St. Croix tennis earned national recognition this summer. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) named The Buccaneer in Christiansted a winner of the 2026 USTA Outstanding Facility Award in the Small Private Facilities category, an honor that put a court complex on our island alongside facilities from across the country.

The USTA presented the award on Monday, August 31, at an awards reception at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. The 2026 US Open was underway on the same grounds that week, so a tennis facility from the U.S. Virgin Islands took its bow a short walk from the best players in the world. Dena Coe, The Buccaneer’s Director of Tennis, accepted the award on the resort’s behalf.

What the USTA Outstanding Facility Award Recognizes

Dena Coe, Director of Tennis at The Buccaneer, in a red dress, holding a blue plaque reading "2026 Outstanding Facility Award" with a man in a navy blazer in front of a green USTA backdrop.
Director of Tennis Dena Coe accepts the 2026 USTA Outstanding Facility Award for The Buccaneer at the USTA awards reception in New York.

According to The Buccaneer, the USTA judges facilities for this award on six factors:

  • Court quality
  • Design
  • Player amenities
  • Aesthetics
  • Accessibility
  • Contributions to growing the sport

We care most about the last one. Courts help a community only when people use them, and this award goes to facilities that keep a high standard of play while bringing new players into the game.

Inside the Courts at The Buccaneer

The Buccaneer’s tennis complex has eight courts. Two are lit for evening play, which matters in the Caribbean, where late afternoons and evenings are often the most comfortable hours to be on court.

The surfaces are another reason the facility stands out. Six of the courts are Plexipave, an acrylic hard-court surface. The other two are Tedelgrass, a synthetic grass surface. You can switch between two different styles of play without leaving the property.

Everything sits in a tropical setting on St. Croix’s east side. For players who are used to indoor clubs or crowded public courts, playing outdoors here is part of the appeal.

The People Behind the Program

Director of Tennis Dena Coe leads The Buccaneer’s tennis program. She is an RSPA Elite Certified Teaching Professional, a USTA Net Generation coach, and a USTA Professional Coach. She is also a former competitive player and educator.

Coe was quick to share the credit. “This award belongs to all of us,” she said. She runs the program under a simple motto: “Together, We Can Grow the Game of Tennis.”

Elizabeth Armstrong, President and Owner of The Buccaneer, thanked Warren Mosler for his commitment to operating the facility, and thanked Dena Coe for her leadership. Armstrong said it is “particularly rewarding” to see young Virgin Islanders discovering tennis. Her comment ties back to the award’s last criterion, growing the sport, and to the next generation of players on St. Croix.

Tennis for Guests, Members and Local Players

The Buccaneer opens its courts year-round to resort guests, members, and local players. Its programs include:

  • Court time
  • Professional instruction and private lessons
  • Clinics
  • Doubles play
  • Social tennis

The Buccaneer describes the facility as welcoming to St. Croix’s tennis community and to young Virgin Islanders who are learning the sport. On an island, a resort that opens its courts to residents gives local players and kids a place to learn, practice, and compete.

For lessons, clinics or court time, you can find program details and contact information on The Buccaneer’s tennis page.

What the Award Means for St. Croix Tennis

This award adds to an active, close-knit tennis community on St. Croix. Earlier this year we wrote about the Just Beat It! tournament at the Tennis Club of St. Croix, which raised funds for Cancer Support VI. Sea Glass Properties was proud to sponsor that event. Between club play, tournaments, and programs like The Buccaneer’s, tennis on St. Croix gives people a way to meet each other, support local causes, and stay active year-round.

A USTA award also sends a message to tennis players on the mainland: St. Croix has quality courts, certified coaching, and players to compete against.

Why It Matters If You Are Considering a Move

If you are considering a move to St. Croix, you have probably wondered about daily life once the vacation feeling wears off. Beaches and restaurants are part of the answer. Routine is another part: a regular doubles game, a weekly clinic, a court where people know your name.

For tennis players, that routine is already here. Year-round weather, lit courts, certified professionals, and programs open to local players mean you don’t have to put your game on hold when you move to the island. For families, a program and a coach focused on introducing young Virgin Islanders to the sport are worth knowing about as well.

Congratulations to The Buccaneer

We congratulate Dena Coe, Elizabeth Armstrong, Warren Mosler, and everyone who plays, works, and coaches at The Buccaneer. The award honors the courts and the community of players around them. You can read The Buccaneer’s full announcement here.

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