My wife and I are leaving on an 11-night cruise of the southern caribbean on Monday, and I might end up playing a round of golf or two during the trip.

We are stopping at the following ports:

Philipsburg, St. Maarten
St. John's, Antigua
Basseterre, St. Kitts
Castries, St. Lucia
Bridgetown, Barbados
Margarita Island, Venezuela
Willemstad, Curacao
Oranjestad, Aruba

Any courses you could recommend that aren't too expensive, offer decent rental clubs and aren't a bazillion miles from the port? In addition, when renting clubs do you provide your own balls? I can throw a dozen of my own in the suitcase if necessary.

Can't speak to price but on the cruises I've taken with Royal Carribean I could make my tee times either online or on ship through the excursion desk

I went to St. Maarten around Thanksgiving last year and don't expect to play golf there. There is one course but it is nothing worth playing. The island itself is very nice and the people are nice. The food there is great and you will enjoy your trip around the southern carribean.

I can't recommend any golf in the Carribean, but I can darn sure tell you where to Scuba Dive. Also, go to Orient Beach in St. Marteen. Its clothing optional.....on the other hand.....based on some of the people I saw there, who had no business being naked even in their own shower......go somewhere else..ha ha.

Have vacationed in St Kitts the last two years. The Royal St Kitts Golf Club is affiliated with the Marriott and is very worthwhile course.

http://www.royalstkittsgolfclub.com/

Three holes on the back nine are on the Atlantic, and the course has been in exceptional shape during both trips.

Section ThirtyOne, You owe it to yourself to play Sandy Lane the Country Club course!!! This is where they held the World Cup of Golf back in dec. I played there 4 days after the event and enjoyed every moment of it!!!! It is expensive but well worth it. It is about a 20 min. ride from the port. Sandy Lane does offer rental clubs, I think they were Callaways. Not sure though, I traveled with my clubs. www.sandylane.com has plenty of information for you.

In Aruba I played Tierra Del Sol Resort & Country Club. Another excellent course. not as nice as Sandy Lane however. I think they have rental clubs also. It is about a 30 min. ride from the port. www.tierradelsol.com for more information

Enjoy your trip and let me know what you think of the courses. I know you will love them!



On the 10th tee at Sand Lane The Country Club course.

Depending on how much time you get in St. Maarten you can take the one hour fairy ride to Angullia and play a new Greg Norman design. The course on St. Maarten was hit by a hurricane and the owner's never but in money back into it. I second the previous comment about St. Maarten the island is wonderful the people are friendly. I recommending heading to Sunset Beach Bar in Maho and watching the planes come in for landing they get really close.

Link to course on Angullia
http://www.temenosanguilla.com/

Definitely try the St Lucia Golf and Country Club.
http://www.stluciagolf.com/
It is 20-25 minutes from Castries by Taxi. Really nice course - I was very pleasantly surprised. Quite a tight and tense opening 3 holes - dog leg right downhill par 5 to start, then par 3 to peninsula green (water short, right and long) always seemingly into the wind, which is coming off the Atlantic, and then short par 4 with a tight drive. Always ob or hazards on your mind and in your line of sight. Better to play conservatively. Opens out a bit on the rest of the front nine but a nice mix of holes, always undulating. Course really gets going as you climb up the hill for the 12th - brutally long uphill par 4 to heavily bunkered stadium green. Get your breath back on 13th tee and admire the view - can see both Carribean and Atlantic from here. Then spank your tee shot down the hill! 14th a sharp dog leg right with more room to the right than you might think, 15th goes the other way. 17th again a nice hole downhill that funnels you in to a narrow green. 18th slightly bland uphill par 4 to close. Conditioning good and green fees very reasonable (at least to a Brit, based on current dollar exchange rate). Have a good time. Also, if you are eating on the island, must go to the Coal Pot restaurant, very close to where the cruise ships berth.