Golf Tourism Set to Become a ‘Driver’ for St. Kitts – Recent Pro-Am Tournament Plus New Courses Provide Platform to Grow the Market

Royal St. Kitts Golf Course

St. Kitts Jan 18, 2011 – St. Kitts is marking the beginning of a concerted new drive into the lucrative golf tourism market with the recent completion of the first annual St. Kitts-Nevis Admiral’s Cup Pro-Am held on St. Kitts and Nevis from January 5-9, 2011.

“Golf travel has been identified as an area for growth that is in keeping with our target visitor and long-term plan for niche market tourism development,” said Senator Ricky Skerritt, Minister of Tourism & International Transport. “The inaugural Admiral’s Cup event launches our marketing efforts as a twin-island golf destination rather than simply hosting individual island events. Further, the two additional championship courses that are scheduled to open on St. Kitts over the next few years will provide additional options for golf enthusiasts and further strengthen our position in the marketplace.”

The St. Kitts-Nevis Admiral’s Cup Pro-Am was the first event to be hosted simultaneously by two islands with play on two world-class courses, the Royal St. Kitts Golf Club and the Nevis Golf Club. The event was managed by The Golf Connection and supported by the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, American Airlines, the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and the Four Season Resort Nevis. The Royal St. Kitts Golf Club is a an 18-hole Thomas McBroom designed championship course managed by Marriott Golf which features scenic holes on both the Atlantic and Caribbean. Having opened in 2003, it was the first Caribbean golf course to become Audubon Certified for its environmental quality. It has served as the premier golf course on St. Kitts and has been the site for the annual Legends Golf Classic, entering its 6th year in 2011. The Nevis Golf Club at Four Seasons Resort Nevis is an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones II designed championship course that will be celebrating its 20-year anniversary in February 2011.

Currently under construction on St. Kitts’ southeast peninsula, the 18-hole Tom Fazio designed championship golf course is a major component in the multi-million dollar Christophe Harbour development led by Kiawah Development Partners. Spanning over 250 acres, the course is set 500 feet above sea level on lush green hills overlooking the water and will also feature an elegant golf club. In the Northern part of St. Kitts, an 18-hole Ian Woosnam designed championship golf course is in development as part of the 400 acre Kittitian Hill resort complex, which will be managed by the award-winning Sedona Resorts.