July 6, 2007 — Divi Carina Bay Resort has set a goal to be more family-oriented, with miniature golf serving as a step in that direction.
The 18-hole miniature golf course, The Links, opened the last weekend in May.
"The mini golf has been a real boon since day one," said Kevin Jackson, Divi's assistant general manager. "We have toddlers, couples, senior-citizen couples — a whole gathering of different people playing."
With as many as three different casino developments proposed for St. Croix, Divi Carina is working to distinguish itself, offering guests and residents different options in activities.
The Divi is planning to grow around the mini golf course, Jackson said. A clubhouse and a 300-yard driving range are under construction.
The clubhouse, Jackson says, will be a viable place to hold functions such as birthday parties and family reunions. Night play will be safe and secure, open until 9 or 10 p.m.
The driving range will be located behind the mini golf course, with a length of 300 yards that will satisfy most long-ball hitters and a width of 250 yards to keep most slicers in play.
"The driving range will accommodate most golfers with target practice, yardage signs and greens,” said Kevin Jackson, Divi's assistant general manager. At the end of July, landscapers will plant 77 eight-to-10-foot coconut palms on its border.
Ground was also broken at the end of May for a pizza parlor. The resort already has tennis courts located near the golf facilities and a two-hour-long hiking trail.
"With all that is planned in the area, it will be a singular center for activities,” Jackson said. "We see a major trend with locals renting rooms for long weekends. Now we have more fun family activities for them."
The first beach triathlon was held July 4th with paddleboat, kayak and foot races at the beach. "Guests and locals had fun at the competition,” said Troy Billington, who directed the races. “We are planning on holding the races bi-monthly."
Divi is the only resort on St. Croix that offers windsurfing rental and instruction. It also has a fleet of Sun Fish sailboats and a Hobi Cat catamaran.
The resort has been working with a program that provides alumni family vacations for large stateside universities. "They are looking for cultural events, historical and local musical attractions, which St. Croix has to offer,” Jackson said. “The first university alumni booking rooms this month will be from Penn State University, with multi generations really picking up on the family vibe."
A year ago, Divi completed the addition of a luxurious full-service spa decorated in the aquamarine blues of the sea.
The Surfside Spa offers a wide variety of treatments, including massages, facials, pedicures, manicures, waxes, body wraps and scrubs. Massage rooms are available for couples, or one may choose a massage room with a relaxing oceanfront view.
"Divi has more things to do with the family than other resorts.,” said Rita Fulton of Harrisburg, Penn., vacationing with her family on the Fourth of July. “We've had a lot of fun with Troy Billington. My girls really love the beach and the pool."
Divi has 200 rooms, including 20 villas that are pre-paid accommodations, formerly time-shares. The resort offers a variety of restaurants: the Starlite Grille, offering dining with panoramic oceanfront views; or, for more casual fare, the Dockside Cafe and Big Al's Bar.
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