Here’s the truth about George Washington, the president who couldn’t tell a lie: He left the country exactly once. That lonely trip was to Barbados, where he spent six weeks in a house that bears his name today.
Washington was traveling with his brother Lawrence, who was seeking relief from tuberculosis. The balmy climate of the island was known as: a balm.
Rest and relaxation. Then, as now, Barbados is a good place for R & R. It has also become a great place for golf.
Apes Hill Barbados, a new addition to the GOLF roster Top 100 Resorts in the worldis located 1,000 feet above sea level, spread over approximately 475 acres of cliffs covered in lush rainforest, with views of both the Atlantic and caribbean costs The resort offers a variety of splurges and diversions, but the centerpiece is a championship course by the late Ron Kirby, which rolls beautifully into the landscape. The setting is what was called postcard perfect. In contemporary parlance, it’s ready for Instagram.
Anyway, you get the gist. The environments are amazing, and Kirby’s layout makes the most of them. It stretches over ravines and around wooded creeks, with backdrops of coral caves. The holes fall along the ridgelines and plunge towards the water. It is an arresting canvas where the rainforest rises against the sea.
Apes Hill takes its name from the Barbados green monkey, a playful primate with fur the color of a cocktail olive. Like George Washington, monkeys are not native to the island. They arrived in ships from West Africa about 350 years ago. Today, they are beloved local emblems. There is a brand of chocolate named in their honor, and a nature reserve where you can see them being fed.
You can also see them around Apes Hill, crashing into the trees that line the course. They’re not the only ones having fun.
Golf at Apes Hill is everything you want from a tropical resort. Richly entertaining and impeccably conditionedwith stunning views. The par-3 12th is among the highest points, a long one-shotter that plays downhill, with turquoise water stretching into the distance. The layout has a bonus: a par-319 hole with an island green, the ideal place to set your bets, even if you want to play even if there is nothing on the line.
Former Masters champion Ian Woosnam is a brand ambassador at Apes Hill and a seasonal resident of the resort. Hard to blame him. The weather sure beats what it is back home in Wales. Among other roles at the property, Woosnam hosts the Barbados Legends, an annual event in which amateur golfers play tournament rounds alongside the pros. But not everything has to be a competition.
Off the course, there’s no shortage of ways to relax. The resort’s beach club is a peaceful escape along the northwest coast of the island. Family-friendly activities abound, including nature hikes and catamaran cruises. Dining goes from casual to refined. There is padel and tennis, plus assorted water sports.
Two years ago, the resort cut the ribbon on Little Apes, a nine-hole, par-27 course perfect for kids and others new to the game, but artfully designed to challenge more serious golfers. You can play in flip-flops with a cocktail in hand. Or shake it up on purpose, take a dead aim and give your lofted irons a try.
Keeping score is optional. But if you choose to count your shots, channel George Washington and don’t fudge. Save the embellishments for the stories you tell around the bar.
