Apes Hill Golf Club
Apes Hill is the modern championship course high in the heart of Barbados, a Ron Kirby design that reopened in 2022 after a major renovation. A par 72 of about 7,150 yards on a ridge roughly 1,000 feet above the sea, it looks out over both the calm Caribbean and the wilder Atlantic and was among the last courses Kirby completed.
Photo: Apes Hill Barbados via Google.
The verdict
Apes Hill is the newest of the great Barbados courses and the one with the highest ground. Set on an inland ridge roughly 1,000 feet above sea level, it was reworked by the veteran architect Ron Kirby and reopened in January 2022 after a substantial renovation, playing as a par 72 of about 7,150 yards. The elevation is the headline: cooler air, constant wind, and long views to the Caribbean on one side and the Atlantic on the other.
It plays as a thoroughly modern resort and community course, with wide, sculpted fairways and generous conditioning, and it has hosted professional golf since the relaunch. Many regard the Kirby routing as one of his finest final works. For a Barbados golf trip Apes Hill is the contemporary, high country contrast to the coral drama of Royal Westmoreland and the quarry theater of Sandy Lane's Green Monkey down on the coast.
Apes Hill at a glance
- Reopened
- 2022
- Designer
- Ron Kirby
- Type
- High ridge
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,150 yds
- Elevation
- About 1,000 ft
Designer, reopening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases; Apes Hill is a Ron Kirby design that reopened in January 2022, broadly a par 72 of about 7,150 yards on a ridge near 1,000 feet above sea level. Par and yardage figures vary slightly by source and tee. Green fees are indicative for the 2026 season, broadly from about US$225 to US$325 for 18 holes for visitors, before cart where applicable; rates change, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The elevation shapes everything. From the high ground the holes fall and climb across the ridge, and the wind that sweeps the top of the island is rarely absent, so judging the breeze and the slope matters as much as raw distance. The Kirby renovation widened lines off the tee and rebuilt the greens, giving the round a generous, strategic feel rather than a penal one.
The views are the reward. Few courses anywhere let you see two oceans in a round; from parts of the ridge the calm Caribbean lies to the west and the rougher Atlantic to the east, and the cooler high country air is a relief from the coast. The par 3s and the short par 4s, played across the contours, are where the routing is at its best.
For a Barbados trip we use Apes Hill as the modern, high ground round to set against the coral coast courses. It is a short drive up from the west coast resorts, so it slots easily alongside Royal Westmoreland and Sandy Lane, and the change in elevation and temperature makes it feel like a different island.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Welcomes visitor play alongside members and residents; tee times booked in advance, and it has hosted professional events since reopening |
| Indicative green fee | Indicative for 2026, broadly US$225 to US$325 for 18 holes for visitors; always confirm directly before booking |
| Designer and year | Ron Kirby, reopened January 2022 after a major renovation; broadly a par 72 of about 7,150 yards |
| Booking window | Reserve ahead in the December to April high season; the high, exposed ground means wind is a constant factor |
| Getting there | On the high inland ridge in Saint James, a short drive up from the west coast and roughly 40 minutes from Grantley Adams International Airport |
Access and fees verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases. Green fees are third party and indicative for the 2026 season; they vary by season and tee time and may exclude cart, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability and we will build the round into your trip.
Where to stay nearby
Apes Hill has its own community and accommodation on the ridge, so you can stay up high near the course in the cooler inland air. It is a polished, modern base that suits golfers who want the course on their doorstep and the views that come with the elevation.
Most visitors, though, base on the platinum west coast a short drive below, mixing the beach hotels of Saint James with the run up to Apes Hill for golf. From there Royal Westmoreland and Sandy Lane are also close at hand. Tell us your dates and your group and we will match the base to the golf.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Apes Hill and the west coast.
Plan your Barbados golf trip
Apes Hill is the modern, high country round of Barbados, a Ron Kirby course with two ocean views and constant wind. We arrange the stay, the tee times and the order of play, and cost it to the head. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling.
Apes Hill questions
Who designed Apes Hill and when did it reopen?
Apes Hill is a Ron Kirby design that reopened in January 2022 after a major multi million dollar renovation. It is a par 72 of about 7,150 yards on a high inland ridge in Saint James, Barbados, and was among the last courses Kirby completed.
What is special about the setting at Apes Hill?
The course sits on a ridge roughly 1,000 feet above sea level, the high ground of the island, with views of the calm Caribbean to the west and the wilder Atlantic to the east. The elevation brings cooler air and constant wind.
Can visitors play Apes Hill?
Yes. Apes Hill welcomes visitor play alongside its members and residents, with tee times booked in advance. It has also hosted professional events. Always confirm current access and rates directly before booking.
When is the best time to play golf at Apes Hill?
The dry season from about December to April is the prime window in Barbados. Because Apes Hill sits high and exposed, the wind is a year round factor and the elevation keeps the air a touch cooler than the coast.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, reopening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; figures vary slightly by source and green fees are indicative for the 2026 season and subject to change. Last reviewed June 2026.