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AN ABACO CLUB COTTAGE IN THE BAHAMAS IS A UNIQUE GETAWAY
Abaco doesn’t try to sell itself, largely because it doesn’t have to. There are no big reveals or dramatic arrivals, no sense that you’ve landed somewhere built to impress you all at once. On Great Abaco Island, things unfold slowly, and along a quiet stretch of Winding Bay sits The Abaco Club, a place that feels less like a resort and more like a very well-located community. That feeling starts as soon as you arrive. There’s no traditional check-in desk or lobby scene. Instead, you’re greeted by name, picked up in a golf cart, and shown to where you’ll be staying. Guests here don’t stay in hotel rooms; they stay in homes. That detail shapes everything. The houses belong to families who return year after year, and when guests visit, they’re stepping into a rhythm that already exists.
Our cottage sat just off the beach, simple and airy, with a wide porch and an ocean view that made mornings feel exceptionally calm. Shoes came off almost immediately. Doors stayed open. Nothing felt precious or staged. It was a place meant to be lived in. Golf is central to life at The Abaco Club, and our first afternoon included a stop at the course, which is consistently ranked as the top golf course in The Bahamas. Designed by Donald Steel and Tom Mackenzie, the links-style course is exposed to the elements – windy, rolling, and demanding. It’s not built to make things easy, which makes it a great venue for tournaments like the Bahamas Great Abaco Classic.
Golf aside, we spent mornings walking the beach just after sunrise, when the sand was still cool and untouched. Almost every day, sea turtles surfaced just offshore, their shells catching the light for a moment before disappearing beneath the gently rolling waves. Later, snorkeling made those encounters even better, as we got a chance to see these majestic creatures up close.
Wellness at The Abaco Club doesn’t feel packaged; a welcome change from the usual resort-style offerings. One morning started with yoga at The Perch, an open-air platform tucked into the landscape, followed by a “sound bath” of different vibrations that felt quietly grounding. The highlight, though, was a massage on our cottage balcony overlooking the ocean.
Social life here revolves around shared spaces, especially with the addition of The Bay Club, which opened last fall. Set right on the beach, it’s become a natural gathering place. There’s an infinity pool, a hot tub, and a bar where people come and go throughout the afternoon. Inside, the clubhouse has lounges, a small cinema and game room, a boutique, and an adults-only members’ space. It’s the kind of place where you stop for a quick drink and end up staying much longer. Meals followed the same easy rhythm. Breakfasts were slow, often at Flippers, where the staff already knew my tea order by the second morning. Lunch was casual– tacos from the beachside food truck or something light between swims. Dinners rotated between the Beach House and the Cliff House, where sunsets reliably paused conversations mid-sentence. And every night, without exception, ended with an ice cream sandwich from the Tipsy Parrot marketplace. (I told myself I’d try something else. I never did.)
What really stood out, though, were the staff. They knew guests by name, asked about their days, and remembered small preferences. Many had been there for years, and that continuity showed.
Privacy is another standout feature. The Abaco Club isn’t open to the general public the way a resort is. Members either own homes or join through resident or non-resident memberships, with options for those planning to buy in the future. Ownership opportunities range from golf-front cottages to beachfront residences, with members also getting the perk of reciprocal access to other Southworth properties, in places like Telluride (Colorado), Cape Cod (Massachusetts) and Argyll (Scotland).
By the end of our stay, it was clear why people invest in The Abaco Club. It’s not about chasing something new every day. It’s about returning: mornings that feel familiar, golf that challenges even seasoned players, a beach that never feels crowded, and staff who remember you long after you leave.
THE ABACO CLUB WINDING BAY
MARSH HARBOR ABACO, THE BAHAMAS
844-799-3031
INFO@THEABACOCLUB.COM