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Since its much-heralded reopening in 2000, the Radisson Cable Beach Golf Club has firmly entrenched itself in Bahamas' golfing scene.
Fred Settle Jr. had the duty of
redesigning this storied course, which was originally
laid out by Devereux Emmet in 1929.
What the new layout may lack in the teeth the
former course had, it makes up for in excellent
condition and playability for the resort guests. That
is not to say that the 6,453 yard layout is a
pushover, because with water coming into play on 15 of 18
holes, the golfer will have to navigate the course
with accuracy to score well. The particular challenge
of the course is for the first-time golfer who must
figure out the places to take risks in challenging the
course, and when to lay back and play conservatively. The other changes that
have been made including the re-contouring of the
fairways (which is particularly evident) and greens,
including the construction of a double green shared by
the first
and 10th holes. Lastly, condition has
improved so markedly as a result of paspalum – a salt-resistant green, which is essential given the course’s
close proximity to the ocean -- that the course's
lushness and condition, once a strike against it, now
places it among the best conditioned courses in the
Caribbean.
The
golfer gets a sense of the unique challenges they will
face on the first hole, a medium-length par – 362
yards – that plays into the right portion of the
sweeping double green. A pond short left and right, as
well as a bunker on the left side, provide ample
protection for this opening green.
Memories
of the old course can be found at times, including the
teeing ground for the second hole, which is banked by
an old stone wall. From this elevated perch the golfer
faces a 408-yard par four, that plays out over a wide
pond to a generous
fairway. From there, the golfer faces what appears to
be an open approach, but a pair of small, rough-hewn
knolls short of the green can swallow short
approaches, or kick them down into unfavourable lies.
These discreet modes of defense can be found
throughout the Cable Beach layout, giving the course
an added defense against its modest length and putting
appropriate pressure on strong short iron and wedge
play.
The
third hole completes a strong opening to the round.
Measuring 409 yards and moving left from the tee
around a pond, the approach must carry the length of
this hazard to find this green, a shallow swath just
beyond the banks of the pond, where a pin on the
front-left corner can appear from the fairway to be
cut right on the edge. Sand, in fact, guards the green
most closely, put the smart play is to the back half.
The
first of two back-to-back par fives comes at the 521-yard
seventh hole, where water lines the entire right side of the hole. The left side
is safe and leaves the easiest angle to approach the
green that is guarded further on the right and back
side by two bunkers. So long as accuracy is exhibited,
the green can yield a few birdie putts.
Its counterpart, measuring a few yards longer but
lacking the ominous presence of a long water hazard,
instead features a green crowned like an inverted
dinner plate. Missed wedges here will collect in a
moat around the green, demanding deft touch to save
par.
The
back nine opens with an approach to the left side of a
familiar green; though the 10th is much shorter than
the first hole at 328 yards, the demand places on a
good approach, by the pond fronting the green, makes
par a more elusive score than one might seem. Any ball
landing before the front fringe will likely spin back
into the water, so iron shots should be played deep
into the putting surface.
Undoubtedly
the signature hole at the Radisson
Cable
Beach
is
the
14th hole, measuring a scant 141 yards, and from a
slightly elevated tee as well. However, the
distance can be deceiving, as approaches to this
peninsula green, set on an isthmus on one of the
course's many ponds, are best aligned with a lone palm
tree beyond that serves as a perfect alignment aid.
Anything long will may to contend with this tree on
the second shot, but that's a better fate than a pitch
from the drop area.
The
closing hole is an interesting affair, at 369 yards;
it may not intimidate players as immediately as it
should. This dogleg right boasts nearly as many
bunkers as can be found on the rest of the course, and
considerations to cut off the dogleg will be quashed
by the presence of out-of-bounds stakes. A smart, safe
drive, though, should leave a fairly open approach to
the green, and a decent chance to close with a par.
The
Radisson Cable Beach Golf Course has endured many
changes since Emmet designed the original layout some
75 years ago, but
thanks to the renovations presided over by Settle, the
original integrity of the layout has been retained,
and its playability for resort guests accentuated. For
such an accessible and accommodating resort, the golf
is a perfect counterpoint to a Radisson Cable Beach
vacation.
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