ST. CROIX, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS -- (May 21, 2005) -Carambola Golf and Country Club, the Robert Trent Jones Sr. creation on the island of St. Croix, has completed a successful first season under its new ownership team.
Since turning over ownership and operation to a team of members at the club, Carambola has experienced a rebirth that has visitors to the island gem speaking in superlatives.
"We have had a very positive reaction to what is going on here," remarked Roger Mack, director of golf at Carambola. "First-time visitors are amazed at the beauty and quality of the golf course. Our returning guests and members can see the improvements and realize that the property is headed in the right direction.
Carambola was commissioned to be built in 1964 by famed American businessmen, Laurance and David Rockefeller. Robert Trent Jones was summoned to the island to do the design work, at the height of an era in which he brought golf to the Caribbean. The course opened to rave reviews in 1966 and flourished for many years.
As happens to all courses over time, some of the luster came off the product. The three-stage renovation was planned to restore the course to its original brilliance and modernize maintenance and irrigation so that conditioning of the course will surpass any previous level.
The first stage of the rebirth took place this year. A complete new fleet of modern maintenance equipment was purchased, immediately creating a much-improved turfgrass situation. A tree-maintenance program was put into place and a general upgrade of the conditioning of the golf course was achieved.
"This is the start of a new chapter in the life of Carambola," said Ed Lemco, board president. "We have been blessed with an amazing natural piece of property and some wonderful architectural work by Robert Trent Jones. All of our efforts now are focused on bringing the course and the club into the 21st century and returning it to status as one of the greatest places for golf in the world."
A second stage of the renovation will take place this summer, when the golf shop will undergo a complete remodeling. This effort will bring the golf shop up to the level of ambience that exists in the rest of the tropical clubhouse.
"The word is starting to get out about Carambola," said Mack, who came to the club in February. "Everyone who visited this year went back home buzzing about the place. Our job is to maintain the momentum into next season so that when they return, they will be pleasantly surprised again."
For information or photos contact TL Golf Services at 610-279-9220.
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