Before it became the annual December home of the Hero World Challenge, Albany was known first and foremost as a striking slice of paradise—a blend of championship golf and luxury lifestyle set against the backdrop of turquoise Bahamian water and coastal breezes. The venue has developed a reputation not just for its pristine conditions and resort-level appeal, but for offering players something few tournament stops can claim: world-class golf in a private, upscale environment that feels far more like a high-end retreat than a pressure cooker.
That balance, where serious golf coexists with leisure, is part of what has made Albany a fitting stage for one of golf’s most exclusive year-end events.
### Albany History
Albany sits on the southwestern tip of New Providence Island in The Bahamas, part of the luxury resort-community Albany, Bahamas. Designed by legendary golfer-architect Ernie Els, the course officially opened in 2010 and quickly carved out a reputation as one of the Caribbean’s premier championship-caliber layouts.
According to Golf.com, “the course earned its name from a fixture on the Bahamian coast. Albany is the name of an iconic pink beachfront Bahamian manor house.”
The design, developed by Joe Lewis, blends classic links-style golf—think dunes, sand, rolling terrain—with tropical Bahamas flair. The result is a par-72, 18-hole course stretching more than 7,400 yards from the back tees, featuring five par-5s, five par-3s, and a collection of par-4s that wind through dunes, waste areas, and water hazards for a strategic, visually dramatic test.
Accompanying the course is a first-class golf infrastructure: a golf clubhouse called NINETEEN overlooking the 9th and 18th holes, full practice facilities, a pro-level golf academy, and resort amenities extending beyond the fairways that match the upscale vibe of the resort.
### What Makes Albany Unique
Albany isn’t your typical resort “relax-and-putt” layout. Els built it to challenge top-flight players and provide old-school shotmaking.
The course features dunes up to 30 feet high, multiple teeing areas on each hole (making it playable for casual resort golfers too), snaking waste-area hazards, native-grass terrain, and water features that make accuracy as important as distance.
Some holes stand out as particularly memorable. For instance:
– The 11th: a long par-5 with bunkers and an elevated green demanding precise approach shots.
– The 12th: a long par-3 over water to a narrow, peninsula-style green.
– The 16th: playing typically into the wind, one of the toughest par-4s on the course.
This blend of strategic shotmaking, variable wind conditions, and natural hazards makes Albany a compelling challenge—especially when the world’s best gather for tournament play.
Because Albany is part of a luxury resort community, the ambience is a mix of high-end vacation and top-level competition. The wider resort boasts amenities beyond golf: a mega-yacht marina, luxury villas and homes, water-park and beach-style leisure, spa and fitness facilities, restaurants, and amenities catering to travelers as much as golfers.
### How to Watch the Hero World Challenge
For fans who haven’t seen Albany firsthand, the Hero World Challenge offers the perfect chance to catch a glimpse of the course. Here’s when to tune in and watch the tournament unfold: [Insert tournament dates, broadcast times, and channels here].
https://heavy.com/sports/golf/albany-bahamas-hero-world-challenge-2025/