“Hosting PGA Golf Club Professionals and their guests is helping us to build awareness for St. Kitts & Nevis as a world-class, twin-island golf destination within this affluent target niche demographic,” said Senator Ricky Skerritt, Minister of Tourism & International Transport. “With two more championship courses scheduled to open at Kittitian Hill and Christophe Harbour over the next two years, we are in an excellent position to expand our golf tourism market.”
Kicking off the tournament activities, the visiting golfers and their guests were treated to a welcome dinner on the southeast peninsula at Carambola Beach Club. PGA golf professionals also enjoyed a visit to the northern side of the island, where they received a preview of the soon-to-open Kittitian Hill and the stunning views from its developing hillside Ian Woosnam designed course.
In addition, visiting PGA professionals Patrick Richardson, from the Wilmington Island Club in Savannah, Georgia and Ed Kriby from the Alpine Country Club in Cranston, Rhode Island, conducted a youth golf clinic for local budding junior players, giving the participating children numerous tips and techniques to further grow their skills while eliciting their genuinely appreciative smiles.
Mr. Richardson presented the Royal St. Kitts Golf Club with a U.S. Kids Golf Fitting System and an assortment of junior clubs on behalf of the Georgia PGA Foundation, which is committed to growing the game of golf in Georgia and beyond its borders. Mr. Kirby, the New England PGA Player of the Year, gave aspiring players NIKE GOLF hats and balls to assist in the development.
Refreshments and local food served on the various holes throughout Admiral’s Cup tournament play created a festive atmosphere of friendly competition that permeated throughout the event. Island tours, relaxing on the beach and indulging in spa treatments were popular activities with non-golfing guests.
A boat transfer to Nevis for tournament play on the Four Seasons Resort golf course demonstrated how easily accessible the attractions of St. Kitts’ sister island. Meanwhile, the closing Awards Gala provided the visitors, many of whom were returning guests having participated in previous year’s tournaments, with an exciting glimpse of the island’s culture with moko-jumbies, masquerades, clowns and Carnival girls.
Upon conclusion of the event, many of the guests remarked upon the welcoming people and scenic natural landscape of the twin-island destination.
Winning the 3-day, 54-hole tournament for the Admirals’ Cup was the 4-person team from 1757 Golf Club in Dulles, Virginia, with a score of 243 (42-under par). The 1757 Golf Club team, which hails from one of the top ten source markets for visitor arrivals into St. Kitts, also included Minister Ricky Skerritt as their VIP guest golfer.
Also receiving runner-up Admiral’s Cup awards were the second place winners from St. Andrew’s South Golf Club in Punta Gorda, Florida and third place finishers Crans Sur Sierre Golf Club from Switzerland.
Each of the eleven international Pro-Am golf teams was comprised of one host professional plus three amateurs staying for either four or seven nights. Players competed for group and individual prizes and enjoyed play on two of the Caribbean’s most scenic and challenging courses.
Rounds one and three were played on the links-style Royal St. Kitts Golf Club, an 18-hole course featuring holes on both the Caribbean and Atlantic that’s managed by Marriott Golf. Round two was played at the Four Seasons Resort in Nevis, featuring the par 71, 18-hole Robert Trent Jones II designed championship mountain-side course that overlooks the Caribbean Sea and St. Kitts with a spectacular beach-side finishing 18thgreen.
All players and guests enjoyed the hospitality and renowned service of the St. Kitts Marriott Resort & Royal Beach Casino, the host hotel for the event. The Admiral’s Cup Pro-Am is managed by The Golf Connection and supported by the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and the Four Seasons Resort Nevis. For more information, visit www.StKittsProAm.com or call 484-762-1185.