Jack’s Bay Club: A Bahamas Golf Paradise
By Tim Cotroneo
At the highest elevation of the sprawling 1,200-acre Jack’s Bay Club, there’s a sign that reveals the secret as to why this development is proving to be one of the most exciting new golf communities in years. The sign reads: Exercise trail, turtle deck, caves, Pink House, beach bar, Blue Hole, and Mystery Lake. Wait, you say. What about golf?
You’ll note that the sign proclaims not a whisper about your favorite sport. At a luxury Caribbean community, led by two of the biggest names in the history of golf, this sign speaks to amenities geared toward the non-golfer, an audience often ignored.
Acknowledging the spouse, the friend, or the guest seeking more than just teeing it up has proven to be a game-changing footnote to the buzz leading up to the reopening of The Playground Course designed by Tiger Woods’ TGR Design this year, and the Jack Nicklaus Heritage™ golf course, which is set to debut in 2026. Of course, there’s also the drop-dead gorgeous Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea visuals offered by the picturesque island of Eleuthera.
Nicklaus™ and Tiger Woods – A Partnership Made in Golf Island Heaven
A Nicklaus™ design has always been synonymous with golf gold, whether it’s professional golf accomplishments or golf course design. The Jack’s Bay setting doubles down with Tiger Woods, the second face on golf’s Mount Rushmore. The international golf community will flock to experience the marriage of this design dream team, especially when they learn about the serene environment in which this slice of golf heaven is taking place.
The Nicklaus™ and Woods design teams were blown away by the acreage, beaches, and turquoise waters discovered on the 100-mile-long island of Eleuthera. This pencil-shaped destination of 12,000 people boasts three international airports, all with tidy one-hour flights from Miami. Jack’s Bay is nestled on the southern tip of Eleuthera, and it’s located just a 10-minute drive from the Rock Sound International Airport (RSD).
Eleuthera is known for bonefishing, caves, blue holes, and amazing pink sand beaches. For first-time visitors to Jack’s Bay Club, the drive entering the property offers hints of an exceptional experience, especially when the doors to the new clubhouse are opened.
Tiger’s Playground is a 10
The new 22,000-square-foot clubhouse greets guests with an immediate view of the Atlantic Ocean. For first-time visitors to Eleuthera, the shade of ocean turquoise on this Bahamian Island is the stuff of legends.
As your tour veers right, it’s hard not to envy the 23 new two, three, and four-bedroom Playground Residences built on a bluff with an eye toward the morning light. You continue on and steady yourself for an initial view of Tiger’s Playground, a 10-hole short course set on jagged cliffs and pink sand beaches.
The vision of the entire course is captured on an all-encompassing lush green plot. The Par 3 golf holes range from 70 yards to 140 yards. The Playground is all about enjoyment, camaraderie, and spectacular views. There is even a golf hole called “Give it Your Best Shot” in which golfers tee up biodegradable golf balls to blast into the Atlantic.
Salt Spray – 280-degrees of Bliss
Jack’s Bay CEO, Tommy Turnquest, has an interesting perspective when it comes to Jack’s Bay. Turnquest’s Bahamian expertise and international connections were tapped more than a decade ago when the idea of a Jack’s Bay golf and residential community was first proposed.
Today, the ever-patient Turnquest’s knowledge regarding the history and timetable of this burgeoning project is a great resource for interested investors and golf enthusiasts.
When asked which evolving Nicklaus Heritage™ golf hole will deliver the best ocean view, Turnquest smiles and hedges. “Some say 18, others lean toward No. 9,” Turnquest said.
A second clubhouse, dubbed Salt Spray, is now open, and its towering perch makes it a perfect vantage point for watching activity on The Playground, taking in stunning sunsets over the Atlantic Ocean. The views rival the ones found on the upcoming ninth and 18th holes.
Blue Hole, Turtles, and Wellness
When the Jack Nicklaus Heritage™ golf course is complete, most of the fanfare will lean toward the five ocean holes. But for CEO Turnquest, two holes that connect deeply with Eleuthera’s natural surroundings are his favorites. Hole No. 3 features a striking Blue Hole, home to the unique Red Cuban Cave Shrimp, while Hole No. 13 is positioned closest to the serene Mystery Lake.
As Turnquest guided his guests toward an opening to this secluded body of water, he paused and said, “Listen.” The silence was profound. He explained that the lake is teeming with shrimp and loggerhead turtles, and revealed plans to transform the peaceful spot where they stood into a space for yoga, meditation, and wellness. With a reflective nod, Turnquest added, “This spot is an oasis for the soul.”
Pink Sand, Pink House
Earlier, when Turnquest’s guests were near the sign counting many of the Jack’s Bay amenities, they could see a long, crescent-shaped beach and a pink house. Before ending their tour, one of the guests asked if he could see the beach, Turnquest smiled and said, “Yes. I was saving that for the end.”
Turnquest’s Ford Bronco parked in front of an entrance sporting an overhead sign that stated, “The Pink House.” Inside this quaint abode the guests discovered an eclectic Bahamian pink restaurant interior and a bar to match.
Three steps outside the back door revealed one of the most picture-perfect beaches one could ever imagine. The turquoise water was so calm it appeared you could walk on it. To the right was a picnic area, and to the left were paddle boards. For lovers of all things Caribbean, this was paradise found.
Jack’s Bay: Future’s So Bright You Have to Wear Shades
The 2025 and beyond version of Jack’s Bay is a golf lover’s dream. What’s amazing is that the Jack Nicklaus Heritage™ golf course and many of the luxury residences are still a year or so from completion. The good news … you can still become an owner or member.
In the interim, there’s the new Atlantic Clubhouse, Tiger’s Playground, the Salt Spray clubhouse, the Spa, and all the natural amenities that will delight golfers and non-golfers alike. In the days leading up to the Jack Nicklaus Heritage™ golf course’s big reveal in Spring of 2026, the Jack’s Bay team is ready to pull back the curtain on their Bahamian slice of heaven.
On the island of Eleuthera within Jack’s Bay, you’ll find championship golf, a wealth of Caribbean amenities, and a shade of turquoise water that is one-of-a-kind. This is a destination where you’ll also discover a connection with nature that’s an oasis for your soul.
