What golf course should RTJ2 design to make Cotton Bay Club more attractive?


By: June 4, 2024


Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course Architects (RTJ II) has been awarded the commission to design a new golf course for Cotton Bay Club on the island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas.

The original Cotton Bay Golf Club was part of Pan Am founder Juan Trippe’s ambitious Cotton Bay Club.

In 1959, Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Trippe created a new golf destination on a remote stretch of pristine sand and sea on the island’s southern shore. 

Cotton Bay Golf Club ocean shore

The course and resort closed after a 2005 hurricane, but the Cotton Bay Holdings Group has rekindled the same adventurous spirit.

It has assembled a global team, including RTJ II, to create a brand-new world-class golf destination.
RTJ II is currently in the detailed design stage of the course, and construction is expected to start in November 2024

Robert Trent Jones, Jr., Chief Operating Officer of Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course Architects, says

“We are collaborating closely with Cotton Bay Holdings and their partners, to craft an exciting, adaptable golf course experience, echoing the original inspiration of my grandfather and Juan Trippe.”

Cotton Bay Golf Club new golf course master plan RTJ2

The sand-base core golf course will also feature unique amenities that all guests will enjoy, including a large Himalayas-style “social green” that seamlessly connects to the golf clubhouse, a flexible family course, and comprehensive golf practice facilities.

A social green offers a fun and casual introduction to golf that’s perfect for novices, kids, non-playing friends and spouses, and anyone who wants to enjoy the serene beauty of golf course topography combined with the deep pleasure of hearing a ball falling into the hole. 

The project will include a world-class hotel, residences, a spa, top-flight restaurants, and a golf course.

Mike Gorman, Senior Project Architect for RTJ II., explained:

“The course will offer seamless fairways providing many different playing-loop options, which are ideal for match play golf.

The routing will give golfers the flexibility to choose their own adventure during matches. This is the first-of-its-kind design in the Caribbean—a match play golf course that promises both excitement and fun.”

My questions & comments

How will Cotton Bay Club preserve its natural heritage while developing the golf course for a sustainable future?

What innovative solutions will be introduced to enhance customer experience and promote sustainability? I will provide three examples: