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Discover your
swing on a Caribbean
gem in St. Lucia
By Brandon
Tucker, Staff Writer
St. Lucia may not be as large or
as well-known as Jamaica
or the Bahamas.
But its beautiful landscape, wide array of activities, and burgeoning golf scene
puts it in a class by itself for a truly unique getaway.
This lush island located in the eastern chain of the Caribbean
islands is also a poised to become a legitimate golf destination.
Castries -- the capital city of this eastern Caribbean
paradise -- is home to 50,000 of the 150,000 residents and is located on the northwest
side of the island and just minutes from the Vigie Airport, one of two on the
island. Travel to the northern tip of the island and you will come to the town
of Cap Estate, home of St. Lucia Golf & Country Club.
St. Lucia Golf and Country Club is the only 18-hole course on the island and is
set in the scenic rolling hills of Cap Estate on the northern tip of the island.
The semi-private club welcomes the public and is located on the northern peninsula,
offering panoramic views of both the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean
Sea.
The par-71, plays to 6,829 yards from the tips and the par-5 546-yard first hole
tests your swing from the opening tee shot. Its stiff course rating of 74.6 will
surely keep you interested if you are looking to do more on vacation than get
a tan and sip smoothies. It is also the only course on the island that offers
a driving range, full-service pro shop and a golf academy to work out any last
minute kinks in the swing before teeing it up.
 The
Sandals St. Lucia Golf and Resort is an all-inclusive golf alternative to St.
Lucia Golf and Country Club. Sandals is a 210-acre resort that spares no detail.
Among the amenities of the resort is the eastern Caribbean's largest pool, ten
bars (including two swim-up), a half-mile long white sand beach and a 9-hole,
par-33 golf course. And once you've booked a room, it's all included, so play
round after round until your muscles ache and are ready for one of Sandals' five
whirlpools. Those not staying at the resort are welcome to the course as well,
and may play for a reasonable $30 for 9 holes and $45 for 18. You can choose to
walk the beautiful landscape with a caddy for just $5.
On the Southwestern shore of the island in Sourfriere is the Jalousie Hilton resort,
which also has a 9-hole par-3 course for those who are looking for just a taste
of golf during their stay on the island. Guests not staying at the hotel can play
the course with the purchase of a day pass to the resort for $75.
While St. Lucia Golf and Country Club is the island's only 18-hole course, it
will soon have company. Jack
Nicklaus will bring his first signature course to the eastern Caribbean islands.
The $100 million dollar project was announced in September of 2002 and plans to
begin construction on the 360-acre site will be sometime this year. With the addition
of this new course, which will give the island two full-length 18-hole courses,
St. Lucia expects to become a major golfing destination in the Caribbean.
Off Course
 Like
most Caribbean islands, expect an abundance of seafood on the menu at most restaurants.
Camilla's Restaurant and Bar is located in the heart of the town of Sourfriere
and serves fresh lobster and other dishes in a creole sauce. Like many restaurants
on the island, Camilla's offers a complimentary rum punch beverage. Many restaurants,
such as Josephine's Restaurant and Papa Don's, offer patrons a free bottle of
wine. If the free spirits don't work, eateries will often lure tourists in for
dinner by means of live steel drum or reggae bands and generous happy hours.
St. Lucia's scenery is breathtaking, which is why most restaurants make a point
to provide guests with a front row seat. Mango Tree Restaurant is set in the foothills
of Castries and overlooks the island's capital. Eagles Inn also boasts seafood
as good as the view of the neighboring harbor and sea.
As a British island, St. Lucia is a veritable hotbed for cricket. Most resorts
offer cricket and games may break out in parks year-round. The island also has
an abundance of yachting, diving, deep sea fishing, parasailing and jet skiing.
St. Lucia's golf ware are often overshadowed by its spectacular climate and terrain.
The middle of the island is scarcely populated due to its mountain range and 19,000
acres of tropical rain forests spread throughout the island. St. Lucia also possesses
the world's only "drive-in" volcano: the dormant Mt. Sourfriere, which also has
naturally heated sulfur baths.
Within the rainforest itself are 29 miles of trails where visitors can take government-licensed,
guided tours of the rare birds and plants that have called St. Lucia home for
nearly two-thousand years. Among the wildlife in the rainforests is the national
bird, the Amazona Versicolor, which thanks to recent government protection is
off the endangered species list. A variety of tours, varying in rigor will take
you through different regions of the rainforest.
Upon the arrival of nightfall, the island transforms into a festive scene of music
and culture. Most bars and clubs have theme nights and on the weekend there is
an abundance of live music on the island. On a Saturday night you can take in
jazz at Windjammer and Reggae and Calypso at Anse Chastenet. Or, you could see
a belly dancer at Razmataz or have good old fashioned country western music at
Bigwood Club. It is also Karaoke night somewhere on the island five nights a week.
Le Chalet Nightclub and Gaiety are among a handful of dance clubs on the island
that offer a mature, yet fun atmosphere. Walk through the streets of Sourfriere
or Castries on any given night and you will hear steel drums and reggae echoing
off the mountains and out into the sea.
Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.
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