"The Future of Golf is Alive and Well in St. Lucia!"
Peter T. David (Golf Teaching Pro - Summer, 2011)

My name is Peter Trevor David, a United States Golf Teachers Federation and International PGA golf teaching professional with 27 years Experience. In 1979 my father passed away, which was a shock to my family, he being the only breadwinner. It made life very difficult, so at the age of 12 I decided to find a way to help my mother with my two younger sisters and went looking for some kind of employment. But, being 12 at the time, no one wanted to hire me, so I decided to go find a caddy job part time at the Cunard Hotel Golf Course, which was only minutes away from my home.

The professional there at the time was from Great Britain and he gave me a test in Math and English, which I passed. He then offered me a position as a caddy, which was the beginning of change in my life, leading me to become a golf professional certified by the USGTF and the International PGA to date.

In 1982 the transformation began when Stuart Woodman, the pro, called me into his pro shop and asked me to caddy for a VIP named Nigel Mansell, who I found out afterwards, was a Formula 1 race car. As a caddy, I was able to carry the bags of many VIPs such as Nancy Lopez, Frank Carson, members of the band A-Ha, and many others.

I eventually became Stuart's assistant and he trained me like I was his own son. I was sent to the UK to train with other professional friends of Stuart's every year in the summer, which exposed me to bigger golf courses and a change of climate to experience.

In 1986 Stuart left and I became the golf course manager and head pro, and in 1990 I was offered a job to manage a golf course in Torino, Italy, called Golf Club Igerasolli. In 1992, while on vacation in St. Lucia, I was offered the job to revamp the then called Cap Estate Golf Course and also to re-create an atmosphere which no longer existed at that facility, which had lost all its members due to the conditions and lack of golf course maintenance. I took up the responsibility, and within three months had the club up and running and had members returning and paying their memberships once again, as well as bringing in new members, which gave me the chance to give many golf lessons.

Presently, I am setting up the island's first golf academy, which officially opens on July 2 nd this year. I also have a program that started on May 4 th for the less fortunate children in St. Lucia, to help create new opportunities and to help transform the youngsters into productive citizens.

My dream as a West Indian professional golfer is to take golf to the ones who believed it was not possible, and being endorsed by the WGTF and the IPGA, I know that the sky is the limit.

Article used with the kind permission of The World Golf Teachers Federation.

Read original article. Click Here.

_________________________________________________________________________________

"PERFECT MATCH"
Anthony De Beauville (The Voice Newspaper - 7th May, 2011)

For the first time this week skies were clear over the north of the island and one would have to believe it was a blessing from above as the first training session for 18 young and aspiring golfers of the Grow Well Organization commenced their first training session on the picturesque Cap Estate Golf range in the north.

Grow Well is a non - profit community organization that has won the support of the St.Lucia Golf Club to commence a Junior Programme for the youth within the town of Gros Islet and its envious. The programme is geared at both sexes 7 to 16 years old.
Glenn Sorenson Head Professional at the St. Lucia Golf Club said, “We strongly support Junior Golf, our objective with this programme is to introduce golf to those who otherwise would not be able to afford the game. Grow Well is well known for its good works in the community and for the organizational skills necessary for the success of this exciting project.

Grow Well Treasurer Susan Guillaume took time out when she applauded the Golf Club for its community outreach. “The Club provides not only access to its facilities, but also golf clubs, balls, transportation and leadership. Through this programme our children will learn not only the game of golf, but also can acquire the discipline, concentration and etiquette that is crucial to the game as well as to their personal development.”

The man given the responsibility for the inaugural programme is Peter Charles David, professional golf instructor. David was on the buzzer before his first session on Wednesday afternoon as he recounted what golf meant to him and his close friends as young caddies at the Cap Estate Golf Club. “Golf showed us opportunities otherwise unattainable for us and totally changed our lives. My personal commitment is to share the lessons we learned with children in our community in a fun and nurturing environment.”

Meanwhile, Grow Well's principal contributors are The Landings and the Rotary Club of Gros Islet. In addition to the St. Lucia Golf Club, sponsors of the Golf programme include Sharon and Carnie Lawson and Domino's Pizza. Grow Well seeks the support of corporations and individuals for the continued year-round success of this programme for the young.

Article used with the kind permission of The Voice Publishing Co.

Read original article on The Voice Publishing Co.'s website. Click Here.

________________________________________________________________________________

"ST. LUCIA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB "
Barbara Collins (County Golfer, March 2011)

It's great to be back writing for County Golfer after almost a 10 year break. After selling my travel business I've settled down to enjoy a life of leisure with a fair amount of travel –and, of course, golf included. With more time on my hands I've been able to play some wonderful courses and some destinations have become firm favourites.

One of these is the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. While I had been a regular visitor to the islands of Barbados and Antigua, I didn't discover St Lucia until 2002. This volcanic island is totally different, with the towering Pitons and plunging green valleys. Banana

Plantations are everywhere and the people are friendly and welcoming. But what makes this holiday destination a winner for me is finding an excellent golf course so close to what to me is my ideal hotel - the Body Holiday Le Sport. It is the combination of a first class golf course with a hotel which is totally unique that keeps me coming back. In fact, in the past 9 years I have been back twice a year – something I haven't done anywhere else in 30 years in travel.

Just a little about the Le Sport hotel. It is an all-inclusive, but to me it is so much better than its bigger rivals. It's family-run, so the standard has remained very high. I've never come across a hotel with such a high proportion of repeat guests, which speaks volumes. It combines yoga, meditation, tennis, water sports, golf tuition and many other activities with live entertainment and excellent food. It has a choice of 3 dining venues and its award-winning restaurant, Tao, is deemed to be one of the leading restaurants in the Caribbean. The spa, set overlooking the sea, is one of the best I've visited anywhere in the world and an Elemis treatment is included daily in your stay.

The hotel stands on its own beach and to me is a real sanctuary of relaxation. The St. Lucia golf course is only a few minutes by shuttle bus away from the hotel.

So, more about the golf. The St Lucia Golf and Country Club course is 6,685 yards par 71 and is built amid rolling hills. Its fairways meander through the lush vegetation, past private villas, with fleeting glimpses of both the Atlantic and the Caribbean from its highest points. The course has had a lot of investment over the last few years and now has a new irrigation system drawn from the many ponds on the course, which means it is always green and the greens themselves are kept in excellent shape – not something you always find in the Caribbean!

When I first played here the clubhouse was no more than a wooden shack. Now there is a 20,000 sq ft Clubhouse that could grace any top American course, with a well-stocked bar, function rooms and a beautiful terrace overlooking the course where you can enjoy that well-earned drink and bite to eat.

While it's one of the prettiest courses I've played, teeming with wildlife,with herons, ducks, egrets and water fowl around its ponds, it is also a match for the more demanding golfer. In fact, it's recognised as one of the most difficult courses in the Caribbean. There are twisting, rolling fairways, plenty of water hazards,quite a few blind shots and some very narrow landing areas to add a bit of spice to anyone's game.

As soon as you arrive on the 1st tee you get the feel of the Caribbean. Coconuts, painted blue, white and red are used as tee markers – just a nice local touch. Bougainvilleas surround the tee and you look down the first fairway, trying to avoid the trees on the left. The first hole is a 365 yd par 4 with a water hazard the full length of the right hand side.

Perhaps one of the most memorable holes to me is no 5. It's not a hole I find easy at all. The tumbling fairway twists round the corner so that the green is hidden. Two bunkers guard the corner, which is my favourite spot to land. Once you reach the corner you look down onto the green – an island green guarded by a deep, dry moat. The green slopes decidedly towards you, so it's not an easy one to land well. Tricky, but always worth the effort.

No. 11 is at the top of the course, with panoramic views of both the Caribbean and the Atlantic in the distance. The trade winds can sometimes make this tough, but the view and the elevation always make me enjoy this hole.

I've probably lost more balls on the 12th than any other hole on the course. A 423 yd par 4, it starts with a fairly long carry over a pond full of bulrushes. The fact this is uphill too can make this feel even further. The green is guarded on two sides by water too, and an array of bunkers on the right. It's definitely not a hole for the faint hearted. As you leave this green, just cast a glance to your right through the trees. There's the most beautiful lake which is sometimes covered in wild waterlilies.

The last few holes have more wide open fairways, finishing with a very pretty 18th, a par 3 in front of the clubhouse. Virtually surrounded by water, this is always a good green to find – especially if there's a crowd on the Clubhouse verandah ready to applaud.

Article used with the kind permission of County Golfer Magazine.

Read original article.Click Here.