Bahamas Bound

Just a short flight from pleasure-seeking Nassau, the pristine fairways of The Abaco Club on Great Abaco are tempting stay-and-play buyers with a new line in luxury real estate. James Matthews pays a visit  

Ever since Columbus returned home from the tropics with tales of the region’s warm, gentle climate and its beautiful, natural environment, The Bahamas have been a dream destination for people from all over the world. Most come to escape the cold slap of winter, to dip their toes in crystal-clear waters, and to shed every article of clothing they can while relaxing and soaking-in the sun.

Here, all the cares of the world just seem to fade away - to be replaced by lazy days on the beach, rum cocktails with colourful umbrellas in them, seafood so fresh it’s still flapping, and leisure activities made all the more exciting by the majestic presence of royal palms.

In short, it’s paradise. And of all the wonderful properties in this sunny part of the world, there’s one that does paradise just a little better than the rest: The Abaco Club on Winding Bay. For years a Ritz-Carlton Destination Club, the property is now owned and operated by Southworth -one of the world’s leading resort and residential real estate firms. What was a magnificent property to start with however, is now in the process of becoming even better, with a multimillion-dollar investment that will see a new golf practice facility, along with a new marina and limited edition collection of luxury homes.

“The Club has everything money can’t buy,” explains David Southworth, President and CEO of Southworth Development. “It’s a gorgeous setting, with a well thought-out master plan and a passionate club membership. It’s a perfect complement to our existing properties and we look forward to taking this world-class facility to an even higher level.”

What makes The Club a world-class facility? For starters, it’s a one-of-a-kind setting, located on the most charming of The Bahamas’ Outer Islands - Great Abaco - and graced by a 2.5-mile powder-soft beach that stretches as far as the eye can see. It’s a place you never, ever want to leave. Fortunately, homeowners here don’t have to. Residences are magnificent, and come in varying designs and sizes, ranging from cosy cabanas and charming cottages to stately villas and grand oceanfront estates. Each home is within steps of the beach, and each is meticulously appointed. Wake to the sound of crashing waves, stroll to the golf course or spa, or just relax on your private deck and look out over the calm, turquoise sea while the Abaco parrots chirp their warm morning welcome. It’s an atmosphere of quiet sophistication, where you, your family and friends can enjoy total relaxation when you want it - and a wealth of amenities when outdoor activity is top of the ‘to do’ list.

Created to be a true sporting club, the resort’s 18-hole Scottish-style links golf course is perennially ranked as the finest course in The Bahamas. For non-golfing residents, water sports galore vie for your time each day — from kayaking, sailing and snorkeling to bone fishing and deep-sea fishing or spending time on the tennis courts. While the pristine white sand beach may beckon, you can always steal away to toast the sunset at Buster’s Beach Bar and sample the exquisite local cuisine at the resort’s fine-dining restaurant The Cliff House - the makings of a day that you won’t want to see come to an end.

TROPICAL TEE-TIME

Designed by Tom Mackenzie and Donald Steel, The Abaco Club's stunning seaside course evokes the spirit of Scottish links with grass-topped sand dunes, deep, sculptured bunkers and wide swales of native grasses. Seven holes play along the beach, and it is not usual to catch the waves leaping high into the air behind the 18th green.

Buying in The Bahamas

• There are no restrictions on foreigners buying freehold property in The Bahamas.
• Legal fees range from 1.0% - 2.5% of the property purchase price.
• There is no inheritance tax, Capital Gains Tax (CGT) or wealth tax.
• Foreign owners can apply for residency status. Preferential consideration of applications for permanent residence is given to investors and to qualified owners of residential property valued in excess of US$500,000.

For more about The Abaco Club, visit www.theabacoclub.com