Apes Hill is pretty special but it’s by no means the only golfing option on Barbados. That’s what makes this small island such a great place for golfers – Just down the road you have Royal Westmoreland as well as Sandy Lane. We had a chance to play at Royal Westmorelandand it’s another excellent layout. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr, it’s more established than Apes Hill. It’s perhaps not as dramatic as its more elevated neighbour, but it still offers a highly enjoyable playing experience and there are some excellent holes to negotiate throughout the round, culminating in the fascinating downhill 18th.
CRICKET LEGENDS AT BRIDGETOWN
In between golf and a succession of memorable meals, we had a chance to check out what else the island has to offer, including a memorable evening spent at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown watching a cricket match under the floodlights between Barbados Royals and St Kitts & Nevis Patriots
in the Caribbean Premier League. As a keen cricketer, and having watched many first-class matches back home in England, this was a truly unforgettable experience, enhanced by the lively atmosphere that surrounds all levels of cricket in the Caribbean and, if you don’t mind the name dropping, the chance to briefly meet the legend that is Sir Gary Sobers, while watching Barbados Royals star player Rahkeem Cornwall smash a 45-ball century to see the home side successfully chase down a very respectable 221 set by St Kitts & Nevis.
SAMPLING LOCAL LIFE
On our final day we enjoyed a guided tour of the island, which included a fascinating tour of the local Scotland district around Apes Hill, and Bathsheba, a beautiful seaside town located on the wilder east coast, while a visit to a local rum shop is a must for anyone with a taste for one of the Caribbean’s finest exports.
We rounded off the trip with a final nine holes on the Apes Hill championship course, before taking on the 19th hole, a par-3 island green decider for any match that finds itself level after 18. We were joined here by our now close friend Woosie for one last hurrah, and of course, one last post-match beer.
