ADVENTURES ON LAND

Bermuda may be small, but it’s packed with adventure waiting to be discovered on solid ground. Whether by foot, bike, or car, there are plenty of ways to explore the island’s 21 square miles.

If you’re looking for an active vacation, Bermuda has plenty of options to get your blood pumping. You can hike scenic trails, bike through charming neighbourhoods, or rent an electric car to explore the island’s hidden gems. Prefer spectating? Bermuda hosts fantastic events featuring PGA icons, rugby stars, and local cricket and football sensations. No matter how you spend your time on land, Bermuda is the perfect destination for a thrilling and memorable vacation.

Take A Swing

Golf is serious business in Bermuda. With an ideal year-round climate for perfecting your par and more courses per capita, it’s a not-to-miss spot for golf lovers.

The island’s seven (eight if you count a mini golf course) courses offer challenges for locals and visitors and are consistently ranked amongst the best by prestigious publications like Travel + Leisure, The New York Times, and Golf Digest One standout is Turtle Hill Golf Club, recognised as one of the “Best Places to Play Golf” by Golf Digest in 2019.

Designed by some of the masters of golf course architecture, including Robert Trent Jones and Charles Blair Macdonald, the island’s greens feature demanding course designs and unpredictable coastal winds to make for an exhilarating game. For example, the 16th hole at the renowned Port Royal Golf Course features a shot that requires you to hit the ball across the cliffs and places the Atlantic Ocean as a hazard. Add in the stunning vistas and a round of golf in Bermuda becomes a memorable experience.

Those who have tread Bermuda’s greens include rising stars such as Seamus Power and golf greats including Luke Donald and John Daly, who have previously swung it out at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, a four-day championship and one of the PGA Tour events to grace the island’s shores. In 2023, the fifth instalment of the championship will take place November 6–12 at the Port Royal Golf Course.

There are other ways to get in on Bermuda’s great golf action, including the Goslings International Invitational taking place November 27–30; the pro-am 71st Goodwill Tournament, which is set for December 3–6; and Bermuda Black Golfers

Week, which takes place in Spring 2024. Bermuda’s black golfers have historically been vocal advocates for inclusivity in the sport. Along with these important conversations on diversity, visitors can participate in the Louis Rafael “Kid” Corbin Golf Tournament.

If you’re looking for a more relaxing, family-friendly match, Bermuda Fun Golf in Royal Naval Dockyard is an 18-hole mini golf course designed as replicas of some world-famous courses from the U.S., Bermuda, and Scotland. Test your skills on Pebble Beach, California’s iconic par-3 hole 7 or Scotland’s Gleneagle’s par-4 hole 13. And just like on the 19th hole of a traditional golf course, after your hole-in-one, you can celebrate with a locally brewed craft beer at the Caddy Shack Bar & Grill and enjoy panoramic sunset views.

Off To The Races

From September to June, visiting runners will find a full calendar of events to participate in; and Bermuda is an excellent destination for an active holiday. The highlight is the Bermuda Triple Challenge, which takes place January 12–14, 2024, and includes race lengths of one mile, 10K, and a half or full marathon. Those really hoping to push their athleticism can take on the full challenge to participate in all three days of events.

Bermuda is also home to an active cycling and triathlon community and regularly hosts events, including the World Triathlon, featuring Bermuda’s own Dame Flora Duffy, who was named Female Triathlete of the Year in 2022 and currently holds the Olympic gold medal in the sport.

Hit The Trails

For those who don’t need to compete, Bermuda’s terrain is perfect for hitting the pavement or trails, on foot or bike.

The Bermuda Railway Trail — what is now left after a short-lived railway that was built in 1931 as an alternative form of transportation when cars were banned from the island — has been repurposed as an outdoor path that snakes along the length of the island and features scenic routes, many off the main roads, through all nine parishes with extensive, unobstructed views of North Shore and the Great Sound.

For an inside exploration of the trail, take a Pedego e-bike tour of the trail’s

ISLAND GOLF COURSES

FIVE FORTS GOLF CLUB

34 Coot Pond Rd., St. George’s Tel: 543-6715 / 543-2222 www.marriott.com/en-us/ hotels/bdaxr-the-st-regisbermuda-resort/experiences/ five-forts-golf-club

The former St. George’s Golf Course reopened in 2021 at The St. Regis Bermuda Resort. The new ocean-view Five Forts Golf Club is named for the five forts that surround it, including the largest and most celebrated in Bermuda, Fort St. Catherine.

4,436 yards / Par 62 / 18 holes

THE MID OCEAN CLUB

1 Mid Ocean Dr., Tucker’s Town, St. George’s Parish Tel: 293-0330 www.themidoceanclub.com

Highlights: Designed by Charles Blair Macdonald in 1921 and modified to its current design by Robert Trent Jones.

6,530 / Par 71 / 18 holes

NEWSTEAD BELMONT HILLS GOLF CLUB

25 Belmont Hills Dr., Warwick Tel: 236-6060 www.newsteadbelmonthills.com

Highlights: Bermuda’s only double green at 14,000 square feet. Entirely renovated in 2002.

6,100 yards / Par 70 / 18 holes

OCEAN VIEW GOLF COURSE

2 Barkers Hill Rd., Devonshire Tel: 542-4360 www.oceanview.bm

Highlights: Features 18 different tee positions that are set for a tricky par 70 so you can better your front nine on your second round.

2,940 yards / Par 35 / 9 holes