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 structure has been cited as a ‘must-play’ venue with beautiful 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 scorching 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 corresponding to Robert Trent Jones and Jack Nicklaus in a distinguished profession, is probably most famous for his imperious work at Previous Head Golf Hyperlinks in Eire.
“Once I noticed Apes Hill for the primary time, I noticed there have been hills and vistas that have been simply very good,” Kirby stated throughout his current go to to the positioning.
“You possibly can see each the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean in lots of locations. You might have the elevation, so I believed all we needed to do right here was make it possible for guests can benefit from the time and soak up these vistas; if I may get the holes to play with the vistas in the suitable place.
“The enjoyable at Previous Head and the enjoyable at Apes Hill are the vistas, and also you simply really feel such as you wish to get out right here and luxuriate 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 business – started in 2019 and he has created a brand new Caribbean {golfing} masterpiece at Apes Hill Barbados.
The structure has been fantastically 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 lots of of bushes, vegetables and fruit being planted across the property.
Taking part in the course for the primary time since its reopening, members have been struck by a design set in opposition to breath-taking topography that separates Apes Hill from every other course within the Caribbean.
Kirby’s work has been hailed not just for the check 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 structure 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 check on the bottom because the holes wend seamlessly by the island’s pure environment, sweeping Atlantic commerce winds can dictate the issue of your spherical, bringing the shorter tee packing containers into play.
“We put 4 tee packing containers in in order that we may cowl all kinds of gamers,” Kirby stated. “From those that can strike it pure to the common golfer after which rookies. We now have made this combine in order that Apes Hill might be enjoyable for everyone.
“Additionally, I solely wanted to make use of what land we had, and so didn’t wish to abuse what nature had given us. Sustainability means you don’t construct something you can’t keep. We now have used grasses which might be tolerant to drought.”
An unique and mild 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 do you have to 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 loads 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 preferred and beautiful a part of the structure – 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 suitable, 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 brief par 4 at 17, adopted by a monstrous downhill par 5 on the house gap the place a gully snakes alongside the left-hand facet 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 certainly one of mine. I can say that about 140 or 150 golf programs, however this can be a particular one.
“It’s exhausting to discover a golf course anyplace that has all the pieces now we have right here at Apes Hill.”
To enrich the work that has gone into Kirby’s ‘Caribbean Masterpiece’ and the championship structure, a state-of-the-art Efficiency Centre and floodlit driving vary are as a result of open quickly.
A household pleasant brief 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 up to date clubhouse are set to be accomplished through the first quarter of the yr.
Friends will be capable of get pleasure from a spread of different facilities corresponding 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
