History

Golf in Cayman was a long time coming! Real Estate Developers were promising golf courses as early as the 1970s but the promises never materialized. Golfing devotees were frustrated and reduced to traveling to Florida or Jamaica to indulge their hobby. Indeed, a small but dedicated group regularly organized competitions in those countries and Costa Rica and there are still many CIGA members who will share their enjoyable memories of those early travels at the drop of a hat.


Golf finally became a reality in 1985 when the Britannia Golf Course opened. Designed by Jack Nicklaus, it had a unique concept of an 18 hole Par 3 Executive course overlaid on a 9 hole Championship course. In addition, the Executive layout could also be used as a track for the "Cayman" ball, a 50 compression ball which traveled about half the distance of the regular golf ball. However, the idea never really took off in Cayman, largely because of the windy conditions regularly encountered in the Caribbean which could see a lofted ball being blown back over the golfer's head!


With plans for a new 18 hole golf course being well in hand, it became clear in 1992 that there was a need for a governing body to regulate golf in Cayman. A start was made in August that year when the initial 73 members adopted a Constitution and elected the first slate of Officers. The new association, The Cayman Islands Golf Association, was thus formally constituted and became affiliated to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, the governing body of golf in most of the world.


The Cayman Islands Golf Association (CIGA) set about organizing golf events in Cayman and both the Cayman Islands Amateur Championships (a scratch event) and the President's Trophy (a handicap event) were inaugurated in 1993. They have been competed for annually ever since and other competitions have joined them in an expanding calendar of events.

 

The Links at Safehaven finally opened at the end of 1993, bringing the first 18 hole Championship course, allowing many more golfers to enjoy the sport. Since that time, the two Championship venues were joined by the Sunrise Family Golf Centre at Savannah, which provided a sporty short hole test for family members of all ages. The Sunrise Family Golf Centre at Savannah did not reopen after Hurricane Ivan. In 2007 the Links at Safehaven became the North Sound Club, and continues to be the only 18 hole championship course on the island. The Blue Tip is a Greg Norman Signature designed golf course that opened in October 2006 and is exclusive to Ritz-Carlton guests. It is currently a 9 hole golf course that plays just over 3,500 yards from the back tees with water on 8 out of the 9 holes.

 

CIGA was admitted in 1993 to membership of the Caribbean Golf Association and has competed in the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships every year since 1994. CIGA has hosted the Caribbean Championships in 1997 and 2008, and the Caribbean Junior Championships in 2002, and is scheduled to host the Caribbean Junior Championships again in 2011.

 

Past Presidents of CIGA

  1. David Bird (1992-94)
  2. John Law (1994-96)
  3. Bob Slatter (1996-98)
  4. Tom Crawford (1998-2000)
  5. John Law (2000-2002)
  6. Neil Cruickshank (2002-2003)
  7. Richard Jones (2003-2004) 
  8. Robert Woods (2004-2009)
  9. Judy VanLiere (2009-2010)
  10. Joel Dodson (2011)
  11. Jason Perras (Present)