Golf was introduced to Bermuda when British Army officers brought their golf clubs in the late 1800s. Unlike tennis, golf did not get to the USA via Bermuda. In Scotland, UK, home of golf, the sport was introduced to the USA in the 1880s via the Dunfermline Golf Club to the Yonkers Golf Club and spread from the latter to all over the USA. Unlike in Scotland where anyone can play and visitors are welcomed by all clubs, private clubs in Bermuda welcome non-members only with an introduction from a member or if they are staying at an associated hotel (for example, at the Mid Ocean or Tuckers Point). Most Bermuda clubs are private with a management committee, Board of Trustees and golf pros approved by the present government. Public courses include Port Royal Golf Course, Five Forts Golf Course and Ocean View Golf Course.
Below is a list of Bermuda’s golf courses, followed by a more detailed description of each.
- Belmont Hills, private, 18 holes, 6017 yards, par 70
- Fairmont Southampton Golf Club, private, 18 holes, 2737 yards, par 54.
- Mid Ocean Club, private. 18 holes, 6512 yards, par 71. PGA Grand Slam site 2007, 2008
- Ocean View Golf Course, public. 2940 yards, par 35. . See below re Bermuda Government’s involvement.
- Port Royal, public. 18 holes, 6842 yards, par 71. Reopened in January 2009 after renovations. PGA Grand Slam site, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014.
- Tucker’s Point Golf Club, private. 18 holes, 6361 yards, par 70.
- Five Forts Golf Course, private , 18 holes, 4436 yards, par 62.
Belmont Hills: 25 Belmont Hills Drive, Warwick Parish. Telephone (441) 236-6400. Fax (441) 236-0694. Check rates directly with course depending on time of day and time of year. Private but will accept off-the-street golfers by prior appointment, also includes Sunset Rate. Carts are mandatory for most of the day. It has an 18 hole. 6,017 yards long course, par 70. Overall, accurate iron play, rather than big hitting, is the key to success on this course. Take care to try to avoid hitting the ball into the lake.Facilities include a pro shop, snack bar and restaurant. A periodic Golf Special including green fees and cart is from Monday to Friday for tee times from 2:00 pm. For visitors who arrive at the airport or on one of the commercial airlines, it is about 4 miles away to the east. If you bring your own clubs, you won’t be able to go by public transportation (bus). Instead, take a taxi. Or if without clubs, consider taking the # 8 bus – the only way by public transportation – most of the way to the course.
Fairmont Southampton Hotel: 18 South Road, Southampton Parish. For reservations call (441) 238-8000. Fax (441) 238-8968. The golf course is part of and adjacent to the Southampton Princess Hotel complex. An 18 hole par 54, manageable yet quite challenging course over 2,684 yards. With superb marine and landscape views. Carts are mandatory and included in the green fees. There’s a pro shop, tennis courts, bar and restaurant. Single Annual Membership; Double Annual Membership and an Initiation Fee. Members get special benefits. For visitors who arrive on one of the cruise ships, the closest cruise ship berth used to be (until 2007) the City of Hamilton, about 5 miles away to the east, but is now Dockyard, about 8 miles away. If you bring your own clubs, you won’t be able to go by public transportation (bus). Instead, take a taxi. Buses (# 7 or 8) go only to nearest stop about half a mile away below the hill. Check rates directly with course depending on time of day and time of year.
Mid Ocean Club: 1 Mid Ocean Drive, Hamilton Parish (East End). Phone (441) 293-0330. Fax (441) 293-8837. Designed originally by Charles Blair MacDonald to fit into the natural terrain. It was a par-71 layout, over 600 acres of rolling countryside, 6,519 yards from the back tees. For visitors who arrive at the airport on one of the commercial airlines , it is about 5 miles away to the south west. If you bring your own clubs, you won’t be able to go by public transportation (bus). Instead, take a taxi. If without clubs, take the # 1 bus to property and walk. A private club, but will accept some off-the-street golfers by prior appointment if referred by a member.
Ocean View Golf Course: 2 Barker’s Hill Road, Devonshire Parish. P. O. Box DV 358, Devonshire DV BX. Phone (441) 295-9092. Fax (441) 295-9097. A Bermuda Government-owned public golf course with 9 holes, par 35, over 2,819 yards. For visitors who arrive on one of the cruise ships, the closest cruise ship berth used to be (until 2007) the City of Hamilton, about 5 miles away to the east, but is now Dockyard, about 12 miles away. If you bring your own clubs, you won’t be able to go by public transportation (bus). Instead, take a taxi. Buses only go a part of the way. Check rates directly with course depending on time of day and time of year. Ask about playability on the day you have in mind. Check rates directly with course depending on time of day and time of year. Public. Ask about playability on the day you have in mind.
Port Royal: 5 Middle Road, Southampton Parish, SB 02. Mailing address P. O. Box SN 189, Southampton, Bermuda. Phone (441) 234-0974. Fax (441) 234-3562. This is the highest-rated by far of Bermuda’s two government-owned and run courses, considered one of the best – and most expensive – of world public courses. More rounds are played here than on any other Bermuda course. The signature hole has been the 176-yard, par 3 16th, the small green of which, perched on the edge of the coastal cliffs, has become notorious. Drive too far left and the ball ends up in the ocean. Site of the October PGA Grand Slam venues, it hosts many tournaments and has been the home of the Bermuda Open. Sunset golf is from 4:00 pm with a reservation. For visitors who arrive on one of the cruise ships, the closest cruise ship berth is Dockyard, about 8 miles away. Buses go to nearest stop about 600 yards away. If you bring your own clubs, you won’t be able to go by public transportation (bus). Instead, take a taxi. Check rates with course depending on time of day and time of year.
Tuckers Point Gold Club: 60 Tucker’s Point Drive, Hamilton Parish (East End). Phone (441) 292-6970. Fax:(441) 298-4001. Situated between the harbors of St. George’s and Castle Harbour, it has a scenic opening hole and incredible views. Of a very high standard, it is a private club for members only, similar to the Mid Ocean Golf Club. A par 70 course. For visitors who arrive at the airport on one of the commercial airlines, it is located about 6 miles away to the east. Take a taxi as buses (#1) go only to nearest stop about half a mile away below the hill. Check rates directly with course depending on time of day and time of year. Private but will accept off-the-street golfers by prior appointment. Ask about playability on the day you have in mind.
Five Forts Golf Club, St. George’s (East End) Phone (441) 441-543-6715 Bermuda’s tranquil shoreline scatters gracefully across the backdrop of the newest golf club on island. Formally St. George’s Golf Course, Five Forts Golf Club accessible through both The St George’s Club Hotel and The St. Regis Bermuda Resort has been reimagined and designed. Inspired by five surrounding forts the 18-hole course represents a different theme at each hole with a focus on Hole 1 Fort Victoria, Hole 4 Fort George, Hole 15 The Unfinished Church, Hole 17 Fort Albert, and Hole 18 Fort St. Catherine. Hole 12 is the shortest hole of the course but the 180-degree oceanside views make up for that. It’s the spot to relax and know that you’ve reached a little further than halfway of this epic golf journey.
