Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club on Great Exuma Island in the Bahamas

Located on Bahamas' Great Exuma Island, Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club is one of the top Caribbean golf courses. The Greg Norman signature design overlooks the clear, blue waters that are famous in this part of the world for fishing and scuba diving.

The golf course was built in 2003 and is a championship-caliber design from Norman, playing up to 7,001 yards and a 140 slope from the championship tees. Many of the holes are narrow, starting with the par-5 first hole that features water right and out-of-bounds left.

The front side plays more inland and shielded from the elements, including a short, drivable, par-4 fourth hole that plays beside an inland pond, which Norman calls his favorite on the course.

"You look at the site plan and the fourth looks like a nothing hole," said Norman. "Then you get on the tee, and you can tee off with a 7-iron and a wedge, or a 5-iron and a pitch. ... Everything you do just compounds the problem. I just love that little hole."

Starting at the par-3 11th, the course plays out on a peninsula and hugs the sea. It's capped with a long, 574-yard, par-5 15th hole that plays from a high elevated tee downhill towards the fairway and requires a shot over the coast to reach the green in two shots.

Emerald Reef was formerly a Four Seasons property before Sandals Resort bought it in 2010 and made enhancements to both the golf course and resort grounds, which feature many oceanfront villas and ocean-view guest rooms.

Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club on Great Exuma Island

Six holes on Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club's play on a peninsula atop the sea.

Courtesy of Sandals Resorts

Sandals Emerald Bay Resort - pool

After taking over the resort from Four Seasons, Sandals enlarged the property's pool and built a signature Sandals tower with swim-up bar.

Courtesy of Sandals Resorts

Sandals Emerald Bay Resort - Drunken Duck pub

To build the Drunken Duck Pub, Sandals Emerald Bay Resort had a pub built and shipped over from Britain.

Courtesy of Sandals Resorts

Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club - hole 1

The front nine on Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club play further inland from the back nine.

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Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club - No. 4

The fourth hole at Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club is Greg Norman's favorite.

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Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club - No. 6

The par-3 sixth hole at Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club features an elevated tee playing to an island green.

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Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club - No. 12

Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club's 12th hole is a long par 4 that wraps around the sea.

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Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club - No. 13

No. 13, a par 3 that plays just over 100 yards, is the shortest hole at Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club.

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Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club - No. 15

Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club's 15th hole is a long par 5 that can play up to 572 yards.

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Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club - No. 16

Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club's par-4 16th hole is a dogleg left that plays beside the sea.

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Sandals Emerald Bay Resort - butlers

Sandals Emerald Bay Resort guest rooms have butlers who get imaginative with the towel animals.

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