Diana Wildman visits The Landings, a sophisticated marina development on the tiny island of St Lucia which has big golfing plans

ST LUCIA may be a mere 14 miles wide and 27 miles long and consist mainly of mountainous rain forests still scattered with banana plantations but its beauty, not to mention its forward thinking government, is catapulting this tiny Caribbean island to the forefront of 21st century leisure home ownership.

Indeed, for an island this small, its short term golfing plans seem extremely ambitious with at least six championship golf courses being created around the island – all have planning consent and come with the requisite holiday homes and tourist trappings.

Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, Christy O’Connor and Jack Nicklaus are just four of the names associated with these courses although none will be complete until 2009. All will also have a wide selection of villas and apartments built around the greens and fairways as well as plans for four or five-star hotels complete with all the leisure facilities wealthy European and American investors require.

New hotels, marinas and even plans to extend the airport and further improve transportation links are also well under way. Last December, the Prime Minister, the Hon. Stephenson King officially opened St Lucia’s latest marina development, The Landings, a sophisticated 231-unit beach-side scheme, adjacent to Pigeon Island on the north-west coast, boasting every technological toy to please even the most difficult international property investor.

Prices of the remaining units available in phase two range from £250,000 to £810,000 for one to three bedrooms. Some have sea views, others overlook the marina and all have a bathroom for each bedroom and wraparound terracing.

There are swimming pools set between the buildings, andsecurity is paramount. The Landings is being built in four phases of between 50 and 60 homes in each and completion of all 231 units will be in 2010.

Buyers obtain the freehold of their new homes and have the option of using the company’s all-year round rental programme, already operational, or keeping it for their own use entirely. There is a smart beach club, a café, restaurants and the tourist town of Rodney Bay is a mere five-minute drive south.

The Prime Minister said: “This government will rise to the challenge of competing in this global property market and we will encourage more smart schemes like The Landings which we feel will enhance the natural habitat of our island. We are fully aware we need to upgrade our roads, the airport and shopping facilities without losing our intrinsic charm.”

Golfers at The Landings are well catered for as the St. Lucia Golf & Country Club is a mile or so north and special rates, averaging US$50 including buggy have been negotiated for property owners and their families. As the normal green fee is US$120, the saving is substantial.

Annual membership for a non-resident family of four is US$6,300 and the joining fee is US$12,000. To attract a constant flow of non-resident players the club offers a wide variety of membership levels including part-time membership at US$5,000 per family.

The championship par-71 fully irrigated golf course was designed by John Ponko, a student of Robert Trent Jones. The course is 6,813 yards long and is set in the hills of Cap Estate, with rolling terrain and views of the Atlantic Ocean to the East and the Caribbean to the West. The ratings are 74.3 from the white tees and 72.4 from the red tees.

For more information on The Landings contact 0845 217 7851 or visit www.thelandingsstlucia.com

• Stamp duty of two per cent of the purchase price applies.

• An ‘alien’s landholding licence’ is required and costs US$1,850.

• Essential conveyancing fees in St Lucia will be between US$6,000 to US$8,000.

• There is no VAT, capital gains tax or estate duties in St Lucia.

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