NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Abaco’s Baker’s Bay Golf and Ocean Club is “striving” for a December 21 reopening with upwards of 450 members expected over the Christmas holiday period.
Geoffrey Jones, Baker’s Bay’s director of sales and marketing while addressing the Abaco Business Outlook noted that the private members-only club developed and managed by the Discovery Land Company has been a “beehive of activity”.
“I honestly believe that without Dorian we would have been crazy busy and likely would have sold out of the 18 percent of real estate we have remaining left for sale,” said Jones.
He further noted that 185 homes were completed prior to Hurricane Dorian and another 40 are currently under construction at the development which also features a 200 slip deep water marina.
“I think that for the Abacos in general these resorts and clubs would have been a great safe haven for those looking to work remotely,” said Jones.
“We are trying to strive for a December 21 opening where we can have our members back here. We expect upwards of 450 members over the holidays down from a peak of about 1,400 that we would normally have but we don’t have all the facilities and homes ready,” said Jones.
He noted that over 100 club member homes are currently being constructed, renovated, and rebuilt with over 1,000 persons currently working on-site.
Jones also noted that uncertainty over COVID-19 testing and lockdowns has caused cancellations among prospective guests.
As of Saturday, 161 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Abaco.
Along with New Providence, the island remains on restrictive curfew throughout the week, from 7 pm to 5 am, along with a 24-hour lockdown on the weekend.
Sarah Ann Showell, owner of the Green Turtle Club and Marina in Green Turtle Cay told Eyewitness News that her resort is scheduled to reopen on October 30.
“It’s been quite a year but we are reopening on October 30,” she said.
Showell added: “We have had couples push their weddings back three times now for us because they are dogged about getting married at the Green Turtle Club. We’re very thankful for that. We’ve never been so ready for tourism to come back to Abaco.”
