AFTER CRUISING FOR SEVEN DAYS from New York aboard the Norwegian Gem, we arrived at the beautiful island of St. Kitts. After disembarking, our friendly taxi driver, Mikey Marlus, dropped us at the Marriott St. Kitts and agreed to return at a set pick-up time. A large group of cruisers queued to check in, but because we had brought our own clubs — a last-minute decision — we were out the door first. The starter, seeing us fumbling with bags and shoes, suggested we begin on Hole 13. It was a smart move: we played holes 13–18 and then regrouped to play holes 10–12, completing the back nine quickly.
Royal St. Kitts Golf Club opened in 1976 and underwent a major renovation in 2002, reopening on Nov. 8, 2004. The course spans 125 irrigated acres and is unique for offering play along both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Canadian architect Thomas McBroom’s redesign added water hazards to 12 holes, 83 bunkers and hundreds of coconut palms along the Atlantic side. The design makes excellent use of the natural terrain, providing habitat for egrets, lizards and green-tailed monkeys, which we spotted in the distance during our round. My companion for the day, Paul Gosselin, and I enjoyed a memorable, if very warm, day of golf.
HOLE 13 | 515 yards, par 5
Starting here meant we wanted to keep the pace, so we hit off right away. My drive settled left of the right fairway bunker while Paul’s sailed beyond that bunker and slightly right. Marsh and water come into play on this hole, and unfortunately Paul’s ball ended up beyond the margin of safety. The fairway is flat but can funnel balls into thick rough, so accuracy on the second shot is crucial. I reached the green in four and two-putted for a bogey.
HOLE 15 | 161 yards, par 3
Don’t be fooled by the yardage. This hole has a little of a Pebble Beach feel: ocean wind from the Atlantic can influence your tee shot. The elevated tee offers stunning views of the Atlantic behind the green and a neighboring island on the horizon. The green is protected by eight bunkers and features significant undulation that complicates putting. I struck an iron to about 13 feet from the pin and missed the birdie putt, making par. Paul landed just off the green and chipped up for a bogey.
Paul chipping on Hole 15 © FRANCIS X. GALLAGHER
HOLE 16 | 383 yards, par 4
By Hole 16 you are alongside the Atlantic, which sprays mist across the fairway at times. Our drives on this hole were nearly perfect: mine hugged the beach edge before kicking back toward the fairway, and Paul’s carried past mine to land 80 yards further on the centerline. Accuracy off the tee is vital — aim right-center to avoid the ocean. The approach looks straightforward, but the Atlantic is ever-present and ready to catch any errant shot. I overshot the green and missed a par, while Paul reached the green and two-putted for par.
HOLE 17 | 404 yards, par 4
Modeled after the 18th at Pebble Beach, Hole 17 offers dramatic ocean scenery with waves crashing along the entire left side and a small pond on the right. A safe, clean drive to the right-center is the play, as the green juts back toward the Atlantic like a small peninsula. I struggled here and carded a double bogey, while Paul executed a steady par. It’s a stunning and memorable hole.
HOLE 11 | 591 yards, par 5
Jumping around to finish the back nine, a kind foursome let us play through on Hole 11. From the tips this is the longest par 5 at Royal St. Kitts, with an elevated tee that hints at the Atlantic view. A salt marsh sits right of the tee but doesn’t come into play, while egrets nested near the pond that day. The dogleg left features bunkers guarding the left side and a water hazard running the length of the right. Paul scrambled to make par; I managed only a bogey.
HOLE 2 | 451 yards, par 4
Hole 2 demands a little local knowledge. It’s a dogleg right that tempts you to cut the corner, but that gamble can easily send you into the yards of nearby residents where the hole bends. Unless you can hit a monstrous drive, play more left than you think. My tee shot ended just inside the right boundary but remained playable, and I chipped back into the fairway from some growth. Paul found a better position up the right. Protecting the green are numerous bunkers that add to the challenge.
HOLE 9 | 192 yards, par 3
Hole 9 plays into prevailing winds, making club selection tricky. Many players opt for a fairway wood to counter the wind and distance; an iron can leave you short and surrounded by bunkers on both sides. If you misjudge the distance, an up-and-down from just off the green is often possible. On our day the wind died down and the heat built up as we closed out the round. We managed two pars to finish, then headed to the clubhouse for a well-earned drink and Royal St. Kitts’ renowned tuna salad. Mikey was waiting and delivered us back to the Norwegian Gem right on schedule for departure.
Royal St. Kitts Golf Club
858 Zenway Blvd.
Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis
West Indies
tel 869 466 2700
royalstkittsgolfclub.com