Barbados has a population of 282, 467 with six 18-hole and two 9-hole golf courses. It is a minnow in comparison to 2,6000 in Canada, 2,400 in England, 600 in Scotland, 400 in Ireland and close to 16,000 in Unites States. However, visitors and locals enjoy the sport 12-months a year and each course has its own ambience and character that would rival the best in the world. Playing golf in the Caribbean is very special and Barbados has some of the best courses in the region with stunning vistas and idyllic parkland. However, Barbados golf was slow to enter the hospitality ladder but these days we are up with the best with top-class hotels, excellent cuisine and friendly people.
The changing face of golf in Barbados was transformed in 1961 when Sandy Lane Hotel was opened with a nine hole-course. A Private Members Club at Rockley in 1929 was the only golf available for 35 years, but the picture dramatically changed in the following 40 years.
Rockley Golf Club
Rockley pasture was transformed from swamplands into an idyllic parkland. Currently, it is the home of over 350 condominiums and 20 properties nearby.
In the 1920s the wealthy businessmen found a mutual passion shooting migratory birds at Rockley, having built “trays” and a “shooting hut” as was customary throughout the island. In 1926 golf was allowed to be played after the shooting season which ended in November. George Manning had rented but later purchased 40 acres of land for the course and continued to add during the 1930s.
The ‘Founding Fathers’ are reputed to be George Manning and the brothers Vicki and ‘Poor Bob’ Parravicino. However, George was the catalyst that made it happen. He formed Rockley Golf Club in 1929.
George continued to be heavily involved in club affairs in the 1930s and bought several plots to add land. However, he made a dramatic change in 1945 when he sold Rockley to the “members of the mercantile community” at a modest cost.
The reason why he sold was unknown- perhaps age or health or his bird-shooting was elsewhere. In any case, the members were the beneficiaries.
The Mannings purchased Graham Hall Swamp in 1947 and effectively ended shooting at the club. Consequently, Rockley Golf Club was able to promote a genuine golf course twelve months a year. Tourism grew post-war and in the 1950s over 300 visitors played at the club, mainly from Canada, United States and England.
In 1961 Sandy Lane Golf Club was opened and extended from 9 to 18 holes in 1967 and Rockley reacted with an 18-hole design of its own the following year. However, a bigger issue was already on the horizon when a new golf course was proposed at Durants’ a few miles from Rockley on the South Coast.
There were differing opinions at the time, but nevertheless, Rockley membership transferred to the proposed new club, Barbados Golf Club, and Rockley Golf & Country Club closed.
The new owners of Rockley ABC- Atkinson, Boos and Callahan in 1975 were more interested in real estate development, but Peter Morgan MP supported the scheme to keep the course open, and it was agreed that the developers would continue with golf at Rockley.
A 9-hole design was opened in 1980, surrounded by clusters of condominiums. The developers added a hotel, and visitors loved the concept of golf, tennis, squash all in one location. For the next 20 years Rockley became the buzz of hospitality and entertainment with an “All-Inclusive’ culture.
Unfortunately, Club Rockley Hotel did not survive. The bank withdrew their funding, and the Hotel was forced into Receivership and subsequently sold.
However, two further changes of ownership from 2003 to 2026 brought a happy ending with golfers who were genuinely interested in golf stepping up to invest, wanting to preserve the ambience and beauty of Rockley.
Sandy Lane Golf Club opened in 1961
Sandy Lane dramatically changed the golf landscape, success primarily driven by tourism and real estate. Barbados became the number one holiday and home destination for the rich and famous, with many setting up homes on the idyllic West Coast. Wealthy visionaries like British MP Ronald Tree, and designer/ builder Oliver Messel were credited with putting Barbados on the world map.
Ronald Tree attracted many of his rich friends- businesspeople, actors, artists, singers and a US President- to enjoy the sand, sea and sunshine. They loved it, and some built magnificent villa properties and made Barbados their home.
The jewel in the Caribbean was Sandy Lane Hotel built by Tree, embraced by a magnificent nine-hole golf course.
Sandy Lane was buzzing in the Sixties and the heavy demand from the tourists and its members led to an 18-hole layout in 1967. The Old-Nine made it easy for the layout and the other nine was referred to as the Top Nine. The course continued for another 29 years until a group of investors, mainly friends from a racing background, but wealthy businessmen in their own right, purchased Sandy Lane Hotel and golf course in 1996.
Their vision and enterprise were impressive, and it seemed there was no expense spared as the hotel was rebuilt to a higher luxury spec, and the golf course was transformed from an 18-hole course to two 18-hole courses. The beautiful Old Nine was retained. Renowned golf designer Tom Fazio produced two outstanding courses- the Green Monkey and the Country Club at Sandy Lane. The clubhouse with its stunning vista, restaurant and Pro shop is magnificent.
Barbados Golf Club
The attraction of 18-holes of golf was huge, as Sandy Lane had 18 holes from 1967 so, Barbados Golf Club added another 18 in 1974.
Rockley had financial problems in 1973, and the prospect of a new course at Durants’ gave the members options. Rockley closed and the members were transferred in 1974, but Barbados Golf Cub also had their financial problems. Barbados GC stalled but restarted in 1976. However, some members left during this time. The Club continued to have problems and eventually closed in 1981.
Ironically Rockley re-opened their course in 1980 under new management.
The Durants course stayed dormant but eventually was purchased from Kellymar Enterprises Ltd. backed by Barbados Tourism Investment Corporation (BTIC) in 1987. However, it was still dormant until 2000.
Barbados Golf Club is currently managed by Southern Golf and Country Club, a public company. Pyramid Investments Inc guaranteed the initial injection of capital to get the course developed thanks to former Irish professional and Walker Cup player Roddy Carr, and Ralph ‘Bruggadung’ Johnson and entrepreneur Peter Chesham. Carr had the vision, enterprise and knowledge to make it happen and aligned with golf architect Ron Kirby to improve the golf design.
Work started in 1998 and two years later it was opened to the public for members and pay-as-you-play green fees. It remains a huge boost for sports tourism and the Govt. economy. Barbados GC is often called the “Home of Barbados golf’ and with good reason with coaches, driving range, clubhouse and 18-hole course that would challenge most golfers, especially if the wind blows.
Royal Westmoreland Golf Club
Royal Westmoreland was purchased in 1990 by Coronation Golf Company and owned by Michael Pemberton. It comprised of 460 acres and Pemberton’s goal was to create upmarket real estate and a stunning golf course with its magnificent terrain on the slopes of Westmoreland.
Pemberton never reached his goal as he sold the complex to Bill Rooney in 1994, a Yorkshire man who made his money building kitchens and bathrooms in the UK. Robert Trent Jones (Jr) was credited with the design of the golf course and most people would agree it is a spectacular course.
US Masters champion Ian Woosnam purchased a home close to the 18th hole The four par threes which are exceptional.
Rooney developed a luxury real estate brand for over a decade around the course and for several years RWM hosted the European Seniors. John Morphet, another English businessman, purchased from Rooney in 2004, and continues successfully to grow the development with beautiful private luxury villas as well as a fractional ownership alternative. Royal Westmoreland remains an outstanding golf course.
Apes Hill Golf Course
Apes Hill has stunning vistas set above 1,000 ft sea level overlooking the idyllic west coast and the rugged east coast. It was a challenge for any professional golfer, but significant improvements from new owners several years ago, made it ‘user-friendly’ for amateurs. Unfortunately, only property owners and members can play, much to the disappointment of locals.
The background of Apes Hill was the collaboration of Sir Charles Williams and Landmark Land Ltd. Sir Charles, better known as “COW,” was a dynamic Barbados businessman, land owner, developer, farmer, sportsman, horse owner, polo player, and sailor. He was reputed to be the biggest Barbadian landowner at his peak.
However, he was a shrewd businessman and understood the potential of Apes Hill, despite not being a golfer himself. It wasn’t his initial plan to make it into a golf course, as he was a leading figure in the sugar industry but after several years the sugar crop dwindled, and he switched to dairy farming.
It meant hundreds of acres were now available and the topography was ideal for a golf course. Williams was convinced there was more money in real estate and partnered with Landmark Land Ltd. a California company and leader in golf design. The design and construction were credited with Jeff Poots, Peter Dye and Chris Cole.
Unfortunately, despite the superb product, there was a Global Financial crisis in 2008, and land sales slumped. Apes Hill closed its door in 2017. Two years later Glenn Chamandy, Canadian founder of Gildan Activewear bought the property and set about improving the design, largely helped by Irishman Roddy Carr and Ron Kirby, who had both been involved in the rebuilding at Durant’s.