hours from New Jersey on Continental Airlines, as well as non-stops from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Philadelphia. A new non-stop flight via U.S. Airways from New York is scheduled to begin in December.

Accommodation on the property include the Radisson, a more upscale alternative that’s perfect for couples and featuring 740 rooms in two buildings; or the more family-oriented Our Lucayan Reef Village, which itself almost has 500 rooms (more than half offering an ocean view), plus a waterslide and Camp Lucaya for kids ages 3-12. In fact, last year Parents Magazine ranked the Our Lucaya Reef Village as the number one beach resort for families in the U.S. and Caribbean.

Guests at either can use facilities at both, including more than 10 restaurants serving an international array of delicacies. Outdoor activities in addition to golf are plentiful—the list includes nature tours, horseback riding, snorkeling, and swimming with dolphins, among others, plus a unique tennis center at the Radisson that features courts with the same surfaces as three major championships: the grass of Wimbledon, red clay of the French Open, and the DecoTurf of the U.S. Open. The facility is the only one of its kind in the Caribbean.

Indoor options also prove popular for visitors. If you have gotten enough sun for the day, you can try your luck at the Isle of Capri Casino or soothe your muscles at a 25,000-square-foot spa and fitness center. There’s also the Port Lucaya Marketplace with shops, restaurants, and lively, nightly entertainment. The latter might affect your scores, but that’s part of island life, even for just a few days. Just don’t forget your passport.

Quick Tips

• The country code for The Bahamas is 242.
• Driving is on the left.
• Both the Bahamian dollar and U.S. dollar are accepted.
• The Bahamas is on Eastern Standard Time (EST).
• A departure tax of $15 is typically included in ticket prices.

Useful Links

• The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
• Our Lucaya Beach and Golf Resort