The Course
The Premier Championship Golf Experience in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Play one of the Caribbean’s most celebrated golf courses at Carambola Golf Club—an award-winning Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design set in the lush tropical hills of St. Croix. Known as the only championship-length golf course in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Carambola delivers a challenging yet unforgettable golf experience surrounded by breathtaking island scenery.
The Course
Tucked into the lush rainforest valley on the north shore of St. Croix, USVI, Carambola Golf Club offers a truly unique Caribbean golf experience. Designed by legendary architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr., the course winds through dramatic tropical landscapes, ideal water features, and rolling fairways framed by towering mahogany and palm trees.
Since opening in 1966, Carambola has earned a reputation as one of the finest golf courses in the Caribbean, attracting golfers from around the world seeking both championship-level play and the relaxed beauty of island golf.
Whether you are a visiting golfer looking for the best golf in St. Croix or a local player searching for a challenging round in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Carambola combines world-class course design, pristine conditions, and authentic Caribbean hospitality.
Hole By Hole
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Hole 1 - Par 4
A welcoming start to the round, the opening hole features one of the few downhill tee shots at Carambola. This medium-length dogleg right rewards either a straight drive or a high left-to-right shot that can leave only a short iron into the green. Precision is essential, however—fade the ball too much and you’ll be faced with a difficult approach through a grove of trees to a narrow putting surface guarded by waste bunkers on the high side. A hazard lurks left of the green, encouraging a confident and well-placed approach.
Hole 2 - Par 5
At 488 yards from the blue tees, the second hole invites players to open up with a powerful drive. A strong tee shot presents an enticing decision: challenge the pond and the trade winds in pursuit of reaching the green in two, or lay up and trust your wedge game for a precise third shot. Birdie is always within reach here, though hazards surrounding the green can quickly turn opportunity into trouble. Seasoned players often aim slightly left on approach and allow the island breeze to guide the ball toward the pin.
Hole 3 - Par 4
Measuring just 300 yards, the third hole appears ripe for birdie—but it demands restraint and finesse. The peninsula-shaped green is surrounded by water on three sides, discouraging all but the most precise drivers from attacking it from the tee. The prudent play is a controlled shot down the left side of the fairway, leaving a comfortable approach to the subtly domed putting surface. Precision, not power, defines this hole.
Hole 4 - Par 5
A favorite among members, this picturesque par five offers a legitimate chance for birdie—or even eagle. The tee shot on this dogleg right must navigate danger to the right and pass through a “gate” formed by four towering royal palms. Players who carry a high fade over the trees are rewarded with a scenic approach over water to a large elevated green. Don’t be surprised if a few friendly ducks wander nearby to watch the action.
Hole 5 - Par 3
The first of two par threes played over the same body of water, the 165-yard fifth demands both confidence and club selection. While the wind may feel helpful on the tee, shots often experience a subtle knockdown effect once airborne. Taking an extra club can be wise, but long shots leave a challenging downhill recovery to a green that slopes toward the water. Strength, accuracy, and touch are all required here.
Hole 6 - Par 4
The 379-yard sixth provides a welcome scoring opportunity. A tee shot favoring the left-center of the fairway avoids the trees on the right and sets up a comfortable approach to a generous green surrounded by hazards. Players are wise to land the approach just short of the flag and allow the ball to release forward—putts from the back portion of this green can easily lead to three-putts.
Hole 7 - Par 4
Short in length but demanding in execution, this slight dogleg left rewards a well-placed tee shot in the center of the fairway. From there, players face a downhill approach of roughly 150 yards to a two-tiered green. Aggressive golfers may challenge the fairway bunkers with a shaped shot, leaving a wedge into the green. Accuracy on the approach is critical—keeping the ball below the hole is the key to navigating this deceptively tricky putting surface.
Hole 8 - Par 3
The second par three on the front nine features a generous green that slopes from left to right. Shots landing left of the surface tend to funnel toward the hole, though bunkers guard both the front and back of that side. Playing safely to the center of the green leaves a manageable putt regardless of pin placement. Missing right, however, creates a difficult blind recovery from thick rough or sand.
Hole 9 - Par 4
As players near the turn, the ninth demands focus before thoughts drift to a refreshing drink at the clubhouse. The entire left side of the hole is out of bounds, leaving little margin for error off the tee. A well-struck drive sets up an uphill approach to a green protected in front by a deep pot bunker. Favoring the right side or slightly long is often the safer play before heading to the turn.
Hole 10 - Par 5
The back nine begins with one of the course’s most strategic tests. A powerful drive over the tall trees on the right side of this 474-yard dogleg can set up a reachable second shot. However, drives that run too far left find dense bush, while misses right encounter hazards. The approach is uphill through a narrowing fairway, making par or better here a satisfying achievement.
Hole 11 - Par 4
The first of two straightaway par fours, the eleventh requires a precise drive often influenced by a strong left-to-right crosswind descending from the hills to the north. The approach must find a narrow green guarded by bunkers. Players are advised to keep the ball below the hole or short of the surface, as hazards press tightly against the back edge.
Hole 12 - Par 4
Though similar in appearance to the eleventh, this hole showcases the subtle design brilliance of Robert Trent Jones Sr. Players should aim left from the tee and allow the crosswind to carry the ball toward the fairway’s center. The green slopes steadily from left to right, rewarding a precise approach to the protected left side. Pars are valuable here, as birdies are rare.
Hole 13 - Par 4
The most difficult hole on the course and the #1 handicap, the 443-yard thirteenth often plays directly into the prevailing trade winds. A long, accurate drive is essential to reach the fairway’s center. From there, golfers face a blind approach to a well-guarded green bordered by bunkers along the left. With the course entrance road just beyond the green, discretion is the wiser strategy—par is an excellent score.
Hole 14 - Par 3
One of Carambola’s signature holes, the 135-yard fourteenth offers a stunning first impression for many visitors. The tee shot must carry entirely over a palm-lined pond protecting the front of the green. While the putting surface is generous, shots finishing above the hole leave a delicate downhill chip or putt. The key here is keeping the ball below the pin.
Hole 15 - Par 5
The longest hole on the course at 554 yards, this straightforward par five favors the long hitter. Two well-struck shots down the center of the fairway set up a short wedge approach and a chance at birdie. Players should take care on the green, where putts from the back to the front tend to break more left-to-right than expected.
Hole 16 - Par 4
Accuracy off the tee is paramount on the sixteenth, where waste bunkers frame both sides of a narrow landing area. A precise drive sets up an approach that ideally shapes from right to left, landing just beyond the crown of the right-side bunker and feeding toward the flag.
Hole 17 - Par 3
The penultimate hole is a demanding 165-yard par three. A large gully stretches from tee to green, and while the green complex is expansive, it is narrow from front to back. Shots left short find the hazard, while those long must contend with challenging bunker recoveries to a downhill putting surface.
Hole 18 - Par 4
Carambola’s closing hole is a memorable dogleg left lined by towering mahogany trees along the entire left side. After turning the corner, players are rewarded with a sweeping view of the clubhouse perched above the green. The large, tiered putting surface features a deceptive false front, making a controlled approach to the center of the green the ideal finishing play.