The Grand Finale

All room reservations will go through Jennifer Nicholas rather than the hotel:  jennifer.nicholas@elsforautism.org

Reservations: Each golfing guest will receive a complimentary Run of House Guest Room at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar. On the registration link, you will have the opportunity to request additional nights and/or room upgrades. Additional night requests and upgrades will be honored based on availability at the property.

Check-in: 
October 2nd, 4:00 p.m., Golden Circle attendees
October 3rd, 4:00 p.m., non-Golden Circle attendees

Check-out: 
October 5th, 11:00 a.m., all attendees

Additional Nights:
Guests may extend their Run of House Guest Room reservation at the rate of $179.00/night, subject to availability.

Room Upgrade Information:

• Ocean View King –$125.00 upgrade fee per night
• Ocean View King Balcony –200.00 upgrade fee per night
• One-Bedroom Fountain View Residence, West Tower –$225.00 upgrade fee per night
• One-Bedroom Ocean View, Residence, West Tower –$275.00 upgrade fee per night
• One-Bedroom Ocean View Residence, The Reserve –$400.00 upgrade fee per night

Click here to view the room and suite offerings at the Baha Mar’s Grand Hyatt. Please note that room upgrade fees are not included and are the responsibility of the guests. Room upgrades are based on a first come, first served basis and are subject to availability. If the upgrade option you select is not available, you will receive the next best upgrade. If you are looking to book accommodations outside the options provided, please book through Baha Mar directly.

Hotel address:
P.O. Box SP-64324
One Baha Mar Blvd.
Nassau, The Bahamas
Hotel website: bahamar.grand.hyatt.com

Complimentary transportation will be provided to/from Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, The Bahamas to/from the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar. Please note, airport transportation will ONLY be available on Oct. 2 – 3 for arriving flights and on Oct. 5 for departing flights. If you have extended your trip, you will be responsible for arranging your airport transportation.

Your flights to the Grand Finale must be booked prior to filling out the registration form.

Els for Autism is closely monitoring the COVID-19 travel restrictions and requirements in The Bahamas. Be advised that the COVID-19 protocol for the Grand Finale may be adjusted at any time. For the latest information, click here.

Els for Autism is offering an optional, free, one-hour autism consultation as part of the Grand Finale.

About the consultations: 

During the consultation, Erin Brooker Lozott, BCBA-D, CCC-SLP, Program Director, Els for Autism Foundation®, will provide a review of your child’s current educational placement, progress at home during activities of daily living, therapeutic intervention plans, and participation in community-based activities.

Erin will provide specific recommendations in the areas of:

• cognitive skills
• language skills
• social communication adaptive skills
• strategies to support behavioral concerns

The needs of your family will be discussed with recommendations offered including:

• caregiver relations
• sibling needs
• extended family concerns
• going out in the community
• traveling as a family

For Erin Brooker Lozott’s full bio, click here.

“RESORT EVENING WEAR”

Ladies:
Women are encouraged to wear a nice top or blouse with a pair of jeans or an elegant skirt. Dresses are also suggested but consider the rooftop breeze.
Footwear:
formal sandals, flats, or wedges

Gentlemen:
Men are encouraged to wear a nice long-sleeved shirt or a polo shirt with a nice pair of jeans, trousers or shorts.
Footwear:
loafers, deck shoes

“RESORT CASUAL”

Swimsuits with swimsuit coverup optional but encouraged.

Ladies:
Women are encouraged to wear a sundress, skirt, or shorts made out of breathable materials such as linen, flax, silk, or light knits.
Footwear:
sandals, tennis, or deck shoes

Gentlemen:
Men are encouraged to wear swim shorts or shorts with a golf or polo shirt.
Footwear:
sandals, tennis, or deck shoes

“ISLAND FORMAL”
Opt for brighter colors and breathable fabrics

Ladies:
Women are encouraged to wear a nice dress or jumpsuit.
Footwear:
formal sandals, wedges, or heals

Gentlemen:
jacket and tie optional
consider a breathable sportscoat to finish your outfit
Footwear:
loafers, deck shoes, or dress shoes – sandals not permitted

Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at 3 p.m. EST.

Teams who raise $30,000 (USD) or more during the 2022 Golf Challenge regional event series will be upgraded to ‘VIP Golden Circle’ status qualifying them for a range of unique privileges including an extra night of hotel accommodation on Oct. 2^nd.

About the country: Commonwealth of The Bahamas is a country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the Atlantic. The archipelagic state consists of more than 700 islands, cays (/ˈkiː/ or /ˈkeɪ/), and islets in the Atlantic Ocean, with approximately 30 inhabited. In total, The Bahamas has a land area of 5,382 square miles – a bit smaller than Connecticut.

Formerly a British colony, The Bahamas became an independent country within the Commonwealth in 1973. The capital of The Bahamas is Nassau on the island of New Providence.

Location: The Bahamas is located north of Cuba, northwest of the island of Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, southeast of the US state of Florida, and east of the Florida Keys.

Time Zone and Daylight Savings: The Bahamas is under US Eastern Standard Time. Daylight saving time is just like in the US time zone (Spring = 1 hour forward, Fall = 1 hour back)

Approximate Sunrise and Sunset Times: In the month of October  (Daylight Savings Time) –
Sunrise: 7:08 a.m.
Sunset: 6:40 p.m.

Approximate Temperature Maximums and Minimums: In the month of October – 
Mean Daily Maximum Temperature: 87 F
Mean Daily Minimum Temperature: 74 F

Currency:  The Bahamian currency is uniquely colored, and the paper money comes in $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. The coins come in the same units as the US.

The Bahamian dollar is on par with the US dollar. You could expect to pay a commission when exchanging traveler’s checks for local currency and when converting local currency back into US dollars. US dollars may be spent in all stores although some of the smaller places do not accept the larger bills.

National items: The yellow elder is the national flower, the Lignum Vitae (tree of life) is the national tree, the flamingo is the national bird, and the blue marlin is the national fish.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2^ND

For attendees flying in on Sunday, October 2nd, ground transportation will be available for Lynden Pindling International Airport Pick-Up

11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Event Registration (Golden Circle Guests Only)
Venue: Lobby Registration Desk 3

4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
VIP Golden Circle Reception (Golden Circle Guests Only)
Venue: Marcus Up Top
Attire: Resort Cocktail

MONDAY, OCTOBER 3^rd

For attendees flying in on Monday, October 3rd, ground transportation will be available for Lynden Pindling International Airport Pick-Up

12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Event Registration (All Guests)
Venue: Lobby Registration Desk 3

9:00 a.m.
Golf Challenge Grand Finale Tournament
Venue: Albany Golf Club
Round trip shuttle transportation will be provided

7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Welcome Party (All Guests)
Venue: Baha Bay Entertainment
Dress Code: Resort Casual

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4^TH

9:00 a.m.
Golf Challenge Grand Finale Tournament
Venue: Albany Golf Club
Round trip shuttle transportation will be provided

6:00 p.m. –7:00 p.m.
Cocktail Reception (All Guests)
Venue: TBD
Dress Code: Island Formal

7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Dinner, Gala Celebration, Auction & Awards Ceremony (All Guests)
Venue: New Providence Ballroom
Dress Code: Island Formal

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5^TH

For attendees departing on Wednesday, October 5h, ground transportation will be available to Lynden Pindling International Airport for Drop-Off

11:00 a.m.  
Hotel room check-out

Albany’s 18-hole championship golf course, designed by Ernie Els, combines the best of links and desert features with windswept dunes and numerous scenic and strategically challenging water features. In addition to the par-72, 7,400-yard golf course, Albany features first-class practice facilities including a 400-yard driving range, short game area with chipping and putting greens.

• Format: Shotgun starting at 9 a.m. on both Monday, Oct. 3, and Tuesday, Oct. 4
• Transportation: Shuttles will available from Grand Hyatt Baha Mar to Albany and back. Shuttles will start to leave at 7:00 a.m.
• Breakfast: Grab and go breakfast will be available at the Albany Golf Course.
• Bag Tags: Els for Autism will be mailing attendees a gift box prior to the Grand Finale. The gift box will include a bag tag for your golf bag. We request you tag your bag prior to arrival to help expedite the process.
• Clubs: Clubs are available to rent at the Albany Golf Course.

The Welcome Party will take place on Monday, October 3^rd from 7-10 p.m. at the Baha Bay Entertainment Zone. The waterpark will be closed to other hotel guests during the private Welcome Party.  To enjoy the waterpark, two water features will be open for Grand Finale attendees to enjoy:

• The Surf
• Pirates Plunge

Additionally, at the waterpark, Grand Finale attendees can enjoy a secluded casino gambling pavilion.  The dress code for this event is “Resort Casual” and it is explained above in the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section.

The Els for Autism Golf Challenge Grand Finale Awards Ceremony and Gala Celebration will take place on Tuesday, October 4th in the New Providence Ballroom in the Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center.  The night will include a cocktail reception and dinner.  The dress code for this event is “Island Formal” and it is explained above in the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section.

Please check back soon for the silent auction information!

Els for Autism has covered the VAT tax per room. This provides attendees use of the Grand Hyatt Hotel’s activities and amenities: https://bahamar.com/experiences/.