Playing golf in St Barts comes up often in conversations with clients of our real estate agency in Gustavia. In the Caribbean, the peak golf season runs from December through April, when the dry climate brings the best playing conditions. That said, for both St Barts residents and visitors, playing golf does require some logistics, which we walk through in this article.
St Barts has no golf course of its own. The island's volcanic topography, its limited 24 km² territory and high land costs make any such project unlikely. Playing golf during a stay in St Barts therefore means heading to neighboring islands, accessible by private aircraft from St Barts, by scheduled commuter flight or by sea depending on the destination.
Four destinations stand out in the region. Anguilla, St Kitts and Nevis each host a course reachable as a day trip. Saint Lucia, further south, lends itself more naturally to a dedicated golf stay. Notably, two of the four courses share the same architect, Australian Greg Norman, who designed both Aurora Anguilla and Sandals Cap Estate.
The four courses below are listed from closest to farthest from St Barts, each entry covering the architect, the layout and how to get there.
Anguilla is a 25-minute flight from St Barts, or about 1.5 hours by boat. The course at Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club, formerly known as CuisinArt until the 2020 acquisition by Richard Schulze and the full renovation completed in 2021, stretches over 7,063 yards.
Greg Norman, who had drawn the original layout, returned to redesign it after hurricane impacts and the resort's transformation. The par-72 runs along the ocean on several holes and includes a golf school, a putting green and a pro shop. The 178-suite resort, with seven restaurants and a 27,000 sq ft spa, makes it easy to extend the golf day into a longer stay. More information on the official Aurora Anguilla website.
St Kitts is accessible from St Barts by charter or commuter flight via Sint-Maarten. Royal St Kitts Golf Club opened in 1976 and was fully redesigned in 2004 by Canadian architect Thomas McBroom, making it the only 18-hole course on the island.
The 18-hole layout spreads across 125 acres between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic, with several holes offering views over Nevis. The club features a driving range, a putting green, a pro shop and a restaurant. Group and private lessons are available with the club's pros. More information on the official Royal St Kitts Golf Club website.
Nevis is accessible from St Barts by direct charter, or via a stopover in St Kitts followed by a short boat ride. The Four Seasons Resort Nevis course was designed by Robert Trent Jones II and is laid out on the slopes of Mount Nevis, a dormant volcano peaking at 985 meters.
This par-71, 18-hole course is one of the region's most technically demanding due to the elevation changes and dense tropical vegetation. Several holes offer views over St Kitts and the Caribbean Sea. The resort offers a golf academy, pro shop, restaurant and all the amenities of a 5-star property. More information on the Four Seasons Nevis golf page.
Saint Lucia is reachable by a direct private flight, about an hour from St Barts. The Sandals St Lucia Golf & Country Club course, located at Cap Estate in the north of the island, was designed by Greg Norman, making it the second course by this architect accessible from St Barts.
This par-71 of 6,744 yards combines elevation changes with dense tropical vegetation, with views over the Caribbean Sea on several holes. The club is integrated into the all-inclusive Sandals resort, where guests benefit from complimentary green fees and transfers. Non-resort guests can also access the course by reservation. More information on the Sandals Saint Lucia golf page.
As you'd imagine, between choosing the island, arranging transfers from the airport or harbor, booking the green fee and dining on site, planning a day of golf from St Barts takes some coordination. That's why, beyond offering the finest selection of seasonal rentals in St Barts, our team takes care of everything for you through our concierge services, including yacht charter and private flight bookings to reach the neighboring islands with ease.
If you enjoyed this article, we also invite you to explore our guide to things to do in St Barts to plan your vacation. From diving to the island's hiking trails, you'll be spoilt for choice.
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