Here's what others have had to say about Buccaneer.
"In 2004, at age 50, I decided to play serious tennis. Don, the tennis pro, was extremely patient and encouraging and I feel that my game came together very quickly. Don hosts a variety of very successful clinics, events and tournaments that are always well attended and a lot of fun. Absolutely my favorite place to play tennis on St Croix - Buccaneer Tennis is outstanding!"—M.R., Int., July 2010
"The tennis pro at the Buccaneer, Don de Wilde, is a fabulous seasoned instructor. I played with him at least an hour each day the week we were in St. Croix. Living in a small community with few indoor courts, I needed to rejuvenate my game after an injury last fall and the long cold winter that forced me off the courts. Don was great as we worked out the cobwebs and soon had me back to perfecting my game."—T.V., Adv. Int., May 2010
"My wife and I have stayed at the Buccaneer twice and really enjoyed it. Its advantage over most other Caribbean resorts is that Don De Wilde helps line up games and also is available for lessons and hitting practice. I was pleased with all of these services."—R.H., Adv. Int., April 2010
"Great Locationm for the courts, friendly people and staff. A very pleasant atmosphere to play tenis in the Caribbean. The lighted coourts a are real plus."—R.S., Int., April 2010
"Program is quite good. Don is one of the best pros I have worked with. One the weakness side, it would be ideal to have more organized team play during peak times."—T.V., Int., April 2010
"We selected the Buccaneer primarily for its reputation as a great family resort, with its tennis program as an added bonus. Both exceeded our expectations. The grounds and proximity to activities were perfectly suited for our 3,5 and 7 year old kids and the centrally located courts made it easy for them to check out Dad too. Tennis pro Don DeWilde was very responsive to my needs and set me up with singles matches with both a local player and hotel guest. I also took a private lesson from Don and took away some key pointers. Be sure to ask Don to tell you his Connors story!
We arrived during one of the clubs annual tournaments. I was impressed by the caliber of play, some of which was under the lights with many folks cheering. You could tell immediately there was a real tennis culture here. The Buccaneer's full service resort and tennis club met everyone's needs in our family. We'll definitely return."—A.G., Adv., April 2010
"The resort facilities, including the tennis facilities, were outstanding. The members of the staff were extremely pleasant and very helpful. The overall vacation experience was terrific. Lot of things to do. A great deal of space, so you never felt crowded. Beautiful views."—R.R., Adv. Int., April 2010
"Great getaway both on and off the court! Only one pro but he was awesome! Don DeWilde, the tennis pro, set us up with lessons for the kids, clinics for us, and match play. Great personality and very good with different skill levels. Kids (ages 6-11)loved him! We saw all ages playing throughout the day. Would definitely recommend this resort and will probably go back!"—I.S., Adv. Int., March 2010
"Great tennis facilities, Don is a master, lots of help setting up games."—J.H., Adv. Int., March 2010
"The Buccaneer, located on the north shores of St. Croix, was a great place to vacation. The grounds are fabulous, and the room are spread out so that you feel very private. The tennis courts are in great shape.....and the pro is excellent. My husband, the tennis player, said it was the best lesson he ever had, and it was worth the travel time to just even do that! And Wendy, who works at the Club, was excellent at setting up games for my husband! A happy husband, who is having fun with tennis, makes for a happy wife, who likes to snorkel!"—L.O., Adv. Int., January 2010
"This is a really nice tennis club with eight well kept asphalt courts. The staff is very friendly and flexible and it was easy to get a court or change court times during the Christmas vacation week we were there. There is also a well stocked shop and ability to get rackets re-strung overnight on the premises. Don deWilde, the tennis pro, did a great job with a lesson for my son.
This is all located in the middle of a gorgeous resort right on the Caribbean with lots of other island stuff to do for those who cannot play tennis non-stop. I highly recommend this spot for tennis and island/beach relaxation."—D.B., Adv. Int., January 2010
"The resort and tennis facilities came recommended from friends who enjoy tennis. I have never played tennis before and was nervous about taking on a new sport. The location and facilities were wonderful and Don's friendly and helpful way of breaking down the grips, swings and body movement were fabulous. He has created a new tennis fanatic out of me. I plan on visiting The Buccaneer again in the future for more refresher lessons."—D.R., Beg., January 2010
Rate Buccaneer
Every Wednesday, Elizabeth Armstrong takes guests on a nature tour of the Buccaneer. There seems to be nothing particularly unusual in that until 
you realize that she has more than an idle interest in the history, flora, and fauna of this resort on the island of St. Croix. Her family has owned and operated the resort for more than 50 years, and as general manager she is now the third generation of Armstrongs to hold that position.
What was originally an 11-room hotel on a 17th-century plantation estate has evolved into a 340-acre resort with 138 rooms, suites and cottages, three crescent-shaped white-sand beaches, eight hard courts (two with lights), an 18-hole golf course, and a small spa and fitness center. Yet it has never lost its personal touch. Guests may no longer help rake the beach, as they once did, but they do feel very much a part of the resort.
Pro Shop: 340-773-3036
Tennis director Don deWilde has run the tennis operation at the Buccaneer since 1978. It isn't hard to see what keeps him here. The tennis complex occupies a prime location: a terraced hillside just below the hotel overlooking the beach. Its covered wooden deck is a favorite place to gather after playing for the views of the Caribbean and on very clear days the islands of Tortola and Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. "You can play tennis here 365 days a years," says deWilde.
On any given morning at the Buccaneer you'll hear the thwock, thwock of tennis balls and may look out to see nearly all of the eight courts in use. Some of those players will be hotel guests, who have first priority; many, however, will be local members for whom this is their home club. That combination ensures a stable of players for guests looking for games and generally improves the turnout for the various weekly programs scheduled during the busy winter season. And it has another advantage, according to deWilde: "A lot of our guests come specifically for the tennis, knowing that they'll run into some of the same guests year after year or meet up with the same local players," he notes. "A lot of lasting friendships begin on our courts."
Tennis Staff. DeWilde attended William and Mary on a tennis scholarship and captained the team and then took a job teaching tennis at the Williamsburg Inn while working on a Ph.D. in child psychology. He interrupted those studies when an opportunity arose to run the tennis program at what was then the 600-room Holiday Inn in Freeport, Bahamas, and then a second operation at the Howard Hughes-owned Xanadu. When the Bahamas declared independence from Britain in 1976, he was forced out but had grown to love the islands so much he decided to look around at American territories in the Caribbean. In 1978 he took the job at the Buccaneer on a trial basis expecting to stay a year. Instead he never left.
"What makes this unique is the interaction between hotel guests and locals," says deWilde. "I have a local membership I can call on for game matching. After more than 20 years here I know every single player on the island. A lot of lasting friendships are made between guests and locals."
Tennis Programs. Game matching and private lessons are staples of the tennis operation. Those are, however, supplemented by a variety of weekly tennis events (during the busy winter season), including a ladies' doubles round robin, men's open doubles draw, a ladies' drill session, and a men's B and under doubles. A ball machine is also available.
Pro Shop. Spacious and air conditioned, this well-stocked pro shop sits on the upper terrace in the center of the court complex. In addition to a good selection of clothing and equipment, it offers on-site restringing and a variety of beverages (including beer) for sale. A covered wooden deck at one end looks across the lower terrace of courts at the beach and water beyond.
Courts & Fees. There are 8 hard courts (2 with lights) arranged on two terraces cut into the hillside below the main hotel and above Mermaid Beach. They have benches but no shade and only the lower bank has water on the court itself (if you're playing on the upper bank, the nearest water is a refrigerated fountain on the deck of the pro shop). Court fees: $16/hour.
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Lodging consists of hotel rooms, cottages, hotel suites, and luxury oceanfront suites. These rates, in U.S. dollars, are nightly per room, and include full American breakfast, use of watersports equipment, and the kids' camp.
Apr. 2-Dec. 13, 2008 (except holidays)
Rooms $280-$440, Cottages/Suites $420-$695
Jan. 2-Apr. 15, 2009
Rooms $340-$695, Cottages/Suites $640-$990
Apr. 16-Dec. 19, 2009
Rooms $295-$460, Cottages/Suites $440-$730
Seasons. Year-round.
Travel Instructions. Two airlines serve St. Croix 
from the U.S. mainland: American Eagle and US Airways, making stops in St. Thomas or San Juan, Puerto Rico en route. However you can fly to St. Thomas or St. Croix on any of several other major carriers and then make connections to the half dozen or so commuter airlines connecting St. Croix with other Caribbean Islands.
General Tourist Information. For detailed information about the island of St. Croix, contact the St. Croix Hotel & Tourism Association at 800-524-2026. For general tourist information, contact the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism at 800-372-USVI or visit its offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, or Washington, DC. Among other things, it publishes a brochure that outlines rates at resorts, hotels, and inns on St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas.