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A general view of the ninth and 18th greens prior to the Hero World Challenge 2025 at Albany Golf Course on December 03.
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, with 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, which matches 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 (so it’s playable for casual resort golfers too), snaking waste-area hazards, native-grass terrain, and water features that make accuracy as important as distance.
Some of the holes stand out as particularly memorable. For instance, the 11th is a long par-5 with bunkers and an elevated green demanding precise approach shots; the 12th is a long par-3 over water to a narrow, peninsula-style green; and the 16th, playing typically into the wind, is 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 that cater to travelers as much as golfers.
How to Watch 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:
Thursday (Round 1): 1:30-4:30 p.m. on Golf Channel
Friday (Round 2): 1:30-4:30 p.m. on Golf Channel
Saturday (Round 3): 12:00-2:30 p.m. on Golf Channel, followed by 2:30-5:00 p.m. on NBC (simulcast also available on streaming platforms)
Sunday (Final Round): 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Golf Channel, then 1:30-4:30 p.m. on NBC (and streamable on Peacock / NBC Sports App)
Alyssa Polczynski Alyssa Polczynski is a multimedia journalist covering Major League Baseball for Heavy.com. She has experience as an editorial producer for MLB.com and contributed to the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). More about Alyssa Polczynski
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