Founded in 1990 by a small group of dedicated golfers looking for a way to make their golfing experience more meaningful, the St. Maarten Golf Association enters the new millennium with a thriving membership of more than 130 players committed more firmly than ever to its founding principals: "To promote the game of golf on St. Maarten/St. Martin and to develop various golfing events for the pleasure of the participants and for the benefit of the community. " The Association gives back to the community through charitable contributions from its lively schedule, which includes 11 monthly medal play events and six or seven other major tournaments. The most important event of the year is the St. Maarten Open held in April to coincide with the annual Carnival celebration. Many top players from throughout the Caribbean and more distant points come to the island for the event.

The SMGA's membership in the Eastern Caribbean Golf Association provides an additional benefit for its members by enabling them to participate in events held at courses located on the 11 other islands with golf groups belonging to the ECGA. The SMGA sends teams of men and women players to an annual ECGA Tournament held at a different member island each year.

Membership in the SMGA is open to all residents of both the French and Dutch sides of the island and to regular visitors who may not live on the island but who return from time to time for business or pleasure and want to support golf on the island and the SMGA program. Because St. Maarten/St. Martin is such a magnet for world travelers, the current SMGA membership roster reads like a United Nations list of delegates. The membership fee is $50 for a calendar year starting in January, and covers the cost of maintaining an official USGA handicap for the member and a ticket to the annual SMGA Christmas dinner, a highlight event which ends the golfing year. To join contact Membership Chairman Gitte Poulsen at  22719 or e-mail: membership@stmaartengolf.com

The SMGA is governed by a board consisting of a president and 8 directors elected at the annual meeting where major Association business such as the upcoming schedule of events is discussed. The next meeting will be held in February..

Mullet Bay Golf Resort, the only course on the island, serves as the home course for the SMGA. Although the resort itself has been closed since hurricane Luis devastated the island in 1995, the golf course has remained open for play. From its founding the SMGA has received enthusiastic support and cooperation from the Mullet Bay management. Designed by architect Joe Lee, the challenging Mullet Bay Course although not especially long, offers a real test of golfing skill, requiring accurate approaches to relatively small greens usually in stiff breezes. The first nine holes rim a portion of beautiful Simpson Bay Lagoon, the trademark centerpiece of the island. The course was built in the early 1970s.

Mullet Bay # One Green

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