The Leading Hotels of the World:
Sandy Lane’s Green Monkey Golf Course
TEE TIME
Though Sandy Lane originally opened in 1961 on a former Barbados sugar plantation, it was only after a multi-million dollar renovation in 2001, led by its new Irish owners, that Sandy Lane and its renowned Green Monkey golf course captured the world’s attention. Since then, avid golfers have traveled thousands of miles to play the course, which is considered one of the most picturesque and challenging rounds of 18-holes on the planet, and is reportedly the most expensive golf course ever built.
Guests of the resort have exclusive access to the Green Monkey, 7,343-yard, par 72 designed by world-recognized golf course architect, Tom Fazio. The designer utilized the island’s varied terrain, elevation changes, and ocean views in a layout that pays homage to the island’s Bajan green monkeys that roam the island. In a whimsical twist, he included a grass monkey sculpture on the 16th hole, an artistic and lighthearted touch in one of the final bunkers of a tough course.
Tee times are intentionally limited to between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m., to appeal to discerning golfers and maintain the course’s exclusivity. Every group has its own caddie, each one an expert in their field offering superb advice that helps first-timers navigate the course and elevate a player’s overall game.
Famous for its celebrity guests and royalty, Sandy Lane’s Green Monkey is considered a well-kept secret in Barbados, which, in 2006, became the second Caribbean course in history to host the World Golf Championships World Cup tournament. With its rolling greens and use of the 22-acre natural rock quarry, flat cliffs and vertical walls, each hole is more challenging than the next.
Even non-golfers are known to tear themselves away from the hotel’s stunning, white sand beaches, pool, and spa to experience the course’s beauty for themselves. Even if golf isn’t your game, a visit to this legendary course is worth a look to watch masters at play amidst intense natural splendor.