Greg Norman does not do a lot of redo renovations in his course design business. However, he did take on Blue Shark Golf Club in the South Ocean section of New Providence - the Bahamas' most populated island.
Blue Shark's a very different take on an old Joe Lee design that opened in the early 1970s. Even the name is completely different. What golfers will notice is how wide and generous the fairways are on a course with plenty of actual Bahamian touches.
Norman made prominent use of blue holes - bodies of water that reach all the way to the ocean - on holes 15 and 17. He put the tee on No. 12 right up against old slave ruins that show Bahamas history. He also put in greens that aren't likely to torment anyone. What you see straight on is what you get at Blue Shark. On sunny days, you'll likely see plenty of color (the landscaper went heavy on flowers) and on any day you can see ocean from the par-3 11th.
Blue Shark will not open to the public until around June, 2008 but WorldGolf.com. played the course in a special preview.
Greg Norman at the Blue Shark Golf Club preview
Greg Norman talks at the preview of Blue Shark Golf Club.
Chris Baldwin/WorldGolf.com
Greg Norman at Blue Shark Golf Club in the Bahamas
Greg Norman didn't make putting hard for him - or anyone else - at Blue Shark Golf Club.
Chris Baldwin/WorldGolf.com
Ruins around Blue Shark GC
Blue Shark Golf Club has old slave ruins on the 12th hole.
Chris Baldwin/WorldGolf.com
The slave ruins at Blue Shark Golf Clu
The slave ruins at Blue Shark Golf Club show Bahamian history.
Chris Baldwin/WorldGolf.com
Blue Shark Golf Club 12th hole
Greg Norman didn't make the 12th at Blue Shark Golf Club an easy attack.
Chris Baldwin/WorldGolf.com
Greg Norman's Blue Shark Golf Club
Blue Shark Golf Club is a brand new Greg Norman design in the Bahamas.
Chris Baldwin/WorldGolf.com
Greg Norman's Blue Shark Golf Club
Blue Shark Golf Club is a brand new Greg Norman design in the Bahamas.
Chris Baldwin/WorldGolf.com
Green at Blue Shark Golf Club
Typical green at Blue Shark Golf Club in the Bahamas.
Chris Baldwin/WorldGolf.com
Blue Shark Golf Club: The Clubhouse
Blue Shark Golf Club currently has a temporary clubhouse nicer than many full clubhouses.
Chris Baldwin/WorldGolf.com
Greg Norman's Blue Shark Golf Club in the Bahamas
Blue Shark Golf Club is a brand new Greg Norman design in the Bahamas.
Chris Baldwin/WorldGolf.com
Water on Blue Shark Golf Clu
Blue Shark Golf Club throws water at you on a few holes.
Chris Baldwin/WorldGolf.com
Greg Norman's Blue Shark Golf Club in the Bahamas
Blue Shark Golf Club is a brand new Greg Norman design in the Bahamas.
Chris Baldwin/WorldGolf.com
Greg Norman's Blue Shark Golf Club in the Bahamas
Blue Shark Golf Club is a brand new Greg Norman design in the Bahamas.
Chris Baldwin/WorldGolf.com
Bahamian caddie at Blue Shark
Blue Shark Golf Club has local Bahamian caddies to help your game.
Chris Baldwin/WorldGolf.com
Blue Shark GC's 10th hole
Playing the wall on the 10th hole at Blue Shark Golf Club is fun.
Chris Baldwin/WorldGolf.com
Greg Norman's Blue Shark Golf Club
Blue Shark Golf Club is a brand new Greg Norman design in the Bahamas.
Chris Baldwin/WorldGolf.com
Greg Norman's Blue Shark Golf Club
Blue Shark Golf Club is a brand new Greg Norman design in the Bahamas.
Chris Baldwin/WorldGolf.com
Greg Norman's Blue Shark Golf Club
Blue Shark Golf Club is a brand new Greg Norman design in the Bahamas.
Chris Baldwin/WorldGolf.com
Greg Norman's Blue Shark Golf Club
Blue Shark Golf Club is a brand new Greg Norman design in the Bahamas.
Chris Baldwin/WorldGolf.com
Greg Norman's Blue Shark Golf Club
Blue Shark Golf Club is a brand new Greg Norman design in the Bahamas.
Chris Baldwin/WorldGolf.com
Greg Norman's Blue Shark Golf Club
The blue holes at Blue Shark can swallow your ball and send it toward the ocean.
Chris Baldwin/WorldGolf.com