Daily Archives: December 7, 2021

Lets be real here. Collin Morikawa does enjoy a No. 1 ranking. He asked his longtime girlfriend, Katherine Zhu, to marry him a few days ago and she said, yes.

So, theres no question about it. Hes No. 1, at least in her book.

On the other hand, the 24-year old will have to wait for another day to don the No. 1 belt as far as the Official World Golf Rankings are concerned.

The number was there for the taking, before the final round of the Hero World Challenge at Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas. Morikawa, who won his second major championship the British Open at Royal St. Georgesearlier this year, started the final round on Sunday at Albany with a five-shot lead.

If he could protect it, he would leapfrog Jon Rahmwho was not in the fieldand become the No. 1 player in the aforementioned rankings.

On Saturday evening, that seemed like an uncontested layup, a hanging curve to Aaron Judge, an open net for Connor McDavid. Coming into the day, Morikawa was working on a second straight win, after capturing the DP World Tour in Dubai. He had rounds of 68-66-64 at Albany and a string of 10 consecutive rounds in the 60s. He was 18-under par, owner of 18 birdies and two eagles, trending in the right direction. He looked en fuego.

It's just exciting," Morikawa said late Saturday. You love being in these spots and you don't get them every week. You wish you did, but when you do, you want to take advantage of them, so hopefully we can take advantage tomorrow.

This was not the 1996 Masters, after all. And he is not Greg Norman, who fumbled a six-shot lead on that fateful Sunday in Augusta.

But on a strange day of odd moments in the Bahamas, nothing was more bizarre than Morikawas meltdown. In a matter of two holes, a matter of two lost balls, a matter of minutes, Morikawas hopes for another win and the Numero Uno ranking vanished.

The scenario was stunning. After opening the day with three generic pars, Morikawa maintained his 18-under position and a four-shot lead on a charging Sam Burns.

Then came a lost ball and a 6 at No. 4 his first double bogey in 58 Hero holes. Next came another lost ball and another double at No. 6, as Morikawas mud ball in the fairway went flying way left. Meanwhile, Burns was making a third straight birdie at No. 8 to move to 16-under.

And just like that, Morikawa went to 14-under, from comfortably leading to trailing Burns by two shots, It was like a Nicolas Cage movie. A five shot lead, not Gone In 60 Seconds, but gone in six holes.

Try as he might, the 24-year old Morikawa, who is often touted as the games best iron player, could not get it back. Burns had his own Waterloo, suffering a triple-bogey at 14 and falling by the wayside. But Morikawa wasnt around to take advantage. He bogeyed No. 9 to finish the front side with a birdie-less 41.

Two birdies on the back amounted to too little too late. By that time, Viktor Hovland had caught fire and pushed the lead out of reach. The outcome was ordained when Morikawa made one last bogey at No. 18 and finished with a 4-over 76, 12 shots off his score of a day earlier.

In the end, 18-under was the right number. Morikawa couldnt protect it, Hovland posted it for the win.

Oddly enough, it was Hovland who got out of the way earlier in the week, giving his master suite to Morikawa for his engagement plans on Tuesday night. On Sunday, it worked the other way.

But safe to say the week wasnt a total loss for Morikawa, who finished tied for fifth. Hes still No. 1 with his fianc.

Read the original here:

Collin Morikawa's Meltdown in the Bahamas Was Totally Out of Character - Sports Illustrated

Why own a vacation home when you can have a whole island? Those looking to really get away from it all this winter are in luck, as Little Pipe Cay, a private island in the Bahamas, has hit the market once again for $100 million. No small price, and $15 million more than the property was going for when it was first listed in 2018.

What justifies the uptick in price? Simply put, owning an island is now more appealing than ever. Many left major cities behind for more far-flung locales last year during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, and that interest doesnt seem to be slowing down any time soon. Little Pipe Cay has some geographical advantages compared to other isles too, as its located in the 350-island Exumas archipelago. So its not far from Miami, should you ever want to hop over to the city for a long weekend.

The 40-acre island is more built out than most others on the market, too, instead of just being an undeveloped piece of land: Six of the structures come fully furnished and are move-in ready. The main residence, for instance, is 5,300 square feet and has a primary bedroom with dual bathrooms and walk-in closets. Nearby is a separate structure for entertaining, which features a dining area, a pub, a spa and a gym. There are four guest houses on the property, plus storehouses and staff quarters. The islands current infrastructure can be credited to investor and businessman Michael Dingman, who previously owned the property, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Of course, as incredible as a property like this one is, upkeep doesnt come cheap. Running costs total about $1.5 million, though theres room to turn it into a money-making venture. The future owner could transform the place into a resort, similar to Sir Richard Bransons Necker Island, and turn a profit.

Or you can keep it to yourself. The areas crystalline waters and scenic vistas are certainly worth having access to year-round.

Fredrik Eklund and John Gomes of Douglas Elliman hold the listing. Check out more photos of the island below:

More:

This $100 Million Private Island in the Bahamas Comes Fully Furnished and Move-In Ready - robbreport.com

Dubbed the Sleeping Giant, Andros grabbed a bit of attention when it was spotlighted on HGTVs Renovation Island show. In the series, contractor Bryan Baeumler and his wife, Sarah, renovated a boarded-up, run-down hotel in South Andros, turning it into the recently opened Caerula Mar resort (www.caerulamar.com). The now luxe oceanfront resort is a beauty. There are 18 suites and six private villas, boasting sleek, minimalistic dcor, in crisp whites and creamy neutrals. The villas are spacious with reading nooks and decks overlooking the ocean and fronting a nearly deserted stretch of shell- and seaweed-strewn beach. Most guests spend their days around the pool or lounging in beach cabanas, moving to the on-site Driffs Beach Bar for lunch (conch fritters and fresh fish!) and drinks. Dinner is served at Lusca, the resorts fine dining option. The restaurant, named after a mythical sea creature said to live around the blue holes near Andros, is under the helm of Argentine executive chef Sebastian Perez, who showcases local ingredients in classic preparations. During our stay, we dined on fresh caught hog fish served with a cucumber cilantro relish, charred octopus, and red curry conch soup.

The resort concierge was happy to arrange activities. One day, we joined a guided snorkeling and fishing trip, visiting pockets of the massive coral reef and two nearby blue holes. We caught a snapper, and gifted it to Burton Bowleg, our fun-loving captain. Captain Burton named the blue holes we visited after himself: Burton Hole 1 and Burton Hole 2. There are so many of them, we just call them what we want, our guide Jen Swenson explained.

Another day we followed local guide Barbara Moore into the woods to visit four inland blue holes. Along the way, she pointed out local plants used in traditional island medicines: yellow sage tea as a muscle relaxer, strong back plant for pains in the back, acacia tree gum for constipation, and stiffcock for: yep, you guessed it. The limestone path across Crown Land (government-owned land) was uneven and pockmarked with ankle-twisting holes, but we followed her slowly to the blue holes, which were not at all blue but rather cloudy and dark, and littered with leaves and branches from a recent rainstorm. Ready for a swim? Moore asked us. We passed on that. Still, the inland blue holes were an interesting sight, sinkholes formed over eons, some during the last ice age. Theyre openings in the ocean floor where freshwater from underground caves merges with the sea. The freshwater rises to the surface, sitting on top of the heavier seawater. Andros is said to have 175 inland blue holes and another 50 offshore, but more are still being discovered. The renowned oceanographer Jacques Cousteau visited the island in 1971 to study the mysterious underwater caves and caverns. He released a dye in a blue hole located miles inland, which later turned up in the ocean, adding credence to the theory that the holes are all connected to the ocean. You can feel the movement in a blue hole, Swenson told us on our earlier snorkeling trip. At high tide the water is pushing out of them; at low tide its going down. Theyre all connected.

After a few days at lovely Caerula Mar, we were ready to explore the north end of the island and the West Side National Park, with some 1.5 million acres of protected marine environments, including tidal creeks, mudflats, and mangrove forests. But Andros is split by streams and channels, so an overland trip is impossible. We decided to take a private charter boat (private plane charters are also available), a three- to four-hour ride ending at the local dock in North Andros, where someone from the Small Hope Bay Lodge would pick us up. We checked out of Caerula Mar with two suitcases, a backpack, and a computer bag, to meet the boat at nearby Driggs Marina. Captain Ricardo and Denzie his sidekick (and cousin) showed up in a small, well-used, shallow boat. They were drenched. Im not going to lie to you; its rough out there, Ricardo said. Those werent words we wanted to hear. And we werent sure that there was room for us and our gear in the small boat. But Ricardo and Denzie shoved the bags here and there, and our suitcases on the floor served as foot stools. And we were off, across the choppy bay, and around Mangrove Cay. We were drenched but happy by the time we entered the calmer waters of West Side National Park.

This is the most beautiful place in the world, Ricardo exclaimed as we entered the flats, rimmed with thick mangrove forests.

The water was deep blue and ultra-clear. Schools of bonefish swam by, while seabirds hovered overhead. Ricardo, who has been guiding in Andros for 27 years, took us across bays, into coves, and down tidal streams. We had acres of watery wilderness to ourselves. We stopped for a picnic lunch at the former Bang Bang Club, where Al Capone used to hang out. Its now a dilapidated, falling down cluster of buildings taken over by Andros Rock Iguanas. The prehistoric-looking creatures have a nice life on this spit of land, and amazing water views.

Four hours later, we were checking into Small Hope Bay Lodge in North Andros, just in time for a late lunch. The lodge is a well-known and long-established diving, snorkeling, and fishing resort (www.smallhope.com). This is the kind of place where everyone knows your name on the first day, and staff members, guides, and instructors sit down with you for lunch and dinner.

The friendly, low-key, all-inclusive lodge (including food and drinks) sits on a premier slice of oceanfront real estate, fronting two beaches. The cabins, hand built in the 1960s, are simple and comfortable, as are the lodge and dining areas. Meals are served buffet-style, simply prepared, homemade food using fresh island ingredients. The crispy fried snapper, conch fritters, and conch salad were standouts while we were there.

There are plenty of activities, including dive trips and instruction, snorkeling excursions, kayaking, bird-watching, fishing, and nature hikes. One day, we visited the nearby Androsia Batik Factory, a small, rustic operation producing beautiful handmade batik, with one-of-a-kind patterns that have become synonymous with Andros.

On our final day, we hired a fishing guide. Andros is well known for its world class bonefishing, so we thought wed give it a try. When I was little, I thought my name was boat, our guide Mary Johnson said as we puttered out into the flats. Mary grew up fishing these waters and is the only female fly guide in the Bahamas. We drifted as she stood on a platform and long poled the boat through the shallows, along the edge of the marine forest. It was peaceful, and pretty; it was also a new moon, and the tides were uncommonly high, so the bonefish were still hiding in the mangroves. We caught nothing but doctor fly bites (like our greenheads!). No matter; Mary entertained us with stories and songs, and we knew a couple of hammocks and cool beverages were waiting for us when we returned to Small Hope Bay Lodge. As they say, a day on the water, under sunny skies, beats a day just about anywhere else.

For more information and up-to-date COVID safety requirements, visit http://www.bahamas.com/islands/andros.

Diane Bair and Pamela Wright can be reached at bairwright@gmail.com

Original post:

The wildest place in the Bahamas - The Boston Globe

NASSAU, Bahamas Tiger Woods was back in grind mode Saturday at Albany, where he is the non-playing host of this weeks Hero World Challenge.

Woods was spotted on the practice range shortly after the final group teed off (11:25 a.m. ET), hitting an assortment of clubs, including his driver. He finished the session just before 2 p.m.

Woods didnt play a PGA Tour event this year following a single-vehicle accident in Los Angeles in February that required multiple surgeries to his right leg.

Two weeks ago, he posted a short video on social media hitting a wedge shot, and earlier this week he was filmed hitting 3-woods at Albany, although he didnt sound as if he was close to a comeback when he spoke with the media.

I'll put it to you this way: As far as playing at the Tour level, I don't know when that's going to happen, he said Tuesday. Now, I'll play a round here or there, a little hit and giggle, I can do something like that.

Full-field scores from the Hero World Challenge

One hit and giggle option could be the PNC Championship later this month in Orlando, Florida. Woods played the event last year with his son, Charlie, and tournament officials are holding a spot for him in case he decides hes ready.

The two-round event would be a good fit for a player like Woods who is recovering from injury. He could ride in a golf cart and could also depend on Charlie to put the team in play off the tee. Golf.com reported this week that Woods will test it next week and make a call, according to one person familiar with Woods progress.

Link:

Tiger Woods spotted hitting drivers on range in Bahamas - Golf Channel

The Hero World Challenge proved to be especially challenging for Jordan Spieth.

On Thursday, Spieth was penalized two shots for failing to move his ball back to its original spot, after causing the ball to move on the 18th green at Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas. Spieth, who also had to roll up his pants to hit a shot on No. 18, went on to shoot a 1-over 71 in the first round.

A former No. 1 player in the rankings and a three-time major championship winner, Spieth was penalized again during the final round on Sunday. Along with playing partner Henrik Stenson, he played the wrong tee box at the par-5 ninth hole. Both players were assessed two-shot penalties for the mistake. Here's how it happened:

Thus, the bogey Spieth appeared to score on the hole became a triple bogey, which brought his front nine tab to 3-over par. Spieth, who with his wife Annie celebrated the birth of a first child on Nov. 14, wound up shooting a 4-over 76. He had four rounds in the 70s and finished last in the field of 20, 6-over for the championship.

According to the AP, "the PGA Tour moved the tee box forward on the par-5 ninth hole to allow more players a chance to reach the green in two. They used the original ninth tee for the par-3 17th so the hole would play a little shorter and over the water.

Both tee boxes had a large white sign indicating the hole. Spieth and Stenson didnt notice.

We kept our heads down off the finishing out on hole No. 8 and walked to the 9 tee box that we did on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and put the ball down and hit some beautiful tee shots, Stenson said. Then when we went down to the balls, the rules official said, Did you hit off the right tee box?

Spieth said there was a notice when they checked in to start the round about new yardages for the two holes. He wishes there had been a little bit more clarity that tee boxes were changing.

I actually didnt think we were going to get penalized because its a charity event, but then I realized theres world ranking involved and all that, Spieth said. I think the frustrating part for us now is that every other group ... theyre making sure to tell them, but for us they didnt. It obviously didnt matter for us, which is fortunate I think for those guys.

The good news is that last place in this event still plays $100,000.

The AP contributed to this report.

See original here:

Jordan Spieth and Henrik Stenson Penalized for Bizarre Rules Mishap in the Bahamas - Sports Illustrated

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders and Toledo Rockets will face off in the 2021 Bahamas Bowl. The game will take place at the Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas. Kickoff is currently scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec 17, 2021. The game will air on ESPN and will be available via live stream at WatchESPN.

The Blue Raiders needed a win in the final game of the regular season, and they got it done with a 10-point win over the Florida Atlantic Owls. Middle Tennessee lost starting quarterback Chase Cunningham for the season with a lower leg injury, and the Red Raiders went 2-2 in the four full games without him. Middle Tennessee is much more of a defensive team, as their offense ranks outside the top 100 in yards per play this season.

The Rockets fell one game short for the top spot of the MAC West behind the Northern Illinois Huskies and Central Michigan Chippewas, and they lost to those teams by a combined five points. Toledo is among very few teams ranked inside the top 25 in yards per play offensively and defensively, and they had the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on the ropes in Week 2. The Rockets are playing at a high level right now with three consecutive victories heading into the Nassau.

Link:

2021 Bahamas Bowl teams: Who is playing in the Bahamas on December 17th - DraftKings Nation

NASSAU, Bahamas Rory McIlroy has gone from tears at the Ryder Cup to some of his best golf of the year, and right now his only complaint is the calendar.

"I wish it was the end of March," McIlroy said Thursday after a 6-under 66 to share the lead with Daniel Berger and Abraham Ancer in the Hero World Challenge.

McIlroy was referring to the Masters, the only major keeping him from the career Grand Slam, and there is plenty of golf to be played between now and the first full week of April. But he's been on a roll since spilling his emotions about how much the Ryder Cup means after a rough week at Whistling Straits.

He won the CJ Cup in Las Vegas. He was leading the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai after 68 holes until a bad break led to a sloppy finish and Collin Morikawa passed him by.

And then on a warm and blustery day in the Bahamas, he had six birdies and chipped in for eagle on the reachable par-4 14th for another good start.

It was far from perfect, and he only has to point at a double bogey on the par-5 ninth when he hit his second shot into the water. He failed to birdie two other par 5s, so this wasn't exactly a round where he got the most out of it.

But it was enough to make him slightly wistful the year was coming to and end.

"I wish it was a different time of the year the way I'm playing," McIlroy said. "But there's no reason why I can't pick up again in January and keep playing the way I'm playing. I'm still going to keep myself ticking over these next few weeks. I'm not going to completely shut the clubs away. ... My game's in good shape and I want to keep it there."

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Berger, who hasn't even played since the Ryder Cup. He showed up on the practice range at Albany on Monday, cell phone resting on his bag to play music, striped one drive and proudly announced, "Still got it!"

He was kidding on Monday, not so much on Thursday.

Berger birdied his opening four holes, made an eagle on the par-5 11th and stayed ahead of the 20-man field most of the day until the end. From the 18th fairway, into the wind with water guarding the left side of the green, he missed well to the right, his chip didn't reach the green and he had to make a 5-footer to escape with bogey.

It was the first time every shot counted on his card since Sept. 4 when he closed with 64 at the Tour Championship. There's been a lot of pool time, and more time on the tennis court than the golf course. He played with his father, former Davis Cup player Jay Berger.

"It's probably the longest break I've had in my professional career," he said. "It was a little scary taking over a month off because I haven't done that in a while, wondering if you're going to come back and still have it. But mentally and physically, I needed the break."

Collin Morikawa had a reasonable start in his bid to cap off his year with a win that would take him to No. 1 in the world. He shot 68 with a pair of sloppy 8-iron shots from the fairway that led to bogey. No matter what he does on the course, his year keeps getting better.

The British Open champion got engaged Tuesday night.

"I'm just happy," he said. "It's going to be a special date for us. It's going to be a great week no matter what."

Webb Simpson one-putted his last seven greens, five of them for birdie, one for bogey on the 18th after hitting his tee shot into a palmetto bush. He was one shot behind along with Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas, who suffered a worse fate than Simpson.

Thomas, wearing sunglasses for the first time because of laser surgery on his eyes a few weeks ago, reached 7 under for the round until also taking a penalty shot from the bushes right of the 18th fairway. He failed to get up-and-down and made double bogey.

Koepka played with him and was keeping pace until he bogeyed the 13th, failed to birdie the reachable par-4 14th and the par-5 15th and had to settle for 67.

"Trying to find it, man," Koepka said. "It feels like the last two years have been a struggle except for the majors or WGCs."

He left out the whipping he put on Bryson DeChambeau in the made-for-TV match in Las Vegas last week.

"Sometimes when you don't have it, it feels like you're never going to get it again," Koepka said. "But just got to keep going, keep fighting and figure it out."

___

For more AP golf coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Read more here:

Rory McIlroy part of 3-way tie for lead in the Bahamas - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Admiral McPherson, Seventh District Commander (center-right) visits Coral Harbour base to participate in delivery of a $200,000 boat to the RBDF (in background); also pictured are U.S. Charg dAffaires Usha Pitts (center), Commodore Defence Force Dr. Raymond King (second from right), U.S. Coast Gua

On November 30, Admiral Brendan McPherson, Seventh District Commander based in Miami, made his first official visit to The Bahamas to strengthen the bilateral maritime law enforcement partnership with the government of The Bahamas.

While on New Providence, U.S. Charg dAffaires Usha Pitts, accompanied by Admiral McPherson, officially delivered a 30-ft. Contender boat valued at approximately $200,000 to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) and the Government of The Bahamas, during an official dedication ceremony at the Coral Harbour base in Nassau. The U.S. officials were warmly received at Coral Harbour Base by Minister of National Security, the Honourable Wayne Munroe, and Commodore Defence Force, Dr. Raymond King.

The donated vessel has a fascinating backstory. In May of 2020, the U.S. Coast Guard, working with other law enforcement agencies and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association (NOAA), stopped and boarded a 39-foot vessel off the Florida Keys. During the investigation, it was discovered that the owner had illegally poached hundreds of pounds of fish in Bahamian waters. Needless to say, he was in violation of numerous fishing laws and his catch was seized and transferred to NOAA representatives. Eventually, the accused pleaded guilty, and part of his sentencing was to donate his vessel to the RBDF to help stop future illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in Bahamas waters.

This case highlights just one facet of the remarkable partnership between the United States and The Bahamas. The interdiction further illustrates the need for us to continue to improve our interoperability to uphold our laws, protect our environment, and to stop illegal fishing in our shared and international waters.

Upon delivery of the vessel, Admiral McPherson remarked, It is my pleasure to dedicate this Contender to the Defence Force on behalf of the United States. I know this asset will be well-utilized toward future law enforcement interdictions and for search and rescue operations.

In her remarks, Charg Pitts emphasized how valuable the partnership between the United States and The Bahamas is, noting that it is one of the closest bilateral relationships shes encountered in her entire diplomatic career.

Upon accepting the vessel on behalf of The Bahamas, Minister of National Security, the Honourable Wayne Monroe, expressed his gratitude for the boat and for the many other forms of assistance the United States has given and continues to give. Minister Monroe also met with the Admiral at his offices at the Ministry of National Security earlier in the day to discuss the bilateral security relationship.

The Admiral also met with Acting Prime Minister the Honourable Glenys Hanna-Martin first thing in the morning, to discuss the many areas of common interest and shared values between the United States and The Bahamas.

Admiral McPherson and Charg Pitts are now traveling to the Turks and Caicos Islands to further strengthen the unique OPBAT (Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos) security partnership. OPBAT is a cooperative multi-agency international operation supporting The Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands to stop illicit drug smuggling through the region. It serves as an example of international cooperation at its best.

By durazoda | 30 November, 2021 | Topics: News, Press Releases

Link:

U.S. Coast Guard District 7 Commander Visits Bahamas; U.S. Delivers $200K Boat to RBDF - US Embassy in The Bahamas

Share The Article

Last Updated 3 days ago

The Bahamas are considered one of the dreamiest getaways around the world, and they do not disappoint when it comes to beaches. Located in the Caribbean and consisting of nearly 700 islands, theyre home to a number of gorgeous beaches. If youre planning a trip to one (or more) of these islands, here are the top 5 beaches for all sorts of travelers.

Paradise Island lives up to the lofty expectations set by its name, and Cabbage Beach is a shining example of just how wonderful the island is. Gorgeous white sands line clear blue waters. Many water activities are available along the beach, including jet skiing and parasailing. Stroll down the shoreline to check out some of the open-to-public areas of nearby resorts such as Atlantis there are several shops and restaurants you can visit. A variety of vendors also offer drinks, snacks, and more along the beach itself. This is a great option for those looking to relax in the sun or enjoy water activities. The waters themselves, however, can be rough or home to rip tides, so this may not be the best option for swimming or those with young children.

The Love Beaches arent as big as some of the other beaches on this list, but their dreamy pink sand and gorgeous waters perfect for swimming thanks to being protected from the larger waves make them worth visiting. Located on Long Island, the Love Beaches are technically a set of four beaches that are also home to a serene, naturally occurring pool. This protected natural pool makes this an ideal option for families with children.

If youre visiting Grand Bahama, youll want to check out Gold Rock Beach. Part of the Lucayan National Park, Gold Rock Beach is situated approximately 25 miles from Freeport. Gold Rock Beach is home to sparkling crystal clear waters and gorgeous sands. While it is pretty secluded making for a relaxing trip it also offers some basic amenities such as fire pits and picnic tables. If you do visit, try to aim for low tide. The clear waters the beach is famous for extend over 70 yards into the sea during low tide meaning you can take a memorable stroll not just along the ocean, but also out through it.

Located on Big Major Cay, Pig beach offers more than just the usual sparkling waters and soft sand that beaches in the Bahamas are known for. Big Major Cay May be uninhabited by humans, however, hundreds of feral pigs call this island their home. In modern times visiting these pigs has become a tourist attraction. Visitors are able to check out the now-famous swimming pigs themselves, with several tours catering to this experience. The swimming pigs are not native to the island and their origin is something of a mystery. Some people purport that sailors brought the pigs to the island. Others suggest they may have swum over from a nearby shipwreck. Regardless of their origin, they are definitely an incredibly adorable and unique reason to visit pig beach.

Located near Freeport on Grand Bahama, Taina Beach is a serene, relaxing, white sand beach. This beach is perfect for lying in the sun, snorkeling, and so much more. A wide variety of water activities are offered nearby including parasailing and snorkeling. The beachs close proximity to Freeport means that several options for dining are also close by. The number of ways to enjoy yourself makes this an excellent choice for travelers of all sorts, from families with young children to couples looking for a romantic and relaxing day.

Read More:

Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19

Top 10 Gorgeous Places For A Tropical Winter Getaway

Book Hotels With Free CancellationDont Forget Your Travel Insurance

Join the community

TheTravel Off Path Community FB grouphas all the latest reopening news, conversations, and Q&As happening daily!

Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Paths latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox

Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictionscan change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationalitys entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories

Read more:

Top 5 Beaches In The Bahamas To Visit For 2022 - Travel Off Path

One of Barbados most outstanding sportspersons is spreading her wings across the Caribbean.

Senior national footballer Soraya Toppin-Herbert is the new Director of Womens Football Development in The Bahamas.

Toppin-Herbert has been a household name in the Barbados football arena since her early days at the West Terrace Primary School, where she mesmerized many with her ability and attitude; qualities which would earn her a football scholarship to Purdue University, where she enjoyed four years of Division 1 collegiate competition while earning a bachelors degree in Sports Science.

It is probably the grace of God, really working behind the scenes..."

The former Queens College student pursued and obtained two masters degrees immediately after her undergraduate studies: one in Business Administration and the other in Sport Business Management, both from the University of Central Florida.

Her qualifications and rich passion, saw her create Raya 34 Sports Inc, an organization that utilizes football to teach, mentor and empower young people.

Toppin-Herberts work-ethic and ingenuity was monitored and admired by many professionals, local and international, and according to her, those qualities, and the right connection at an ideal time, presented her with the opportunity to work in The Bahamas.

It is probably the grace of God, really working behind the scenes.

"The opportunity came about from a connection that was made when I attended the FIFA CIES programme in Trinidad. The General Secretary from The Bahamas Football Association wouldve been a part of that programme and there was a vacancy for the position, and he wouldve followed what I was doing in Barbados with my More than Boots programme and I came to mind.

Toppin-Herbert with members of her More than Boots programme

From there we started talking about what their plans were and it seemed like a really good fit in terms of my passion, which is football development, as well as youth development and thats how it started, said Toppin-Herbert.

Toppin-Herbert is no stranger to the operations of a football association, as she is the former Players and Competition Logistics Manager of the Barbados Football Association (BFA), a post which she held for 18 months.

She said her experience with the BFA gave her an opportunity to be a part of and understand the operations of a football association, both technically and administratively, but it was her work with the More than Boots programme, that really prepared her for her current role in The Bahamas.

As Director of Womens Football Development, Toppin-Herbert explained that she is responsible for anything and everything relating to the development of the female game in The Bahamas.

When we conversed for the interview, Toppin-Herbert had just finished her day by observing a female beach football session at the countrys National Beach Soccer Arena.

She passionately expressed her intention to develop beach football amongst females on the island, along with some other key areas of the female game, by maximizing the use of the national beach football facility.

There are also plans to have more activity amongst the senior women national teams, in an effort to improve their portfolio in the global game, but COVID-19 has delayed them for now.

The womens national team has been able to train and the Under 20s, so we really been focusing there, and then we recently started our womens beach programme, so thats been the focus and all weve been able to do because of COVID.

We are looking to get more active going into 2022. We are looking to get more programmes going and making sure we are tapping into all of the areas we can develop for players, coaches, referees, as well as administrators, Toppin-Herbert said.

Toppin-Herbert identified some similarities between her last position in the BFA and her current one but explained that there are some distinct differences; one such being the technical development responsibility and its marriage to the administrative operations of her role.

Its (the job is)a good mix. Its administrative in terms of programme planning and organizing and things like that, but then I also have tasks on the technical side like observing our coaching programmes and giving feedback.

"Recently we put in place a curriculum for our Centre of Excellence.

Toppin-Herberts initial contract expires in 2023 and she has highlighted some key objectives to achieve before her stint is over.

It would be a combination of things.

"I think one of the goals is to get our womens senior team ranked, because currently we arent ranked. We havent played enough games to be on the FIFA ranking.

"Another thing will be to see an increase in the number of participants from grassroots, all the way to seniors, and finally get the (womens) league going, because there hasnt been a womens league prior to COVID, so getting that up and running would be one of the goals.

The national midfielder said her location has not changed any of her playing aspirations or professional ones as it relates to her More than Boots programme.

She stated that she is remaining active, as she is still very interested in representing Barbados in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers and the More than Boots Programme is functioning efficiently due to a very strong support system.

Luckily, Im blessed with a very good support team in Barbados and one of my goals for my programme in Barbados is to grow it, so this helps me to push it.

"I have a really good administrative support team in my mother and some other persons back home who have taken up that role and then Ive also been able to bring in some other coaches to assist with the coaching.

"Through one of the partnerships with Coaches Across Continents, we collaborate with them a lot in terms of our curriculum. So, a lot of stuff is already structured, its just a matter of plugging and playing with it, Toppin-Herbert said.

View original post here:

Barbadian, new head of women's football in The Bahamas | Loop Cayman Islands - Loop News Cayman