Nestled on a quiet crescent-shaped bay with a 2.5-mile long white-sand beach, The Abaco Club on Winding Bay, a private golf club community in Marsh Harbour in the Abaco Islands of The Bahamas offers just about everything a snowbird is looking for in a private golf club: beautiful homes, expansive, private beach, excellent dining facilities, and, of course, an 18-hole championship golf course. Best of all, it is less than 200 miles off the coast of Florida.
In January, Newton, Ma.-based residential resort developer Southworth Development assumed 100% control of the 600-acre club. Southworth has already invested $30 million into the club since taking control of the property in 2014 from Marriott Vacations Worldwide, which operated the property as a Ritz-Carlton Club.
Over the past three years, Southworth has made many enhancements to the property, including the dining facilities, golf course and the extensive new golf practice facility. “When we first looked at The Abaco Club, we knew it was very special,” says David Southworth, founder and chief executive of Southworth Development, which owns and operates private clubs and residential communities in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Virginia, Scotland and The Bahamas. “The community had everything money can’t buy, and we are delighted to have had the opportunity to help guide the club forward.”
Southworth is currently embarking on a $10 million capital improvement plan that includes the creation of an on-property market, expanded food and beverage offerings, launching of the club’s marina and boat slips in Little Harbour, upgrading of the club’s spa and fitness facilities, and the development of new residences. “Things that will make The Abaco Club the premier private club community anywhere in the tropics,” adds Southworth.
Of course, The Abaco Club is already well-known for its Scottish-style links golf course designed by renowned golf architects, Donnie Steel and Tom Mackenzie. The par 72 course is 7,138 yards long and makes the most of its seaside location with pot bunkers and challenging, sloping greens. A long course that is designed to play firm and fast, the course is not typical of the Caribbean. There is also an expansive practice facility with a double-end range as well as a short-game practice area designed to enable players to practice every shot of 100 yards or less.
There are many other activities to take advantage of at The Abaco Club, including a spa, main swimming pool, tennis courts and a variety of water sports from fishing and sailing to kayaking, paddle boarding and snorkeling. Members and guests of the club are given access to golf carts, so getting around the club’s expansive property is easy.
The greater surrounding area is also fun to explore, as The Abaco Islands offer 650 square miles of beaches, bays, coves and cays. It is easy to charter a boat with captain to take you out to explore neighboring islands and quaint fishing villages. There’s an abundance of wildlife to see in the Abaco Islands, including the tropical fish, swimming pigs, wild horses, sea turtles and the famous Abaco Parrots.
Currently, the club offers two restaurants including a beach bar called Flippers (which serves breakfast and lunch and offers a beach BBQ every Wednesday night) and The Cliff House, which sits on a hill and features a bar, formal dining room and beautiful, expansive views of the ocean below. The club’s private chef is also available to cater private meals for members who choose to dine or entertain at home. A restaurant down the road from the club called Pete’s Pub at Little Harbour features local seafood and is worth checking out.
Under Southworth, there is an expanding selection of luxurious island homes available to buy, with private residences ranging from cozy cabanas and charming cottages to grand oceanfront estate homes.
The largest developed homes currently on the market are the Estate homes, which are situated on expansive one-acre-plus oceanfront or ocean view lots. These spectacular tropical dream homes feature sprawling floor plans; including 4 or more bedrooms, fully equipped kitchens, expansive decks, private pools, and opulent designs and finishes. And as the lots are sizable, they offer a great deal of privacy.
Several Estate homes are for sale, including “Aba’s Cove”, an $8.75 million home with six bedrooms and six bathrooms with a private pool, media room and fitness room. “Walking Stick” is a $5.5 million estate featuring four bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms set on an elevated and beautifully landscaped 2.22-acre compound with a private pool and guest house. This property has direct beach access, 200 feet of frontage and panoramic views of the ocean and links-style golf course.
The club also offers Cottages, which are smaller single-family homes ranging in size from 1,200 to 3,000 square feet with two-to-four-bedroom layouts. Offering sweeping bay and ocean views, these homes are the perfect island hideaway with expansive decks and sunny outdoor spaces. Currently on the market are “Hummingbird”, a $2.5 Million three bedroom three bathroom cottage with a loft and spectacular views of the 18th green and the Atlantic Ocean.
Cabanas are low-maintenance, smaller residences, that are priced at $400,000. Cabanas are spacious one-bedroom, free-standing residences nestled amidst lush tropical foliage along the club’s golf course. The cabanas, which are also adjacent to the beach, come fully-furnished and offer such features as a large, breezy living room, a roomy king-size bed and an expansive screened-in porch, but do not have full kitchens.
Of course there is always the option of purchasing a lot and building a custom home. The club has a limited number of beachfront, Atlantic and golf course lots available for sale (some with up to 200’ of beach or ocean frontage). Most of these spectacular Caribbean real estate lots are one acre or larger.
The Abaco Club offers a club-managed rental program for members who can choose to rent their homes to guests and other members of the Club (not to the general public), which provides many benefits, ranging from rental revenue to property tax abatements. The club offers a variety of memberships, including an international membership for those who do not own a home at the club (comes with 20 tee times each year).
