Buena Vista Hospitality Group

Golf in Bermuda is enhanced with the much-anticipated arrival of Tucker's Point Golf Course (formerly the Castle Harbour Course) in April 2002. Renowned golf course architect Roger Rulewich, former senior designer for Robert Trent Jones, redesigned the new 18-hole championship course.

At 6,361 yards, par 70, the new course starts and finishes with returning nines from a new clubhouse location. Re-contoured greens, fairways, bunkers and newly constructed tees challenge golfers on every hole. Five new holes and a new practice facility, including a driving range, 10,000-sq.-ft. practice putting green and short game area, have recently been constructed.

All of the course's 18 greens, approaches and surrounds, have been re-contoured and all of the putting surfaces have been replanted with TifEagle, a new hybrid Bermuda grass known to provide a faster, truer putting surface. Favorable weather conditions in Bermuda helped to accelerate the growth of the grass, which was initially air freighted, in sprig form, from Rincon, Georgia. Ten new men's tees, seven new ladies' tees and 20 new bunkers have been constructed. Six bunkers have been doubled in size to enhance and challenge play.

As the only fully irrigated course in Bermuda, Tucker's Point Golf Course boasts a state-of-the-art maintenance program. A Toro computerized irrigation system and a new, one-acre irrigation lake, holding four million gallons of fresh water, keep the fairways and greens lush all year round. The lake – Bermuda's largest – guards the ninth green. Extensive planting of indigenous flowers and plant species ensures that the golf course reflects Bermuda's vibrant setting.

The private golf club is open to members, their guests and eventually to guests of the Tucker's Point Hotel & Spa, which is presently scheduled to open in 2005 on the grounds of the new Tucker's Point Club. Hotel guests will have a temporary membership for the period of their stay in the hotel. There will be limited outside play available to people introduced and sponsored by a member or, in certain conditions, by the management of the Club. 
During the initial years, prior to completion of the hotel and residences on the Club grounds, when there is excess capacity (available tee times) there will be additional outside play on the course as determined by the Club management. Upon completion of the full Club and Resort facilities, there will be very limited outside play.

Two signature holes, hole #17 and hole #13, are positioned back to back on the course in opposing east and west directions, respectively. With sweeping vistas of Tucker's Town and Castle Island, hole #17 (Par 4, 310 yards, Handicap No. 18) retains its status as the most picturesque hole in Bermuda. The horizon is the target from hole #17's tee area and a straight drive places players in position for a delicate short iron to a split-level green with perfectly groomed TifEagle turf.

Hole #17's challenger on the course is a new hole, #13 (Par 4, 435 yards, Handicap No. 4) with its panorama of the entire north coast and west end of the island and spectacular sunsets. This newly created golf hole requires an accurate drive to a narrow landing area, protected by a large fairway bunker, leaving the player with a mid- to short-iron into a well-trapped elevated green.

The new Golf Clubhouse, when completed, will span 20,000 square feet and from its scenic hilltop perch, it will overlook the course's starting and finishing holes. An informal grillroom and bar with a traditional covered Bermuda balcony featuring dramatic views of Castle Harbour, and a deluxe pro shop and locker rooms will round out the clubhouse experience. A temporary Golf Clubhouse featuring a pro shop with men and women's locker rooms is completed and will eventually serve as the new Tennis Clubhouse.

Tucker's Point Golf Course is nestled amid the natural contours of hills and valleys where golfers can enjoy refreshing sea breezes and the sweeping vistas of the Atlantic Ocean, Castle Harbour and Harrington Sound. Golfers traverse the undulating fairways from many elevated tees and greens, while coping with the varying speed and direction of the changeable winds.

Tucker's Point Golf Course is a joint venture comprising the Tucker's Point Club and Buena Vista Hospitality Group (BVHG), an international hospitality and golf management company based in Tampa, Florida. BVHG's extensive experience dates back to the early 1970's. The company has attracted such renowned projects as PGA National Resort & Spa, headquarters of the PGA of America; LPGA International, home of the ladies Professional Golf Association; Buena Vista Palace Resort & Spa and East Hampton Golf Club.

BVHG has been awarded an exclusive license by the PGA (U.K.) for the creation of high-end golf properties to be branded "PGA International Resorts". Additional information on BVHG can be found on the company's website www.bvhg.com or by contacting Mike Frost, CEO, 2910 W. Bay To Bay Blvd., Suite 200, Tampa, Florida 33629. Phone (813) 221-7535; Fax: (813) 222-8344.
The Tucker's Point Golf Club's general membership program, which is by invitation only, commenced in early 2002 and has garnered tremendous interest and response.  For membership inquiries, please write to Bruce Fraser, General Manager, Tucker's Point Golf, Beach & Tennis Club at P.O. Box HS 101, Harrington Sound, Bermuda HS BX. General information on Tucker's Point Club is available on the website: www.tuckerspoint.com.