The Pristine Bay resort on the Caribbean island of Roatan is opening its golf course, named Black Pearl, to cruise ship passengers from 1 December, ahead of the public opening on 1 January 2011.

The Black Pearl course has been designed by American architect Perry Dye, with assistance from his father Pete.

Roatan, located 40 miles off the coast of Honduras, is an increasingly popular destination on Caribbean cruise itineraries. Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruise ships will dock several times a week for passengers to play the 7,179-yard course.

“After many months of hard work by the Dye Designs team, the Black Pearl is ready for golfers to tee-it-up in one of the most scenic locales in the Caribbean,” said Mario Toriello, vice president of sales and marketing for Pristine Bay. “Our cruise ship visitors will be among the first to sample Roatan’s introduction to world-class golf.”

Fourteen of the course’s holes offer views of the Caribbean and the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the world’s second largest barrier reef. Paspalum turf has been used to grass the course.