It's 6.30am and the sun is just about to rise over the St Kitts Golf Club and I have positioned myself just behind the 14th green, it’s a fantastic sight looking out across the 14th green to the 16th and 17th holes that run alongside the azua blue ocean and the white horses are gently breaking on the rocks that run along the side of the fairway.
I am here because it's one of the best times of the day to take photos and my clubs are on the back of the cart and I can’t wait to play. My practice round is scheduled for 10.10am, before play gets under way on the three day St Kitts Admirals Cup ProAm, it’s a great way to come and play the beautiful courses of St Kitts and Nevis and believe me you will enjoy every moment of it here.
After taking my photos I hit some practice balls and meet up with my team and smash my driver down the first, it’s a great opening par 5 which gives you a birdie chance as long as you steer clear of the water down the right hand side!
The third is a great little hole that doglegs to the right and has the Caribbean Sea as a backdrop to the green. The 4th hole is the first of five par 3s on the course and from the tips two of them are over 230-yards across water, two others are over 190-yards and the 15th is the shortest at 161-yards and plays downhill with the Atlantic Ocean as its backdrop and what a spectacular hole that is. All the par 3s are strong holes here and fortunately there are five teeing options so you don’t have to go for the full carries over water!
Canadian golf course architect Thomas McBroom done a fantastic job when he started the redesign of the course here in 2002. The front nine has some really strong holes but it is the back nine that will take all the accolades and it really all starts at the 591-yard 11th hole when you get that first glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean in the distance. The 12th is the longest of the par 3s at 236-yards and from the tips it’s a big carry over the water, 13 and 14 are great holes but the 15th, 16th and 17th is where you will be getting your camera out the most, they are truly spectacular golf holes with the ocean playing a leading roll running along the left hand side of the fairway on 16 and 17 with the 17th green sitting on a little peninsula.
The 18th brings you back to the clubhouse and while it doesn’t have the drama of the ocean it has water running down the right with the green jutting into it, it’s a tough but fitting finale to what is a tough course set in beautiful surroundings and one that will live long in the memory.
3rd hole with the Caribbean SeaPalm trees at the par 4, 6thBunkering at the 10th hole
Great views from the 11th teeAtlantic backdrop at the 15thTough drive at the 16th
Looking back down the 14th and across to the 16th at Royal St Kitts
Looking back down the 14th and across to the 16th at Royal St Kitts
