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Positioned 1,000 feet above sea level, Apes Hill Barbados – designed by Ron Kirby – has quickly built a reputation as a bucket-list venue for all golfers.
We say ‘all’, because with four teeing options ranging from a little over 5,000 yards to 7,000, the layout aims to welcome an eclectic mix of golfers: from passionate beginners to seasoned veterans.
Laid out on an enviable and enriching stretch of land – much like another Kirby classic some 4,000 miles across the Atlantic at Ireland’s Old Head – the layout is surrounded by ancient coral rock formations, streams and gullies along with some dramatic changes in elevation.
“When I saw Apes Hill for the first time, I saw there were vistas that were just superb,” Kirby says.
“The fun at Old Head and the fun at Apes Hill are the vistas, and you just feel like you want to get out here and enjoy it on a course that has such world-class views as the backdrop.”
The beautifully framed green on the par-3 5th hole
(Image credit: Apes Hill)
It was 2019 when Kirby first started work on reimagining Apes Hill into the wonder he has created today. After being commissioned by owner and Canadian investor Glenn Chamandy – whose own aim is to redefine Apes Hill as a luxury retreat with a number of key developments over the following 12 months – Kirby identified a number of key changes to the original design that first opened in 2006, with playability at the forefront of his strategy.
The thinking was simple: why build a golf course for only the best players to enjoy when everyone should be able to sample the delights of his ‘Caribbean Masterpiece?’
“We put four tee boxes in so that we could cover all types of players,” Kirby said. “From those who can strike it pure to the average golfer and then beginners.
“To everyone who plays at Apes Hill, I want them to walk away and say this was a fun golf course.”
Some more subtle changes would follow, crafting the layout with respect for the area’s natural surroundings with sustainability at its heart. The course uses an environmentally friendly grass that cuts back on water waste. What water is needed for the turf is natural rainwater housed in a 58-million-gallon reservoir. The new-look layout reopened to members and their guests last November, with Apes Hill transformed into a wow-a-minute feast for all.
Ron Kirby has crafted the second hole into a risk-reward par 4 that tempts players to attack the green
(Image credit: Apes Hill)
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