Play Golf Surrounded By Barbados’ Stunning Views

Barbados has five main golf courses anchored by three resort properties — Apes Hill, Royal Westmoreland, and Sandy Lane — all within a short drive of one another on the island’s west coast. Apes Hill, the newest of the bunch, completed a comprehensive redesign in 2022 that effectively made it the island’s freshest 18 holes. Set roughly 1,000 feet above sea level on what was once a sugar plantation, the course delivers views of the Caribbean Sea on one side and the Atlantic on the other — a vantage point few Caribbean courses can match.

This article walks through each of the main courses, what makes them worth your time, and how to plan a golf trip that leaves room for the beach. Barbados is more a luxury beach destination than a golf factory, and the best trips treat the sand as a feature, not an afterthought. If you’re weighing whether the island delivers enough golf for a dedicated trip, the short answer is yes — provided you book the right courses and go during the dry season.

The table below gives a quick comparison of the main courses you’ll likely book on a Barbados golf trip. All are within a 20–40 minute drive of the west coast accommodation strip.

Apes Hill: The Island’s Newest Championship Layout

Apes Hill sits high in the interior of Barbados, roughly 1,000 feet above sea level, on land that grew sugar cane for generations. The championship course was comprehensively rebuilt and reopened after a redesign by Ron Kirby that was completed in 2022. Fourteen of the eighteen holes touch water, and the closing stretch includes a par-3 island green that nods to the famous 17th at TPC Sawgrass. The course was the sole Caribbean newcomer on a recent Golf World list of best new resorts.

Beyond the championship layout, the property also offers Little Apes — a nine-hole par-3 course built with families and shorter sessions in mind. It was named Caribbean’s Best Nine Hole Course at the 2025 World Golf Awards. Together, the two courses give Apes Hill the most variety of any single golf property in Barbados. The practice facilities include a driving range long enough for the biggest hitters and a covered area for lessons in bad weather. The clubhouse is modern and smaller than Sandy Lane’s; it sits on a small hill overlooking a grassed amphitheatre, with a rear patio that looks out over a lake and the 19th island green.

Royal Westmoreland: Par 3s That Steal the Show

If Apes Hill is about elevation and breadth, Royal Westmoreland is about drama in a tighter package. The Robert Trent Jones Jr design stretches to around 6,870 yards and threads through rolling hills, ravines, and rock faces. It has long been one of the island’s most prestigious addresses, and it ranks firmly inside the world’s top 100 courses according to Your Golf Travel. The 5th and 6th holes are particularly strong, but the 12th is the signature — a short par 3 with a small green flanked dangerously by a ravine, demanding a precise carry.

The course is often described as having the best set of par 3s in the Caribbean. Several play over deep ravines onto greens with testing drop-offs, and the sea views from the higher holes are excellent. The clubhouse follows an old colonial style, with a terrace overlooking the course that serves as a natural 19th hole. Royal Westmoreland is a resort course tied to the Royal Westmoreland residential community, so visitor access varies — it’s not a book-on-a-whim public course.

Sandy Lane: Three Courses, One Legendary Address

What does the island’s most exclusive golf address look like? Sandy Lane operates three layouts: the Green Monkey, the Country Club, and the Old Nine. The Green Monkey, designed by Tom Fazio and opened in 2004, was carved from an old limestone quarry — fairways and greens are often lined by sheer cliff faces, creating a look that belongs alongside Pebble Beach and Kingsbarns in the elite group of the world’s most spectacular courses. Its signature hole is a par-3 grass island surrounded by sand sculpted into the shape of a Bajan green monkey. At 7,343 yards from the back tees, it’s the longest course on the island.

The Country Club, also by Tom Fazio, opened earlier in 1961 and hosted the 2006 World Golf Championships Barbados World Cup. It has wide, immaculate fairways, strategic bunkering, and panoramic ocean views from almost every hole. Caddies are mandatory here — they fill divots as you play, keeping the course in pristine condition. The 18th plays from an elevated tee toward a green and lake below the clubhouse, often into a stiff trade wind. Tiger Woods married at Sandy Lane in 2004, at the clubhouse area overlooking the 18th green of the Country Club course. The Old Nine, designed by Ron Kirby, is a 3,345-yard, par-36 classic parkland layout with mature mahogany trees and gently undulating fairways. Green monkeys are ever-present spectators, especially around the short par-3 7th, which drops almost vertically from an elevated tee to a small green below with a stunning ocean view.

Barbados Golf Club: Where Locals Play

On the south coast in Christ Church, the pace changes. Barbados Golf Club — also called Durants — is the island’s main public course and where most Bajans play. It stretches to 6,649 yards, is very walkable, and offers a more relaxed atmosphere than the west coast resorts. The course was originally built in the 1970s and redesigned by Ron Kirby and Commander John Harris in 2000. It has wide fairways, open parkland terrain, and water hazards that come into play on several holes. The signature is the par-3 16th: 150 yards from the back tees, often playing across the prevailing wind and a small lake to a slightly elevated green with deep surrounds — par here is an excellent score. The 15th and 16th together are potential card-wreckers on the way home.

The clubhouse is functional — modest changing rooms, a small pro shop, and a bar that overlooks the practice green and the 9th and 18th greens. It’s homely rather than luxurious, and the green fees are sensibly priced compared to the resort courses. The course hosts the Barbados Open and is a good option for a relaxed round without the formality of the west coast clubs. Greens are surprisingly good; fairways and tee boxes are acceptable but not manicured to resort standards.

When to Go and How to Book

Barbados golf has a clear sweet spot for weather, and access to the best courses requires advance planning. Here’s what to factor in before you book.

Season and Timing

The dry season runs from December to April. Humidity drops, rainfall is light, and the trade winds settle into a predictable rhythm — ideal for consistent scoring. February through April are the most reliable months. The off-peak period from June to November brings a higher chance of showers and overlaps with the Atlantic hurricane season, though the island rarely takes a direct hit and courses drain quickly. Morning tee times are a good hedge in the wetter months. If you’re after value, May through September offer lower rates, but you accept the weather risk.

Access and Booking

Several marquee courses are tied to resorts or residential communities with restricted visitor access. Sandy Lane’s Green Monkey is essentially reserved for resort guests and invited visitors. Royal Westmoreland operates within a residential community. Apes Hill welcomes visitors but runs as a private members club. Confirm tee time availability and visitor arrangements directly with each course when you plan your trip — don’t assume open booking. Treat any quoted green fee as indicative for the 2026 season and confirm it before you commit. Fees are firmly at the premium end and move with demand.

Stay on or near the west coast — Holetown, St. James, or the surrounding area — to keep driving times to Apes Hill, Royal Westmoreland, and Sandy Lane under 20 minutes. The airport at Grantley Adams International (BGI) is 20 to 40 minutes from the west coast resorts depending on traffic.

Before You Go — Barbados Golf

How many rounds can I fit into a week?

Four to five rounds is a comfortable pace, leaving time for the beach and island exploring. With Apes Hill, Royal Westmoreland, Sandy Lane (choose one of the three), and Barbados Golf Club, you get variety without rushing. Add Little Apes as a relaxed afternoon loop on an Apes Hill day.

Can beginners play the championship courses?

Yes. Apes Hill and Royal Westmoreland offer forward tees that shorten the holes significantly. Barbados Golf Club is the most beginner-friendly option with wide fairways and multiple tee boxes. Little Apes at Apes Hill is designed specifically for shorter sessions and newer players.

What’s the dress code at the resort courses?

Collared shirts and tailored shorts or trousers are standard at Apes Hill, Royal Westmoreland, and Sandy Lane. Jeans, swimwear, and gym wear are not accepted on the course or in the clubhouse. Barbados Golf Club is more relaxed but still expects collared shirts and appropriate footwear.

Is it worth visiting outside the dry season?

It can be, if you’re flexible. June to November brings a higher chance of showers, but courses drain quickly and morning tee times often beat the rain. Rates are lower and courses are quieter. The island rarely takes a direct hurricane hit, but travel insurance that covers weather disruption is sensible.

What else is there to do beyond golf?

Plenty. West coast beaches like Paynes Bay and Mullins Beach offer calm swimming. Harrison’s Cave features dramatic limestone caverns. The Friday night Oistins Fish Fry is a local institution with grilled seafood and music. Catamaran cruises let you snorkel with sea turtles and explore coral reefs — a solid afternoon option after a morning round.

Closing

Barbados won’t compete with the sheer volume of courses you’d find in Florida or Portugal, but that’s not the point. The island’s appeal lies in the quality of its handful of layouts, the consistency of its dry-season weather, and the fact that you can play a championship course in the morning and be in the water by early afternoon. The views from Apes Hill alone — Caribbean on one side, Atlantic on the other — justify the trip. For a deeper look at the island’s less-explored coastline, read about the wilder side of Barbados beyond the fairways.

References

Golf for Kings. “New Golf Courses Barbados 2026.” Golf for Kings, 2025. ↗

Golf for Kings. “Barbados Golf 2026 Season Outlook.” Golf for Kings, 2025. ↗

Golfbreaks. “Barbados Golf Holiday FAQs.” Golfbreaks, 2025. ↗

Your Golf Travel. “Best Golf Courses Barbados.” Your Golf Travel, 2025. ↗

If you’re planning a longer stay on the island, the underground waterfalls at Harrison’s Cave make for a striking afternoon off the course, while wellness retreats offer recovery between rounds. For sunset views that rival anything on the back nine, the west coast escape spots are worth a look.