Legendary golf course architect Ron Kirby has given his last stamp of approval to his most up-to-date piece of labor following a four-day pre-opening go to to Apes Hill Barbados final month.
The par-72 format has been cited as a ‘must-play’ venue with gorgeous views over the Caribbean Sea to the west and Atlantic Ocean to the east. Set inside 475 acres of pure, unspoilt terrain and perched on one of many highest factors of Barbados 1,000ft above sea stage, Apes Hill is probably the most elevated golf expertise on the island.
Kirby’s go to adopted sizzling on the heels of an unique opening to the Apes Hill Barbados members and their esteemed visitors on November 1. The course has loved a whirlwind first month as gamers highlighted its playability and variation, together with a number of new ‘wow-factor’ holes that improve the bucket-list expertise.
Kirby, who has collaborated with design greats similar to Robert Trent Jones and Jack Nicklaus in a distinguished profession, is probably most famous for his imperious work at Outdated Head Golf Hyperlinks in Eire.
“After I noticed Apes Hill for the primary time, I noticed there have been hills and vistas that have been simply excellent,” Kirby stated throughout his latest go to to the positioning.
“You’ll be able to see each the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean in lots of locations. You will have the elevation, so I assumed all we needed to do right here was guarantee that guests can benefit from the time and soak up these vistas; if I may get the holes to play with the vistas in the correct place.
“The enjoyable at Outdated Head and the enjoyable at Apes Hill are the vistas, and also you simply really feel such as you need to get out right here and revel in it on a course that has such world-class views because the backdrop.
“To everybody who performs at Apes Hill, I need them to stroll away and say this was a enjoyable golf course.”
Kirby’s work – aided by Justin Carlton and Gary Shapiro, two of the best land shapers within the trade – started in 2019 and he has created a brand new Caribbean {golfing} masterpiece at Apes Hill Barbados.
The format has been superbly crafted across the surrounding panorama and indigenous tropical forests, with sustainability on the forefront of the resort’s long-term DNA to make it probably the most environmentally accountable golf course and resort improvement within the Caribbean.
Fairways and tees have been re-laid utilizing the extra drought-tolerant Zoysia Zorro grass and the greens with TifEagle.
The resistance of those grasses to bugs additionally additional reduces the reliance on fertilisation and use of pesticides, with a view to ultimately turning into ‘chemical-free’. In the meantime, the development of a reservoir that may maintain as much as 58 million gallons of rainwater will assist absolutely irrigate the resort, with a whole lot of bushes, fruit and veggies being planted across the property.
Enjoying the course for the primary time since its reopening, members have been struck by a design set towards breath-taking topography that separates Apes Hill from some other course within the Caribbean.
Kirby’s work has been hailed not just for the take a look at he has created for higher gamers, but additionally the scoring alternatives and selection which make it interesting to these beginning out on their {golfing} journey.
The brand new format stretches to 7,002 yards, though 4 teeing choices make it playable for all ranges with the shortest at 5,034. In addition to the take a look at on the bottom because the holes wend seamlessly via the island’s pure environment, sweeping Atlantic commerce winds can dictate the issue of your spherical, bringing the shorter tee bins into play.
“We put 4 tee bins in in order that we may cowl all kinds of gamers,” Kirby stated. “From those that can strike it pure to the typical golfer after which rookies. Now we have made this combine in order that Apes Hill could be enjoyable for everyone.
“Additionally, I solely wanted to make use of what land we had, and so didn’t need to abuse what nature had given us. Sustainability means you don’t construct something you can not keep. Now we have used grasses which might be tolerant to drought.”
An unique and delicate opening has been designed to ease gamers into the course, with the second gap serving up an early birdie alternative. A par 4 stretching to solely 255 yards, it’s nonetheless demanding of a well-placed drive must you want to assault the inexperienced from the tee, with the placing floor closely protected by bunkers, coral rock and a cascading creek.
Whereas there may be a lot to get enthusiastic about on the course’s outward 9 – with the fourth gap and its tee field positioned on one of many highest factors of the course – the inward half delivers nice pleasure. Notably, the run from 12 to fifteen – maybe the most well-liked and gorgeous a part of the format – that units up a grandstand end as gamers attain the course’s signature gap at 16.
Named the ‘Cave’ with a coral rock hugging the outlet behind the inexperienced and water lining the correct, Kirby has left an indelible mark on Caribbean golf with a par three that possesses many traits for which Barbados is genetically well-known for.
The course finishes with one other quick par 4 at 17, adopted by a monstrous downhill par 5 on the house gap the place a gully snakes alongside the left-hand aspect and spherical to the again of the inexperienced. It’s a high-drama end that’s befitting of top-level championship golf.
Kirby added: “I’m proud to be part of Apes Hill Barbados and I can now sit again and say it’s considered one of mine. I can say that about 140 or 150 golf programs, however it is a particular one.
“It’s arduous to discover a golf course anyplace that has all the pieces we’ve got right here at Apes Hill.”
To enhance the work that has gone into Kirby’s ‘Caribbean Masterpiece’ and the championship format, a state-of-the-art Efficiency Centre and floodlit driving vary are resulting from open quickly.
A household pleasant quick par-three course, with holes starting from 95 to 150 yards, will open in 2023 whereas an extra nineteenth gap performed to an island inexperienced – within the model of the enduring one-shotter at TPC Sawgrass – and a recent clubhouse are set to be accomplished in the course of the first quarter of the yr.
Visitors will be capable of take pleasure in a spread of different facilities similar to a health centre and well being membership, mountaineering and nature trails, eight flood-lit padel and two tennis courts, whereas a world-class spa can also be in improvement.
Away from the golf, Apes Hill Barbados has a spread of luxurious real-estate choices accessible with pricing to be introduced within the new yr. Moreover, golf trip properties permitting visitors to remain and play are in improvement, with pricing to be introduced in early 2023.
For extra data please go to www.apeshill.com