MEDIA CONTACT:
Cathy A. Preece / Candice Adams-Kimmel
AdamsUnlimited
(212) 956-5900
What’s New and Noteworthy on Island
.jpg)
Photos, from Left to Right: A golfer takes a swing on the Royal St. Kitts Golf Course as part of the Second Annual St. Kitts-Nevis Admiral’s Cup Pro-Am Tournament; St. Kitts’ Minister of Tourism & International Transport Senator Ricky Skerritt shakes hands with Tournament Director Tom Jaronski of The Golf Connection LLC; The Second Annual St. Kitts-Nevis Admiral’s Cup Pro-Am Tournament trophy; A golfer takes a swing on the Four Seasons Nevis’ golf course as part of the Second Annual St. Kitts-Nevis Admiral’s Cup Pro-Am Tournament.
Basseterre, St. Kitts – The successful completion of the Second Annual St. Kitts-Nevis Admiral’s Cup Pro-Am golf tournament last week coupled with the scheduled completion in 2012 of another international golf course, confirms that the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis is well on the way on becoming a leading Caribbean golf destination.
Nearly 60 golfers and their guests from US-based private golf clubs traveled to St. Kitts & Nevis from January 7th to 14th to participate in the tournament and an exciting variety of entertainment activities off the course. The 54-hole tournament saw rounds one and three played on the links-style sea-side Royal St. Kitts Golf Club, an 18-hole course designed by Thomas McBroom that’s managed by Marriott Golf and features play on both the Caribbean and Atlantic. Having opened in 2003, it was the first Caribbean golf course to earn Audubon Certification for its environmental practices. Round two was played at the Nevis Golf Club at the world famous Four Seasons Resort in Nevis, an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones II designed championship course that overlooks Nevis’ central peak, the Caribbean Sea and St. Kitts. The St. Kitts-Nevis Admiral’s Cup Pro-Am tournament is the only golf event of its kind that is hosted simultaneously by two Caribbean islands featuring play on two world-class golf courses.
Senator Ricky Skerritt, Minister of Tourism & International Transport, himself an avid golfer, said the Admiral's Cup Pro-Am is designed for North American golf club professionals and their amateur guests looking for an exceptional Caribbean golf experience by playing on a variety of fine courses while enjoying the warm hospitality of two charming neighboring islands.
“The Admiral’s Cup is an important event for our future destination marketing efforts as we continue to develop St. Kitts & Nevis into a world-class golf destination,” said Minister Skerritt. “With the stunning hillside Ian Woosnam championship course scheduled to open at Kittitian Hill on St. Kitts in December 2012, this third high quality golf product will position us to grow the market further for golf tourism to our islands.”
Most of the visiting golfers traveled with their families, who took the opportunity to explore the islands, go shopping and experience a number of thrilling nature tours. The tournament ended in a fitting climax with an awards dinner ceremony at the St. Kitts Marriott organized by the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, with guests enjoying cultural performances by a local string band, folkloric clowns, moko jumbies and costumed carnival revelers.
Tournament Director Tom Jaronski of The Golf Connection LLC, which manages the event, said, "For the second year in a row, the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis put their best foot forward and showed event attendees why they are one of the top destinations in the Caribbean, and on their way to becoming a premier golf destination. With several new golf and resort projects in development, St. Kitts & Nevis will have even more top caliber courses and luxury accommodations to offer traveling golfers. The PGA Golf Pros and amateurs that attended this year's event were quick to realize the potential this destination holds and we expect word to spread."
The Tournament Champions who took home the Admiral’s Cup this year were the Wilmington Island Club of Savannah, GA, led by Head Golf Pro Patrick Richardson with team members Ron Wodowski, Paul Calamari and Jerry Wilhelm. The Runners-Up were from Alpine Country Club of Cranston, RI, led by Head Golf Pro Ed Kirby with team members Richard Falcone, Bob Cosentino and Peter Germani. The event was supported by the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, St. Kitts Marriott Resort & Royal Beach Casino, Four Seasons Resort Nevis, American Airlines, NIKE GOLF, Carib Beer, Brinley Gold Rum, Kantours and Abbot’s Jewelry. For more information about the event or to inquire about participation for next year, visit http://www.stkittsproam.com or call The Golf Connection LLC at call 484-762-1185.
St. Kitts was named one of the “Top 12 Spots that should be on your list for 2012” by Caribbean Travel + Life magazine and the island’s Brimstone Hill Fortress was named one of “10 Great Places To Explore The World's Best-Kept Secrets” by USA Today. As of summer 2011, the destination also ranks #1 on a list of the 16 Best Caribbean Vacations by US News & World Report. Last year, St. Kitts was named a top destination for 2011 by both AOL Travel and British Airways. Located in the northern Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, it offers a diverse tourism product developed from the destination’s natural beauty, cultural heritage and rich history. The island’s stunning variety of tourism attractions include hiking through the tropical rainforest, riding the scenic railway that connects the island’s former sugar plantations, visiting the Caribelle Batik factory, touring Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, the only man-made UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Eastern Caribbean, and more traditional vacation pastimes such as watersports, golf, shopping, tennis, gourmet dining, gaming at St. Kitts’ exclusive casino or simply relaxing on one of the island’s sandy beaches. Accommodations range from intimate plantation inns to larger hotels and resorts.
For more information about St. Kitts, please contact the St. Kitts Tourism Authority toll free from the US at 1-800-582-6208 or from Canada 1-888-395-4887, e-mail info@stkittstourism.kn, visit www.stkittstourism.kn, or connect on Facebook, Twitter and/or YouTube.
# # #
