The last time I wrote about the Apes Hill golf course (7041 yards, par-72, 18 holes) designed by Ron Kirby, I was very impressed with his work. Last December, I could only report that the Apes Hill golf course was opened to the public.
A common topic of discussion among golf resort developers is the ideal number of holes for a golf resort. 18? 27? 36? 54? I would not build less than 27 holes (like in Apes Hill) for a golf resort, especially in a faraway place like Barbados.
Golf travelers need to be convinced, even in the case of Barbados, that it is worth traveling several hours for the golf experience. There are 5 golf courses in Barbados including:
- Apes Hill Golf Resort and Community,
- Barbados Golf Club, Rockley Club,
- Royal Westmoreland (Robert Trent Jones Sr.) and
- The Green Monkey at Sandy Lane (by Tom Fazio).
Apes Hill – stay-and-play options from this winter
Let’s see how Apes Hill tries to tempt golf travelers beyond the Ron Kirby-designed golf course + the Performance & Training Centre (with TPI-qualified staff) + floodlit driving range.
Spacious three-bedroom golf course and sea view villas, each with a private garden and 30ft pool, will be available to rent for holiday stays from January 2024.
Each 2-storey villa sleeps up to 6 guests and is enhanced by sweeping ocean vistas, sitting within walking distance of Apes Hill’s full range of facilities as well as being less than 10 minutes from some of the island’s most beautiful beaches on both the east and west coasts.
The ‘19th hole’ – which takes inspiration from the famous island green at TPC Sawgrass – will be the perfect extra challenge to settle a round on either layout.
The ‘20th Hole’ is the resort’s halfway house, serving refreshments to players as they enjoy spectacular views.
Resort guests can also enjoy an array of integrated lifestyle amenities from next year, with
- a racquet complex encompassing tennis and Padel,
- nature trails for walking and biking,
- as well as a host of bespoke wellness treatments, including personal training, bootcamps, yoga and Pilates sessions.
Is Apes Hill convincing enough for you? Is it really worth traveling so much for that golf experience? Or shall we wait until 2026, when the Ernie Els-designed golf course will be ready in OLEADA Pacific Living & Golf (Los Cabos, Mexico)?
Share your thoughts in the comments!
