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Famed for its white sandy beaches, breath-taking coastal scenery and excellent food and rum, Barbados has long been a popular holiday destination with more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year and a steady breeze ensuring temperatures rarely become unbearable.
But the island has also become a great option for keen golfers looking to get away and play whatever the season. Leading the way is Apes Hill Barbados, which has become one of the most talked-about golf venues in the world since it reopened last year.
The work of acclaimed American designer Ron Kirby – who can include the jaw-dropping Old Head at Kinsale among his huge portfolio of international layouts – Apes Hill is Barbados’ most elevated golf course, towering 1,000ft above sea level with magnificent views over the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.
The 18-hole championship layout – hailed as a “Caribbean masterpiece” – has been earning rave reviews since Kirby first started work in 2019 following heavy investment from Canadian owner Glenn Chamandy.
A par-72 layout, the course is set among breath-taking topography and plays over 7,000 yards off the back tees – four teeing options make it playable for all standards of player with the shortest tees at 5,033 yards.
The design uses the undulating terrain to add beauty and complexity to the fairways – just a few of the reasons why Apes Hill has received rave reviews from those fortunate enough to have played it in the short time since it reopened to members and their guests.
The course will certainly live up to its growing reputation as a bucket-list venue with a number of memorable holes that deliver stunning vistas. After a gentle opening – that includes a thrilling risk-reward short par 4 at the second hole – the layout begins to bite with some dramatic tee shots adding to the challenge and a run of holes on the inward nine can be very demanding even for the better players – notably the stretch from the 12th to the 15th.
Apes Hill’s signature hole arrives in the form of a stunning par three at 16. Named the ‘Cave Hole’, it measures more than 200 yards from the championship tees with the Atlantic sitting behind you and the Caribbean Sea in front. With palm trees, rock formations and water to counter as you navigate a safe path to the green, the hole really does have the DNA that Barbados is famous for.
The other side of Apes Hill to receive a major overhaul under Chamandy is a budding real estate community with a phased re-opening throughout 2023. While a home amidst the natural beauty of the Caribbean is an aspiration for many, residential projects like this one really bring the dream into view. Properties start at around £1.5m but are diverse enough to suit a hefty range of budgets and buyers.
Recognisable by their silky, contemporary design, each fully furnished home or villa is framed by Barbados’ natural coral and foliage. Features including a private swimming pool, westerly sea views, and gardens – all of which are available across six diverse properties.
First, the aptly named Seaview Ridge is home to four-bedroom villas from which residents can take in the Caribbean in all its glory.
With the 18th fairway on their doorstep, the resort’s two-storey Courtyard Villas enjoy a private patio with the ocean in sight, while the timeless Daydreamer Villas at Holders Meadow are neatly positioned alongside the 3rd hole that rests beside a coconut grove.
Elsewhere, a collection of Hilltop Villas is to be built overlooking the family friendly nine-hole par-3 course with these four-bedroom properties having their own private pools
The venue is also in the process of adding several facilities that will enhance the visitor-guest experience, including the recently opened state-of-the-art Performance Centre built with the help of respected expert Tim Cutshall and packed with hi-tech practice facilities with fun games for kids and adults.
With holes ranging from 95 to 150 yards, a par-three layout will be a welcome addition that is perfect for both those looking to sharpen up their short games and families who do not want to take on the full 18 holes, and a 19th hole named ‘Last Laugh’ in the style of the iconic 17th at TPC Sawgrass is also in the process of being built to settle any scores at the end of the round.
If you’re looking to get away for a golfing holiday of a lifetime, or are searching for that dream overseas property, the Apes Hill’s ‘Caribbean masterpiece’ could be just what you’re after.
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For more information, see apeshill.com
