Robert Trent Jones II has been appointed to design a new golf course for Cotton Bay Club on the island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas.

The original Cotton Bay Club was developed in 1959 by Pan Am airline founder Juan Trippe, who commissioned Robert Trent Jones Sr to design a golf course along a stretch of pristine sand on the island’s southern shore. The course and resort closed following a hurricane in 2005.

Now, developer Cotton Bay Holdings Group is embarking on a project to create a brand-new world-class golf destination.

RTJ II is currently in the detailed design phase, 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, chief operating officer at RTJ II.

Mike Gorman, senior project architect for RTJ II, said: “One of our goals is to craft a fun and flexible golf course reminiscent of iconic sandbelt courses utilising the onsite sand as our canvas. 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."

The project will also include creating a large Himalayas-style green near the clubhouse, a short course and practice facilities. The golf will be located next to a new hotel, residences, spa and restaurants.

“It’s a thrilling opportunity to help bring the Jones spirit of adventure back to Cotton Bay,” says Robert Trent Jones Jr. “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.”