Sport & Fitness Saint Kitts and Nevis

The 9th hole at the Four Seasons fairway spills down the slope of Nevis Peak toward the Caribbean—a par-4 where the wind off the Atlantic pushes your ball right and the view of St. Kitts across the channel does exactly what it's supposed to do, which is make concentration difficult. Vervet monkeys sit in the trees lining the 15th, watching with the detached curiosity of spectators who have never paid admission and never intend to. At 6,766 yards, par 71, Robert Trent Jones II's course on Nevis was always going to be one of the Caribbean's best. The setting—volcanic hillside, trade wind, two oceans meeting—makes it something more than that.

Saint Kitts and Nevis' sport offering punches well above its weight for such a small federation. Two golf courses of serious calibre—the Four Seasons on Nevis and the Royal St. Kitts at Christophe Harbour on St. Kitts—serve the sport at the highest level available in the Eastern Caribbean. The Four Seasons tennis complex, named 2025 Resort Tennis Centre of the Year by Troon Peter Burwash International, offers eight courts across three surfaces plus four pickleball courts and a full coaching staff. And in September, the Nevis Marathon sends runners around the entire ring road of the island—arguably the most scenic marathon course in the world—through the volcano's lower slopes, past plantation estates and beach stretches, with Nevis Peak visible for almost the entire 26.2 miles.

For those who prefer their sport in the water or on the trail, the combination of Caribbean Sea conditions, volcanic terrain and warm year-round climate creates an environment where triathlon training, ocean swimming, open-water kayaking and trail running are all possible every day of the year. The Nevis Triathlon in November—swim, cycle, run—draws competitors from across the Caribbean and beyond.

Golf in paradise—two world-class courses

The Four Seasons Golf Course on Nevis, designed by Robert Trent Jones II and opened in 1991, runs 6,766 yards (6,187 metres) across the lower slopes of Nevis Peak. The par-71 course uses the natural contours of the volcano—rising from sea level at the 1st tee to the plantation-era terrain of the mid-section, then descending back toward the Caribbean. Four tee locations at every hole accommodate beginners through scratch players. The 9th hole, where the fairway falls toward the sea with a view of St. Kitts across the Narrows, is the most photographed hole on the course; the 15th—requiring a 240-yard carry across a ravine—the most demanding. Green fee: 18 holes $240, 9 holes $170. Twilight rate after 2:30pm $190. Non-guests welcome except December and January, when the course is reserved for resort guests. Pro shop daily 7am–6pm.

The Royal St. Kitts Golf Club, set in the Christophe Harbour development on St. Kitts' southeast peninsula, is a challenging 18-hole championship course managed by the Marriott. Unlike the Nevis course's hillside terrain, the Royal St. Kitts plays across more open ground on the peninsula—with the Caribbean Sea visible from most holes and the Southeast Peninsula's volcanic scrub as a backdrop. The course hosts the annual Johnnie Walker St. Kitts Open Golf Championship, an international amateur event drawing competitors across multiple categories (Championship, Men's, Seniors, Ladies) each year. Tee times bookable online; golf shop at +1 (869) 466-2700.

Golfers visiting the federation often play both courses across two consecutive days—the contrasting terrain, one volcanic hillside and one coastal peninsula, provides an interesting back-to-back comparison. Ferries between St. Kitts and Nevis run every two hours. Both pro shops can store clubs overnight and assist with transport coordination between courses.

The Four Seasons Tennis complex—the Caribbean's finest courts

The Four Seasons Resort Nevis Tennis Centre was named 2025 Resort Tennis Centre of the Year by Troon Peter Burwash International—the world's leading tennis management organisation—making it the officially recognised top resort tennis facility in the Caribbean. The complex offers eight courts across three surfaces: hard courts, AstroTurf, and red clay. Four additional pickleball courts complete the set. Several courts have lighting for evening play (booking required after 6:30pm at the pro shop).

Court time, ball machine use and group clinics are available to both guests and non-guests. Private lessons with the professional staff run 30 or 60 minutes. The Unlimited Tennis package—four hours of private lessons, four hours of clinics and unlimited ball machine and court use—is designed for visitors who want to focus entirely on their game during their stay. Contact the Director of Racquets Tim Gottesman directly for this package: +1 (869) 469-1111.

Pickleball has expanded rapidly at the Four Seasons—four dedicated courts and a coaching program covers both beginners and experienced players. Lessons, clinics and court bookings are available through the same pro shop system as tennis. The growing pickleball community on Nevis includes a weekly round-robin event that mixes resort guests with local players.

Running and triathlon—Nevis in September and November

The Nevis Marathon & Running Festival takes place each September—the annual event circles the ring road of Nevis, taking runners through plantation hills, village streets, beach stretches and the lower rainforest slopes of Nevis Peak. Three distances run simultaneously: half marathon (13.1 miles), 10K and 5K. The half marathon is the premier distance—one of the most scenic in the world. Nevis Peak rises above the course for most of the route, Caribbean sunrises light the opening miles, and local residents line the road through every village. Stone trophies—hand-carved Nevis lava rock—are awarded to top finishers in each category. International entry with competitors from across the Caribbean, North America and Europe. Registration opens several months before race day; entry fills before the deadline.

The Nevis Triathlon, held each November, is an established international event drawing athletes from across the region for a swim-bike-run circuit of varying distances. The event is organised by the St. Kitts-Nevis Triathlon Federation and uses Pinney's Beach as the swim base, the ring road for the bike leg, and a run circuit through Charlestown and the coastal path. The full triathlon is genuinely challenging—the swim is open Atlantic, the bike course climbs through the plantation hills on both the western and eastern sides of the island, and the run finishes on Pinney's Beach. Sprint and Olympic distances available alongside the full event.

Year-round, the ring road on Nevis is used by cyclists and runners for training—21 miles of tarmac with rolling terrain and minimal traffic in the early morning hours. The trailhead at Wingfield Estate on St. Kitts provides off-road trail running access into the Central Forest Reserve. Both islands have running communities that welcome visiting athletes to join weekly group runs—ask at the Nevis Equestrian Centre or the Four Seasons Activity Desk for current schedules.

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