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Grand Bahama Junkanoo Mural. Photo by Danita Delimont

The Bahamas is a melting pot of customs brought to the area by people from many diverse backgrounds over the past four centuries: English Puritans and later British Loyalists fleeing America after the War of Independence, Bermudan slaves, people from other Caribbean islands, and many other nationalities. Bahamian culture today has been shaped by their experiences, beliefs and lifestyles. The people of The Bahamas are kind, talkative and religious. Church is an important part of daily life. They are also strongly focused on family and expressing bonds of kinship.

With an economy heavily dependent on tourism and financial services expertise The Bahamas offers countless lifestyle options for combining business with the enjoyment of life – from the cosmopolitan character of Nassau, to the peaceful sophistication of Abaco, Exuma and Eleuthera, to the solitude of the southern islands.

Bahamas. In Nassau Island the Albany Club is designed by legendary South African pro Ernie Els. The Blue Shark Golf Club, newly refurbished by Australian Greg Norman, is open to public play, and the 18-hole Cable Beach Golf Club is being redesigned by Jack Nicklaus as part of the multi-billion dollar Bahamar project. Paradise Island also boasts the Tom Weiskopf-designed Ocean Club Golf Course part of  the One and Only luxury resort complex.  Freeport, Grand Bahama has two premium courses in The Reef, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., and The Lucayan, and visitors to the Family Islands will discover another Greg Norman project at the ocean-side Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club on Great Exuma as well as The Abaco Club in Winding Bay, Abaco, the first Scottish links-style course in a tropical location.

Some of the best tennis facilities are found at the One & Only Ocean Club on Paradise Island, which features six fully-lighted hard courts. The tennis complex at Atlantis is more accessible to the general public, with three clay and three hard courts, some lit for night play.

The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association has several active leagues, with courts around Nassau/New Providence, and facilities are also available in many of the residential communities as well as at the National Tennis Centre.