At the center of St. Kitts stands the spectacular, cloud-fringed peak of Mount Liamuiga, a dormant volcano covered by dense tropical forest. Adjacent to our hotel and within easy walking distance, or you can take the hotel shuttle, is the Royal St. Kitts Golf Club. It is nestled between secluded coves and tropical rainforests on the shores of both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It's not a place where Canadians might expect to find a Tom McBroom masterpiece, but the Toronto-based golf course architect unveiled his first international design here back in 2004.

Amidst its majestic palms, golf pin flags rustle persistently in the northeast tradewinds that sweep across this captivating 200-acre paradise that is impeccably wedged between the perfect half-moon beaches of two great bodies of water. "The ocean frontage that I was given to work with is next to impossible to find anywhere in the world. I don't know of anywhere else where you can play golf and hear the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea in the same round," McBroom, says of the par-71, Caribbean links-style design that plays 5,166 to 6,911-yards. "Caribbean golf can no longer be ignored. We have seen the tremendous growth over the last decade of high-end resorts and world-class golf facilities throughout the islands and Royal St. Kitts is among the elite."

A true resort-style course, Royal St. Kitts offers wide fairways, but they are angled and swept by constant and sometimes fierce tradewinds. The shoreline that brings players face-to-face with the emerald green ocean, 10 salt ponds, nearly 100 strategically placed bunkers and large contoured greens, keep players honest. The bunkers are among some of the largest McBroom has designed. It's as though the surrounding beaches continue to play through the course. On this walker friendly layout, golfers will soon learn that they're never far from the sand or water.

The golf course is the centerpiece for the fabulous new four-star St. Kitts Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino that has been developed by Toronto businessman Vic De Zen. Visitors can choose between guest rooms or suites in the main Frigate Bay House or an intimate retreat in one of the secluded garden houses on the lush 648-room property. Apart from the beach, there are three pools and a swim-up bar, spa services, tennis courts, jogging trails, nine restaurants and the spectacular 40,000 square-foot Royal Beach Casino where gamblers or all abilities are warmly welcomed.