Golf and Tennis in Saint Lucia

Why play here

Saint Lucia is not a huge golfing island, and that is part of the charm. There are no crowded tee sheets or long waits between holes, and a round here tends to feel like an outing rather than a production. The weather is warm for most of the year, the views are wide, and a good lunch is never far from the clubhouse.

Most of the serious golf sits in the far north, a short drive from Rodney Bay and Gros Islet. Tennis is more widely spread, with courts at many resorts and one dedicated national centre. If you like to stay active between beach days, this guide will help you choose.

The course at Cap Estate

The best-known course on the island is the 18-hole, par 71 layout at Cap Estate, run as the Sandals Saint Lucia Golf and Country Club. It was redesigned by Greg Norman's course design team and plays across rolling hills with real changes in elevation. Several holes give you sweeping views of the Caribbean to one side and the Atlantic coastline to the other, which makes it hard to concentrate on your swing.

Expect a practice area, a putting green, lessons and rental equipment, so you do not need to bring clubs if you are travelling light. Beginners can book a lesson before heading out, and confident players will find enough bunkering and slope to keep things honest. Check current tee times and any guest access rules before you travel, because they can differ for resort guests and visitors staying elsewhere.

• Book an early tee time to play before the heat builds.
• Bring a hat, sun cream and plenty of water, as shade is limited on the course.
• Ask about rental clubs and buggies when you reserve.

Cabot Saint Lucia and the second nine

On the northern tip of the island, Cabot Saint Lucia is being developed on a peninsula of about 375 acres. Its 18-hole course was designed by Coore and Crenshaw, a pairing known for natural, walkable layouts, and it sits within a private members community that also includes homes. Because access arrangements for visitors can change, contact the club directly to find out whether you can play as a guest.

Closer to the capital, Sandals La Toc has a shorter nine-hole course with narrow fairways that reward accuracy over power. It is a handy option if you have only a couple of hours, and it is a good place to introduce a friend to the game. The drive from Castries is short.

Tennis for every level

Many resorts have their own courts, laid out among gardens and often with a view of the sea. You can usually book a casual hit, an evening match under lights, or private coaching, and some places run clinics for children. Stays at Sandals Grande and Cap Maison put you close to the northern sports scene, and our where to stay guide helps you compare the rest.

The National Tennis Centre at Beausejour, close to the cricket ground, has six courts including a stadium court used for tournaments. It has hosted regional and international competitions, and it has dressing rooms and training space for players. If you want to know what else the island offers for sport, read our sports and fitness guide.

Planning your game

The drier months, broadly December to May, give the most settled conditions, and early mornings are pleasant all year. Afternoon showers pass quickly in the wetter season, but the greens can be slower after heavy rain. Our best time to visit guide explains the pattern, and what to pack covers golf shoes, rackets and sun protection.

Allow a half day for a full round including travel, and about an hour and a half for a tennis session with a cool drink afterwards. Leave a little flexibility for weather, and ask your resort desk to arrange transport if you are not hiring a car, as set out in our getting around guide.

Making a day of it

A morning round fits neatly with an afternoon at the beach or a visit to Pigeon Island, which is only a few minutes away. In the evening you can book a table in Rodney Bay, or join a sunset cruise as described in our sailing and boat trips guide.

If your legs need looking after, a massage or a soak is easy to arrange, and the spa rituals guide describes the island's approach to treatments. Golf and tennis also combine well with a wedding or honeymoon, and the weddings and honeymoons page shows how couples build active days into their trips.

What is it like to play golf at Cap Estate in Saint Lucia?

Golf at Cap Estate in Saint Lucia is an 18-hole championship round at the Sandals Saint Lucia Golf and Country Club, redesigned by Greg Norman Golf Course Design, played over rolling hills with ocean views across both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic. It suits confident golfers and keen beginners alike, with lessons, practice facilities and rental equipment available to visitors. Check the dress code before you go, as golf clubs often ask for collared shirts and soft-spiked shoes. Pack light, breathable clothing and a spare shirt for after the round. The clubhouse is a pleasant place to cool down, and a long cold drink at the end of the course is a ritual worth observing.

The steep changes in elevation give the course its character. Several holes look out over the sea on both sides of the northern tip of the island, so expect to pause between shots to take in the view. The setting is quiet, lush and tropical, and the pace of play is usually relaxed. Book the earliest tee time you can, because the heat builds fast and shade on the course is limited. Walking the course is possible, but the hills and the heat make a buggy sensible for most players. Ask about caddies and about the practice area before you tee off. A short warm-up on the range makes the first holes more enjoyable, particularly if you have been travelling for many hours.

Travel light if you wish, since clubs can be hired. Bring a hat, sun protection and plenty of water, and ask when you book about buggies and guest arrangements, which can differ for resort guests and visitors staying elsewhere. The course is a short drive from Rodney Bay and Gros Islet, so it fits a morning round followed by lunch and an afternoon at the beach. Our hotels in Saint Lucia guide helps you choose a base nearby. Think about how golf fits your party. A mixed group of golfers and non-golfers can split the morning, with some on the course and others at the pool or the spa. Plan a shared lunch afterwards, and you have a day that suits everyone without long compromises on either side.

Can visitors play golf at Cabot Saint Lucia?

Visitors cannot assume they can play golf at Cabot Saint Lucia, because it is part of a private members community with residential options, and access for guests depends on the club's current arrangements. It is an 18-hole course designed by Coore and Crenshaw on a peninsula of about 375 acres at the island's northern tip, so contact the club directly before you travel. Cabot is a newer development on the northern tip of the island. Developments like this take time, and facilities change, so follow news from the club if you are interested. For now, the best advice is to ask the question directly before booking.

The Coore and Crenshaw partnership is known for natural, walkable layouts that sit lightly in the landscape, and enthusiasts follow the project for that reason. If you cannot play, the area is still worth seeing from the coast road, and the northern tip is a dramatic place where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean. Do not plan your whole trip around the course unless access is confirmed in writing. The northern tip is windier than the resort strip, and the sea can be rougher on the Atlantic side. If you visit the area, take care near cliffs and swim only where local people advise. The scenery is dramatic and well worth a drive on a clear day.

For golfers who want a second option, Cap Estate remains the practical choice, and a shorter course near Castries is a convenient alternative if time is limited. Golf is a good activity for couples with different interests, as one partner can play while the other enjoys the spa, and our spa rituals guide describes treatments across the island. Check the best time to visit guide for the drier months, when fairways play firmest. Golf is a natural fit with a longer stay. Anyone planning a week or more in the north can fit in several rounds, with rest days between. Look at the wider range of activities on offer so that your holiday has variety, and do not feel obliged to play every day.

Where can you play tennis in Saint Lucia?

You can play tennis at many resorts in Saint Lucia, where courts sit among tropical gardens with ocean views, and you can usually arrange a casual match, an evening game or private coaching with a professional. Facilities suit beginners, recreational players and experienced players, and courts are generally close to beaches, restaurants and wellness facilities. Tennis courts often have lights, which allows play in the cool of the evening. This is popular with families, who can play after the afternoon heat has passed. Ask whether courts need to be booked, and whether coaches are available for a short lesson or a longer set of sessions.

Tennis is easy to slot into a resort stay. Early morning is the coolest time, and many guests play before breakfast, then spend the middle of the day by the pool. If you are travelling as a family, ask the resort about lessons for children and whether rackets and balls are provided. Our Sandals Grande guide describes a stay in the north where sport is part of the offer. Children and teenagers often enjoy a first lesson, and a few hours with a coach can improve technique quickly. Resorts sometimes run clinics or friendly tournaments for guests. If your family is competitive, a game of mixed doubles by the sea may become the funniest hour of your holiday.

If you want to combine racket sports with other activities, the sports and fitness guide covers pitches, water sports and gyms, and the cricket culture guide adds a spectator option nearby. For an end-of-day treat, a sunset sail is described in our catamaran cruises guide. Pack suitable shoes and a spare shirt. Remember the sun. Even in the early morning, UV levels in the Caribbean are strong, and a hat, sunglasses and sun cream are essential. Drink more water than you think you need, and take a break in the shade if you begin to feel tired. Sport is more fun when you feel good.

Sport in the wider island picture

Golf and tennis sit alongside a broader sporting life. The sport in Saint Lucia page describes the games the island loves, and the climate guide helps you plan when to play.

The courses and courts also reflect the tourism economy and the island's geography, both worth a look if you enjoy knowing how a place works.

Where to stay and how to plan

Most visitors fit this into holidays to St Lucia, so choose your base first. Compare St Lucia hotels by area and style, and read our guides to luxury hotels in St Lucia and all inclusive resorts in St Lucia if you are choosing between a boutique stay and an all in package.

Then set your dates with the best time to visit St Lucia, book flights to St Lucia and pick days out from our St Lucia itineraries. Couples can also read about a honeymoon in St Lucia or weddings in St Lucia.

Questions travellers ask