Golf & Tennis

From a country that currently has only two golf courses (on Provo and Grand Turk), the TCI golf scene is about to more than double. A golf course is being constructed on North Caicos, and the 120-room resort project on Salt Cay is expected to have an 18-hole championship course overseen by Troon Golf course management. And rumors persist that the Northwest Point area will get a seriously important course designed by a seriously important golfer in the very near future.

Golf

Provo Golf & Country Club, on Grace Bay Road (tel. 649/946-5833; www.provogolfclub.com), is one of only two golf courses in the country (the other is on Grand Turk). The 6,560-yard, par-72, 18-hole course was designed by Karl Litten of Boca Raton, Florida, and is owned by the Turks and Caicos Water Company. It is powerfully green and -- because Provo is one of the driest spots on the globe -- it takes an extraordinary amount of water to keep it that way. Young palms and bougainvillea, as well as rocky outcroppings and powdery sand traps, help make the course a challenge to the serious golfer or a lovely day on the links for the beginner or novice. Four sets of tees allow golfers to tailor a game to their level of expertise. A driving range and putting greens are also available. Inside the newly renovated clubhouse is a full-service restaurant and bar called Fairways Bar & Grill.

Greens fees are $140 (£70) per person for 18 holes. The price includes the use of a shared golf cart, which is mandatory. Golf clubs can be rented for $20 to $40 (£10-£20) per set. The course is open from 7am to 7:30pm daily. The course also has two lighted hard tennis courts . Inside the clubhouse is the Pro Shop, a fully stocked store with golf and tennis equipment as well as tennis and golf shoes, collared shirts, tailored shorts, and hats.

Tennis

Many of Provo's hotels and resorts have on-site tennis courts, including Beaches, Club Med, the Grace Bay Club, the Ocean Club, the Palms, and the Sands at Grace Bay. The Provo Golf & Country Club has two lighted hard courts that the public is welcome to reserve ($10/£5 per person per hour; reserve 24 hr. in advance; open daily 7am-7:30pm).