It’s warm and windy this week in Barbados, with generous fairways off the tee but some big undulations on the greens which are running fast!
A golf course which offers incredible vistas and some amazing scenery around the tees, fairways and greens – but it is down to business on the course for the players from Friday morning as they set out to win the first title of 2024 on the Legends Tour.
The course
Opened in 2009, Apes Hill boasts the newest golf course in the Caribbean – sat 1,000 feet above sea level, renowned golf course architect Ron Kirby worked on the par 72 layout which plays 7,041 yards and was reopened in 2022.
It features spectacular coastal views of both the Atlantic and the Caribbean, dramatic elevation changes, wide fairways and deep natural gullies. The undulating landscape also features coral cave backdrops, bearded fig trees and even a collection of roaming Barbados green monkeys!
Apes Hill won a series of honours at the 2023 World Golf Awards, including Best Golf Course Barbados, Best Golf Course Caribbean, Best Eco-Friendly Golf Facility and Best Golf Real Estate Venue.
Ian Woosnam - our host
Our host for the week at Apes Hill and Woosie’s second home! No-one in the field knows this place better than Ian Woosnam. The 1991 Masters Champion has been delighted to be a part of bringing the Legends Tour back to Barbados and with this new event at a new venue. The over-50’s Tour was last on the island in 2009 at Royal Westmoreland when the DGM Barbados Open was won by Sam Torrance.
“I played my first Seniors event here in Barbados after I turned 50 – it’s been a challenge to get the Tour back here and I’m so proud to be the host.
“Just to fetch these guys to come out here and see the Apes Hill Resort, this beautiful golf course for which I am an ambassador. I’ve been living here in Barbados now for thirty years, such a wonderful place to come here in the winter.
“You’re going to get some holes that you can really score on and then there’s some holes that you’re going to struggle on. What is going to be a challenge for the pro’s is that they also must think, if you’re going to miss the green then where are you going to miss it? If you miss it in the wrong spot then it is going to be very difficult to get up and down.”
Peter Baker
Winner of four events on the 2023 Legends Tour schedule and claimed the MCB Road to Mauritius in the season long Order of Merit standings.
Now his challenge is to ensure that he continues that rich vein of form into the new season.
“I’m not going to change the formula, I’ll stick to the same sort of plan and it’s going to be difficult – it’s always difficult but I’m just going to go out there and try to play well. You get a taste for it and you want to win.
“You know I always want to be competitive, I love the competitive side of it. It’s just about being in the mix on the last day, trying to have a chance to win – luckily loast year it came off a few times, if it comes off again this year then that’s great, but it’s just the thrill of being competitive which I really look forward to.”
Peter is a good friend of our host this week, Ian Woosnam, so he has an added incentive to try to start 2024 off with a win and get the trophy handed to him by Woosie!
“It’s great to be out here in Barbados, such a beautiful place and a great golf course.
I think everybody is looking forward to getting started and trying to play some good golf.”
Adilson da Silva
Winner of four events on the 2023 Legends Tour schedule and Adilson narrowly missed out on the Order of Merit title too – beaten to it by Peter Baker.
Despite a standout season on Tour last year, it leaves the Brazilian with some unfinished business going into the new campaign. He’s fully focussed on more wins, with the end goal of being named the Legends Tour’s number one player at the end of the year!
“I’m trying to stay focussed like I was last year. I still like practicing hard and getting better. I still need to keep up and try to keep up with these guys on the Legends Tour.
“I won four times last year and you think you have a chance then at the Order of Merit, but Peter Baker played so well the whole year, last season. I think I just need to play one event at a time, one shot at a time and just build it up.
“This week if the wind stays like it has been through practice days then it’s going to be some kind of test! Still, there’s a lot of birdies out then but with the wind and with the undulating greens the way they are then I think it’s really going to be a challenge this week.”
Michael Campbell
The 2005 US Open Champion is yet to win on the Legends Tour. “Cambo” though is determined to ensure that it happens for him in 2024.
“I mean everyone who is playing this week is very excited about being here in Barbados. The golf course is fantastic, and the facilities are great so it’s going to be a great start to the season. The golf course is challenging with the undulations out there but it’s nice just to get it started.
“I haven’t won yet on the Legends Tour, since I turned 50 and it’s been pretty frustrating. I know my ability and I know I’ve got the ability to win a golf tournament, it’s just a matter of being patient and just go through the processes and keeping the focus on the process orientation rather than the result.
“I’m just trying to do that right now and just go through what I’ve been working on with my coach over the last week or so and hopefully I’ll be ok this week.”
James Kingston
James is a three-time winner on the Legends Tour and has claimed a victory in each of his last three seasons. Winner of the MCB Road to Mauritius in 2022 (check!!!) and one of the most consistent performers on Tour, James is aiming to step up a gear though in 2024.
“I feel like, for the first time in two or three years, I feel like my game is a little more ready than it has been over the last few years. I’m playing decent, I worked on my game a little bit and I’m excited to be back.
“What a great place this is at Apes Hill, a great golf course with a bit of wind and an island atmosphere – I can’t wait to get going.
“I recall working with Pete Cowen a few years back and he always said to me – don’t try and win, just try and get yourself in a position where you feel like, come the back nine on Sunday or the last round, that you’re within striking distance.
“So, I just want to put myself in that position as many times as possible, because it takes the pressure off from trying to win.”
Shaun Micheel
2003 US PGA Championship winner from Oak Hill CC. Shaun lives in Tennessee and is planning on a few appearances this season on the Legends Tour, starting here in Barbados.
His major breakthrough 21 years ago was his last tournament victory – but that’s something he’s keen to change!
“What a great place to start and I am really happy that the Legends Tour is starting on my side of the world! I’ve been practicing really hard on my game – I did a qualifier a month ago in California, I didn’t make it, but I played well.
“I play well at home and it is just a matter of getting onto the golf course and hitting a shot – do you hit it towards the flag or away from the flag? How aggressive do you play? You know, the five and six footers that you make all day long on the practice green at home – they’re suddenly a little bit more important when you’re playing.
“I’m here, I want to win – just like everybody else here. You can’t force these things, you just play the best you can and at the end of 54 holes if you have the best score then you win! Everybody tee’s off the first hole with the hope and expectation that they want to play well enough to win, but a lot of stuff happens in three days.”
The prize!
A beautiful trophy, shaped to represent the island of Barbados.
But who will be the first player to get their hands on it – as winner of the inaugural Barbados Legends hosted by Ian Woosnam.
