We all know that tourists come to the Caribbean to sail & snorkel; sail & dive; sail & party- but who would have ever thought that visitors could sail throughout the Caribbean on a golfing and sailing holidays? Danish sailor and golfer Ulla Gotfredsen has actually visited every golf course in the Caribbean.
Golfing and Sailing Holidays
“Most of the Caribbean islands are fairly small and can only support one or two golf courses. A lot of visitors want to play more than one course when they’re on a holiday. Normally doing that would entail spending every other day in an airport—packing, unpacking and repacking.” Instead, Gotfredsen suggests, visitors can charter a yacht, then “sail from island to island with the wind at your back and golfing on your mind.”
The Caribbean does have some of the most beautiful golf courses in the world and to combine them with splendid sailing conditions, crystal blue waters, and a crewed yacht would, indeed, be quite a vacation – the perfect golfing and sailing holidays.
US Virgin Islands Golfing and Sailing Holidays
Charters can begin in the USVI at St. Thomas, for the challenging Mahogany Run golf course, stop for a break in St. John, then take a day for sailing down to St. Croix. There, golfers can play three courses: The oceanfront 18-hole Buccaneer Resort, the tournament quality Carambola Resort Golf Club, or the whimsical 9-hole Reef Golf course, “easternmost golf course in the United States.”
Puerto Rico / Spanish Virgin Islands Golfing and Sailing Holidays
Another day of sailing can culminate in the “Spanish” Virgin Islands. A golfing enthusiast could anchor at Vieques, sample the local culture, sail on to Puerto Rico, and then play the challenging El Conquistador and the Dorado Beach golf courses.
Antigua and Nevis Golfing and Sailing Holidays
Another option is to charter a yacht further down island and start your vacation by playing Cedar Valley and Jolly Harbour golf courses in Antigua; spend a day sailing to Nevis and then play a round of golf at the beautiful Four Seasons Resort. The following day a suggestion for a real challenge would be to sail or ferry to nearby St. Kitts where an avid golfer can battle winds and 88 bunkers, at the Royal St. Kitts Golf Club. Wanting even more, aficionados could continue on to St. Marten and finish on the newly opened Jack Nicklaus course in Anguilla. A schedule like this makes even me want to take up the sport.
Gotfredsen (www.amazingcharters.com) points out other obvious benefits for golfers going the charter route. “On board chefs are available for special dietary needs as provisioning is individually designed for the guests’ personal lifestyles. There are activities for everyone—sightseeing, a trip to the local spa, or just limin` back and enjoying the luxury and fantastic service on board a yacht. At the end of a day, with everyone having done what they wanted, the golfing family would enjoy a perfect sunset with their favorite sundowner.”
For a complete guide, find Golf Courses of the Caribbean
CARIBBEAN GOLF COURSES
St. Thomas – Mahogany Run
St. Croix – The Buccaneer Resort, Reef Golf Course & Carambola Resort Golf Club.
Anguilla – Jack Nicholas Golf Course
St. Maarten & St. Martin – Mullet Bay Resort
Nevis – Four Seasons Resort Golf Course
St. Kitts – The Royal St. Kitts Golf Club
Antigua & Barbuda – Cedar Valley Golf Club, Half Moon Bay Golf Club & Jolly Harbour Golf Course
Guadeloupe – Saint-Francois Golf Course
Martinique – du Bout’s Marina & Golf Course
St. Lucia – Sandals Regency St. Lucia Golf Resort & Spa
St. Vincent and the Grenadines –
Canouan – Carenage Bay Beach & Golf Club
Grenada – Grenada Golf Club
