Prevue March/April 2015 - (Page 76)

Bermuda Picturesque greens lure golf-afﬂuent groups to the island [ON LOCATION] JOHN ANDERSON T he thwack of a 3-iron teeing off at Bermuda's fabled Port Royal Golf Club is sweet music to our golf-loving foursome. Regardless of the light drizzle overhead, 70 degrees in January is welcome relief from snowbound U.S. cities, and also part of the appeal for meetings and incentive groups visiting the Atlantic island. Another allure? Walking in the footsteps of Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson and other golf legends on the 18-hole Robert Trent Jones-designed course, which has hosted the PGA Grand Slam of Golf as recently as 2014. The real magic of Port Royal becomes apparent as we approach the green on the 7th hole, where rolling hills give way to magniﬁcent views of the blue waters that surround the island. The views build in awe toward hole 16, one of the world's most famous golf holes, which stretches out on a bluff that overlooks the sea, requiring a shot over open ocean to the green. "The views here are second to none," says Alex Madeiros, director of golf at Port Royal. "The vistas are beautiful, the greens are challenging and it's for all abilities." Like the other courses on the FAM tour, Port Royal caters to any size group for company tournaments, with perks such as 19th hole events on the lawn surrounding the clubhouse. With more courses per square mile than anywhere else in the world, golf is a major point of emphasis for Bermuda. "Bermuda has made a great deal of investment in our product," Madeiros says, "so our golf courses are extremely well-maintained, and our service levels very high." And with the PGA and other events, "we're now known as a golf destination," he adds. From our suites at the waterside Newstead Belmont Hills Golf Resort & Spa, it's a two-minute drive down the tree-lined road for 18 holes at the resort's own course, the Newstead Belmont 72 | prevue magazine Hills Golf Course. The narrow fairways are a challenge for all handicap levels, but the big payoff is the exquisite view of Hamilton Harbour, especially the shore-hugging 17th hole. Afterward, we're whisked away to Tucker's Point Golf Club, a course in Tucker's Town surrounded by lavish estates, including the home of Michael Bloomberg, which our driver points out as we approach the clubhouse. Originally built in 1932, Tucker's Point was enhanced in 2002; locals refer to it as the "goat hill course" due to undulating hills along its fairways. Elevated tees and greens also offer stunning vistas of Castle Harbour. Bermuda's many attractions also keep attendees engaged. We experience this ﬁrsthand during a tour of the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art, also available for events. Built in an old arrowroot farmstead within the Bermuda Botanical Gardens, the beautifully restored building houses famous works from several artists who lived on the island for a time such as Winslow Homer and Georgia O'Keefe. After a drive out to the western tip of the island, we tour the National Museum of Bermuda located in a former British naval dockyard built in 1795, covering some 500 years of island history, and large enough for groups up to 1,000. The extensive grounds include the magniﬁcent Commissioner's House, offering amazing views of the sea and a number of adjacent shops and restaurants nearby. Of course, no trip to Bermuda would be complete without its signature cocktail, a dark 'n stormy made with local Gosling's black rum, which we sipped during a typical bustling happy hour scene along Front Street in the main city of Hamilton. gotobermuda.com; portroyalgolf.bm; newsteadbelmonthills.com; tuckerspoint.com http://www.gotobermuda.com http://www.portroyalgolf.bm http://www.newsteadbelmonthills.com http://www.tuckerspoint.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue March/April 2015

Planner’s Pick: Los Angeles
Fresh Meets: The Evolution of Local Hospitality
Bureau Buzz: Atlanta
Good Business: On the Agenda: Zero Waste
Sea Shores: American Queen Steamboat Company
Incentive Bound
FLORIDA
CALIFORNIA
NASHVILLE
IHG EUROPE
On Location: Bermuda
CLUB MED CANCUN YUCATAN
On Location: Beaches Turks & Caicos
On Location: St. Kitts
On Location: Delano Las Vegas
Club Med Meetins, Incentives and Corporate Events 2015 Edition

Prevue March/April 2015