BARBADOS LEGENDS SHOWCASES WORLD-CLASS GOLF AND UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE AT APES HILL
Scott Hend’s victory in the Barbados Legends hosted by Ian Woosnam capped a spectacular week at Apes Hill Barbados, reaffirming the venue’s position as one of the most exciting destinations on the Legends Tour.
Woosnam, the former Masters Champion and Apes Hill ambassador, was full of pride as the week drew to a close. “The course has come on tremendously,” he said. “Everything has got better - from the greens to the fairways - and even the sunshine seems hotter. For a redesigned and remodelled venue, the quality is extraordinary. What a showpiece for Apes Hill and the Legends Tour.”
The tournament attracted former Ryder Cup Captains, Major Champions, tournament winners and amateurs from around the globe. Paul McGinley was among those singing the praises of the Ron Kirby-designed championship layout: “It’s a golf course I would never get bored of. It asks a lot of questions, You have to think your way around here and execute shots - uphill, downhill and judge the distance, judge the wind and judge the grain on the greens – so it asks a lot of questions and that is what I like about it. The views are spectacular, and the hospitality has been first class.”
Former US Open Champion Michael Campbell, staying in the resort’s new luxury Hilltop Villas, echoed the sentiment. “The décor is stunning, the practice facilities are excellent, and the atmosphere is so welcoming. It’s a joy to come back and play this golf course,” he said. “And the views - especially from the 14th and 15th tees where you can see the other side of the island - are magnificent.”
David Drysdale, co-leader after round one on his Legends Tour debut, highlighted both the quality of the course and the emotional connection many players feel to the island. “I proposed here, got married here, and now I’m back playing in my debut Legends Tour event,” said Drysdale. “It’s a perfect venue with amazing natural beauty. The run of holes 12, 13 and 14 makes you feel you are in an Amazon rainforest, while the 16th is an amazing golf hole with that cave in the background. It is spectacular.”
James Kingston, who led after two rounds, praised the course’s evolution and marvelled at the scenery from the elevated position of Apes Hill with the Atlantic on one side and Caribbean on the other and found himself momentarily lost in the view. “Then you realise - you have to hit a shot,” he chuckled. But that, perhaps, is the magic here. The place demands your best, while never letting you forget to enjoy the moment.
The Pro-Am and Legends Experience events were a major highlight, offering local and international amateurs the unique chance to play alongside golfing legends. Participants described the experience as “relaxed, welcoming and unforgettable.”
There were memorable moments on the course too, including a hole-in-one by Niclas Fasth, captured on video by playing partner Mark Richardson, a member of Apes Hill. “It was extraordinary,” said Richardson. “We hadn’t taken a photo all round, so I thought I’d film the last hole. And it dropped in.”
His wife, Kari Richardson, was on the winning Wednesday Pro-Am team. “I have never played in anything like this, so it was really enjoyable and delight to win. It was a really wonderful experience.”
England cricketing legend Darren Gough, playing in the Legends Pro-Am alongside his sons in Barbados, is a regular feature in Legends Tour Pro-Ams and was quick to declare it “the best one so far.” Reflecting on the course and the energy of the island, he added, “Anyone coming to the Caribbean—and especially Barbados—should try and play Apes Hill.”
Apes Hill luxury golf and real-estate community extends far beyond golf, with luxury villas including the new Hilltop villas, Padel and tennis courts, hiking trails, and a Beach Club, all underscored by a warm and inclusive spirit.
“This is still just the beginning,” said Woosnam. “Apes Hill is in its infancy, but the future is very bright.”