RTJ II To Rediscover the History-Rich Cotton Bay Club in The Bahamas

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. Very quickly, the club was a hit, becoming a favorite for golf in the islands and hosting “Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf.” The course and resort closed following a hurricane in 2005, but the same adventurous spirit has been rekindled by the Cotton Bay Holdings Group, which 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, with construction to start in November 2024. “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,” said Trent Jones, Jr., Chief Operating Officer of Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course Architects.

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

“One of our goals is to craft a fun and flexible golf course reminiscent of iconic sand-belt courses utilizing the onsite sand as our canvas,” said Mike Gorman, Senior Project Architect for RTJ II. “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."

“It’s a thrilling opportunity to help bring the Jones spirit of adventure back to Cotton Bay,” says Robert Trent Jones, Jr., Chairman & Master Architect of Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course Architects. “The next generation of Jones architects is dedicated to continuing the tradition of providing outstanding golf experiences, and I’m proud to see them keeping elements of my father’s genius and combining them with a more modern, sustainable outlook. And so, the legacy moves forward.” 

For more information and details about RTJ II courses, award-winning sustainable designs, visionary water conservation, and world-class tournament venues, visit the company’s website at www.rtj2.com.