Golfers in Trinidad can check out the green pastures of St. Andrews Golf Club in Moka or the public course at Chaguaramas. In Tobago, the course at Mt Irvine can hold its own against any in the world. Or, if you want broader horizons, the hiking and hashing clubs stand ready to take you into the wilds. For the athlete who prefers to pit his energies against machines, a cluster of fitness clubs can be found in and around Port of Spain and the other main towns.

Of course, in this part of the world, there can be no talk of sport without mention of cricket, the national passion. Games and “fete matches” take place in the Savannah, and on pitches around the island; but during the early part of the year, the serious fan’s attention is focused on the Queen’s Park Oval, where the big international Test Matches and One-Day Internationals are played. The antics of the spectators are almost as entertaining as the game itself.

The other “national pastime”, football, has its mecca in the Hasely Crawford Stadium, on the outskirts of Port of Spain; next door is the Jean Pierre Complex, home of basketball and netball. Annual regional and international tournaments draw crowds of spectators who come to cheer for the home team.

For those who prefer their sporting activities wet and a little wild, there’s surfing, windsurfing, game fishing, sailing, power boat racing and kayaking — and of course, the excellent diving and snorkelling to be enjoyed in Tobago.

And all of these, of course, provide a first-rate excuse for an all-day (or all-week) party: the most popular local sport of all! Michelle Agostini