Apes Hill
High in the green interior of St James, Apes Hill is the most ambitious golf in Barbados. Ron Kirby reimagined the course in a major redesign that reopened in January 2022, one of his final projects, turning a par 71 of about 7,000 yards through dramatic gullies, fig trees and resident green monkeys into one of the finest inland courses in the Caribbean.
Photo: Apes Hill Barbados via Google.
The verdict
Most golf in Barbados clings to the west coast, so Apes Hill is a surprise: a course set high in the hills of St James, several hundred feet above the sea, where the air is cooler and the views run clear across the island to the Atlantic on a fine day. It first opened in 2009, but the version worth travelling for is the one Ron Kirby reimagined in a thorough redesign that reopened in January 2022, one of the last courses the veteran architect completed.
Kirby used the dramatic ground, the deep coral stone gullies, the mature fig trees and the rolling elevation, to build a par 71 of about 7,000 yards that feels nothing like a flat resort layout. Troops of Barbados green monkeys cross the fairways, the conditioning is excellent and the closing holes have real teeth. For the traveling golfer it is the headline round on the island, an easy pairing with the coastal courses below.
Apes Hill at a glance
- Reopened
- 2022
- Designer
- Ron Kirby 2022 redesign
- Type
- Inland championship
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 7,000 yds
- Green fee
- Visitor bookable
Designer, redesign, reopening, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Apes Hill Barbados, Top 100 Golf Courses and leading course databases. The course originally opened in 2009 and was redesigned by Ron Kirby, reopening as a par 71 of about 7,000 yards in January 2022. Apes Hill is open to resort guests and visiting golfers; carts are compulsory and usually included in the fee, and rates move with the season, so always confirm the current green fee and tee time directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
What sets Apes Hill apart is the land. The course tumbles across the highland interior on coral stone ridges, and Kirby's redesign leaned into it, routing holes along and over deep natural gullies that frame tee shots and swallow the timid approach. The elevation gives constant change of pace, downhill drives that seem to hang in the air, uphill par 4s that ask for one more club, and views that open up to the coast.
The conditioning since the 2022 reopening has been a step above, with firm, true greens that reward a confident putter. The par 3s are varied and demanding, and the closing stretch back to the clubhouse is the test of the round, where the gullies and the wind combine to protect par. Throughout, the resident troops of green monkeys are part of the experience, a reminder that this is a tropical course unlike any other on the island.
It is a course that asks for thoughtful, well struck golf rather than pure length, and the variety of the holes keeps it interesting from the first tee to the last. Apes Hill rewards the visitor who plays the angles and enjoys the spectacle.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Open to resort guests and visiting golfers; part of the wider Apes Hill golf and residential community |
| Green fee | Indicative visitor green fee in the region of US$125 and up (2026), often included in stay and play packages; carts compulsory and usually included |
| Booking | Reserve a tee time in advance, generally a week ahead in high season; a planner can bundle it with your hotel |
| On the day | Cart golf across hilly terrain; smart golf attire; allow time to enjoy the views and the wildlife |
| Getting there | In the St James hills, about 30 to 40 minutes from the west coast hotels and Grantley Adams airport |
| Best months | December to April for the dry season; cooling elevation makes summer play more comfortable than the coast |
Access and fee guidance verified June 2026; rates and policies change, so always confirm directly with Apes Hill or your trip planner before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Most golfers base on the west coast of Barbados, the famous Platinum Coast of St James and St Peter, where the island's best hotels and villas sit on calm Caribbean beaches a short drive below Apes Hill. It is an easy run up into the hills for golf and back down to the sand for the afternoon.
Apes Hill itself has villas and residences within the community for a golf focused stay. For a complete Barbados golf trip, pair it with the coastal courses at Royal Westmoreland and the Green Monkey at Sandy Lane, which between them make a strong three course week.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Apes Hill.
Build a Barbados golf trip
We book the Apes Hill tee times, pair them with the coastal courses and arrange the west coast hotels around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Apes Hill questions
Who designed Apes Hill and when did it reopen?
Apes Hill originally opened in 2009 and was reimagined by architect Ron Kirby in a major redesign that reopened in January 2022. It was one of Kirby's final projects.
What is the par and length of Apes Hill?
Apes Hill is a par 71 championship course of about 7,000 yards from the back tees, set in the hills of St James in the interior of Barbados.
Can visitors play Apes Hill?
Yes. Apes Hill is open to resort guests and visiting golfers who book in advance. Golf carts are compulsory and are usually included in the green fee, so confirm the current rate and tee time directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, redesign, reopening, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.