Barbados Golf Course Renovations to Watch in 2026
Barbados has spent the last few years reinventing its golf, led by one of the most ambitious rebuilds in the Caribbean. Heading into 2026 the headline project has matured, the island's resort courses are reinvesting, and the destination is being pushed harder than ever. Here is what is changing and why it matters for your trip.
The headline: Apes Hill, rebuilt and now bedded in
The biggest story in Barbados golf is Apes Hill. After the property was bought by the Canadian businessman Glen Chamandy, the course went through a major rebuild reported at around 24 million US dollars under the direction of the architect Ron Kirby, and reopened in January 2022. The work cut back the overgrowth to expose the dramatic rock formations and open up thrilling corridors through the inland jungle, and it added a new par three short course along with a 19th hole by the clubhouse that plays to an island green.
For 2026 the significance is that the rebuild is no longer raw. Several seasons on, the course has matured into the condition the project promised, which makes this the moment Apes Hill steps up as a genuine reason to choose Barbados for a golf trip rather than a sun and beach holiday with a round attached. The elevated, inland setting gives it a character quite different from the island's coastal resort golf, and the short course makes it a strong base for a mixed ability group.
The island keeps reinvesting
Apes Hill is the clearest example of a wider pattern. It is among the Caribbean golf resort communities seeing the strongest post pandemic reinvestment, pairing the course restoration with a new short course and a fresh wave of villa building, so the golf sits inside a growing high end residential and resort community rather than standing alone. That matters to a visiting golfer because it signals a destination committing to golf for the long term, with the facilities and accommodation to match.
Alongside it, the island's established resort courses anchor the rest of a trip. Sandy Lane is home to multiple courses including the Tom Fazio designed layouts, and Royal Westmoreland's Robert Trent Jones Jr. course remains one of the most enjoyable resort tests in the region. Between them, Barbados now offers genuine variety, the inland drama of Apes Hill set against the polished coastal resort golf of the west coast.
What it means for your trip
The practical message for a 2026 Barbados golf trip is that the destination has levelled up. A few years ago the island was a one course golf story; now it is a proper short itinerary, and the natural plan is to base on the west coast for the beach and the resort courses, then head inland for a day or two at the rebuilt Apes Hill. The compact size of the island means transfers are short, so you are never far from the next tee.
As ever with reinvestment news, the value of confirming details before you commit is high. Resort green fees and tee access vary by season and by whether you are staying on property, and a community still building out can mean construction in parts of the estate. None of that changes the golf, but it is worth checking the current picture when you book.
Our take
Barbados was never short of appeal, but for golfers it used to be a fine beach holiday with a round bolted on. The Apes Hill rebuild changed that, and the fact it has now had time to mature is the real headline for 2026. Our advice is to treat the island as a relaxed three or four course week rather than a single outing: combine the inland challenge of Apes Hill with the coastal resort courses, keep the days short and the transfers shorter, and confirm fees and access for whichever properties you are not staying at.
Plan your Barbados golf trip
From the rebuilt inland challenge of Apes Hill to the west coast resort courses, tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge builds and costs the trip, with no obligation.
Questions
What was the Apes Hill renovation?
After being bought by Glen Chamandy, Apes Hill underwent a major rebuild reported at around 24 million US dollars under architect Ron Kirby, reopening in January 2022 with a new par three short course and a clubhouse 19th hole to an island green. It has since matured into full condition.
Which other Barbados courses anchor a golf trip?
Alongside the rebuilt Apes Hill, the island's resort golf is anchored by Sandy Lane, with its Tom Fazio designed courses, and Royal Westmoreland's Robert Trent Jones Jr. layout on the west coast, giving a Barbados trip real variety.
When is the best time to play golf in Barbados?
The dry, peak season in Barbados runs roughly December to April, with warm, settled weather. Summer and autumn are hotter and more humid and fall within the Atlantic hurricane season, though rates are usually lower.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Apes Hill rebuild details and island course information verified June 2026 from resort and golf media sources; projects and access change, so always confirm directly. Last reviewed June 2026.