Unless I'm mistaken, your friend has recommended five out of six courses in Bermuda. The course at St. Georges is a par 63 or 64, I believe, which some people find troubling.
Mid Ocean is, by far, the "name" course. If you're looking for bragging rights and status, it should top your list. The course is worthy of its reputation. However, be aware that Mid Ocean is a private club and rather stodgy. Dress codes and conduct expectations are high.
Castle Harbor is very nice, but it suffers from a malady that all the island courses suffer from to an extent -- blind shots. Several fairways have poles set up in the middle to act as aiming points for shots into greens that aren't visible from the fairway. Accept the fact that you'll lose a ball or two through no real fault of your own.
One important point about Bermuda in general is that people are civil and nice, but not especially focused on customer service. If your service expectations aren't the same as theirs, they won't do much to accommodate you. Second point: I recommend renting a scooter or moped to tour the island. It's comparable to renting a car in the US (no car rental is available in Bermuda). It's lots of fun and you'll see more than you will from a taxi.
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Michael L. Wyland Sumption & Wyland 818 South Hawthorne Avenue Sioux Falls, SD 57104-4537 (605) 336-0244 (605) 336-0275 (FAX) (888) 4-SUMPTION (toll-free) michael@sumptionandwyland.com
<anonymous> wrote in message news:rpSdnZZU3rkKeOnfRVn-uQ@midco.net...> Unless I'm mistaken, your friend has recommended five out of six courses > in> Bermuda. The course at St. Georges is a par 63 or 64, I believe, which > some> people find troubling.>
Mid Ocean is, by far, the "name" course. If you're looking for bragging > rights> and status, it should top your list. The course is worthy of its > reputation.> However, be aware that Mid Ocean is a private club and rather stodgy. > Dress> codes and conduct expectations are high.>
Castle Harbor is very nice, but it suffers from a malady that all the > island> courses suffer from to an extent -- blind shots. Several fairways have > poles> set up in the middle to act as aiming points for shots into greens that > aren't> visible from the fairway. Accept the fact that you'll lose a ball or two> through no real fault of your own.>
One important point about Bermuda in general is that people are civil and > nice,> but not especially focused on customer service. If your service > expectations> aren't the same as theirs, they won't do much to accommodate you. Second > point:> I recommend renting a scooter or moped to tour the island. It's > comparable to> renting a car in the US (no car rental is available in Bermuda). It's > lots of> fun and you'll see more than you will from a taxi.>
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Thanks for the feedback on the courses.
As far as touring the island, I've actually been to Bermuda 3 times before, so I think I'll skip the scooter idea.
In article <5ZWce.2850$o32.264@fe09.lga>, Tom K <tkanitraNoSpam@optonline.net> wrote:>Going to Bermuda next Saturday on a cruise. I'll be there 4 days. I'm >bringing my clubs in case it's too cool for swimming and snorkeling.>
Any Bermuda golf suggestions?>
These are the ones my friend at the golf shop suggested (he's originally >from Bermuda).>
Port Royal
Good course, and should be easy to get on, since it's public. To minimize your cab fare, play it while you are in Hamilton.
Mid Ocean
As someone else has said, this the "name" course in Bermuda. Designed around 90 years ago by Charles Blair MacDonald (National Golf Links of America and Chicago GC, among others), it is the most architecturally significant course in Bermuda. If the terms "Cape hole" and "Redan" mean anything to you, you'll want to play here. It is expensive, and sometimes tricky to get on because it is private, but I think it's worth it at least once.
Castle Harbor
I think this course has been redesigned and renamed Tucker's Point. I haven't played it, but I've seen some good reviews. I believe it's also private and also expensive.
Southampton Princess (executive course)
This par 3 course is a lot of fun. They are all "regulation" par 3 holes -- no little 60 yard holes here. I hit a full 3-wood to one green and came up short (ok, the wind was in my face, but the wind is always going to blow here). There is a lot of elevation change too. I would say the only downside is that a lot of beginners play here, so the pace of play can be rather glacial.
Balmont
It's spelled Belmont, I think, but I don't know much more about this one.
