By David Wood

 There is a glorious aspect to seaside golf. The Caribbean islands have it in spades. Combine jaw-dropping seascapes viewed from putting greens, warm tropical trade winds wafting across lush fairways and the elite of course architecture plying their craft on the prettiest of Nature’s handiwork and we’re talking golf to savor. Here are five “must plays” in the Caribbean:

ST KITTS –The luxury lifestyle experts behind the exclusive Charleston-based Kiawah Island and Ireland's Lodge At Doonbeg announced the opening of Turtle Beach Bungalows (www.TurtleBeachBungalows.com), part of the emerging Christophe Harbour development on the Caribbean Leeward Island of St. Kitts. 

CURAÇAO, Netherlands Antilles – Mount Tafelberg looms over Pete Dye’s Old Quarry Golf Course like President Hugo Chávez rules Venezuela and eccentrically imagines he owns this Caribbean island. He doesn’t own it — the Dutch do.

HAVANA, Aug 26 (Reuters Life!) - The cash-strapped Cuban government will allow foreign investors to use state-owned land for up to 99 years in a change that is likely to bring developments of luxury golf courses to the communist island.

HAVANA - If Cuba plays it right, thousands of tourists could eventually be swinging their clubs at an 18-hole golf course overlooking the turquoise waters and golden beaches just east of Havana. They will moor their yachts at a swank marina and drive electric carts to luxury villas built around the course’s scenic artificial lake.

Anguilla, BWI – Whether your perfect Caribbean getaway revolves around golf, tennis, water sports or simply relaxing on one of The Travel Channel’s “World’s Sexiest Beaches”, Cap Juluca has the ideal package for you. For the golfer, Cap Juluca manages Anguilla’s only 18 hole golf course, a $50 million creation of Greg Norman, the Temenos Golf Course.

SOUTHAMPTON, BERMUDA – The Reefs Club, Bermuda’s new private residence club, has been welcoming its owners since July 2009. Given that the island boasts the world’s most golf courses per square mile, many of these owners are avid golfers. And now they are being offered special annual memberships to the nearby Port Royal Golf Course. As Port Royal members, Reefs Club owners may also participate in all member tournaments and activities. 

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, West Indies -- It’s a tiny slice of the West Indies, this island where Christopher Columbus arrived in 1493, pirates lurked and stowed treasure in a hidden lair, where you drive on the left side of the road, and golf tee shots soar high enough to view countless scenes of ocean beauty at Royal St. Kitts Golf Club.

As of May 2010, 19 golf courses call the Dominican Republic home, some of which are located with views over the Atlantic Ocean or Caribbean Sea. Some resorts in the Dominican Republic even have their own course directly on the property, combining the benefits of a Caribbean vacation with the challenges of a golf vacation.

CAP CANA, Dominican Republic -- Just days before Fred Couples hoisted his third straight trophy for a win on the Champions Tour in late March he looked out over the Caribbean Sea at The Cap Cana Championship at Punta Espada Golf Club and said: “I don’t know anyone who would not like to look out at those views and play the golf course and not have a good time,” Couples said. “It is just spectacular and I know the Champions Tour players are excited for hot weather. I love hot weather.”

We’ve headed to St. Kitts for a long weekend because of the billing: there’s no other course where you can play golf with the Atlantic on one side and the Caribbean on the other. Sound nice? You betcha.