Apes Hill Barbados, the luxuriant 475-acre property on the Island’s west coast, has achieved Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary for Golf certification for its 18-hole championship course from Audubon International, a global leader in environmental sustainability certifications.
The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf educates course managers on environmentally sound management techniques across six focus areas: Site Assessment & Environmental Planning, Wildlife Habitat Management, Water Conservation, Water Quality, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Outreach and Education. By becoming certified, courses receive third-party verification of their sustainability efforts; a win-win for the course and environment alike.
The 18-hole championship golf course at Apes Hill Barbados was designed by the legendary Ron Kirby and opened for play in November 2022, and the state-of-the-art Golf Performance Centre debuted earlier this year.
While this certification is for golf, that is just one of many environmental best practices at the amenity-rich luxury resort residential community that is setting an inspiring, elevated standard in the Caribbean.
“Achieving Audubon International certification illuminates our sustainability commitment which is foundational to everything we do here,” said Sunil Chatrani, Executive Chairman, Apes Hill Barbados. “We didn’t just build another green sustainable golf course; we’re building an eco-system rooted in responsible behaviour that puts our people, our wildlife and our planet first.”
Following are some environmental initiatives that Audubon International commended Apes Hill Barbados for implementing:
- Irrigating exclusively with captured rainwater
- Reducing irrigation use
- Expanding acreage that requires less irrigation (mulch beds, drought tolerant vegetation, low maintenance vegetation)
- Planting drought tolerant turf and vegetation
- Upgrading irrigation system to improve efficiency and distribution
- Analyzing weather data prior to irrigating
- Monitoring irrigation system to ensure efficiency and distribution patterns
- Installing part-circle heads to help eliminate water from going on cart paths and/or native areas
- Improving soil and turf health by using proper cultural practices including mowing, irrigation, fertilization, and compaction management
- Reducing overall chemical inputs by expanding acreage not requiring chemical treatment
- Introducing a new variety of turf that is less susceptible to disease
- Applying slow-release and organic fertilizers
Sustainability is a way of life at Apes Hill Barbados. With 60 acres dedicated to farming livestock, 30 beehives, vegetable gardens, and 17 acres for fruit trees, it is dedicated to preserving biodiversity. Planting passion fruit, lime trees, and other local trees helps reinforce a vibrant ecosystem.
Apes Hill Barbados achieving ACSP certification comes on the heels of it recently garnering “Development of the Year” acclaim from Golf Inc., a leading golf industry magazine reporting news, trends, and best practices globally. That award “recognizes the finest private clubs and daily fee/resort courses with the best new traditional and non-traditional golf courses that opened during the past year around the globe.”
Apes Hill Barbados was bestowed with two Luxury Lifestyle Awards earlier this year as “Best Real Estate Developer” and “Best Sustainable Residential Development.”
“Apes Hill Barbados is burgeoning as a modern-luxury, environmentally responsible resort community that is unmatched in the Caribbean,” said Executive Chairman Chatrani.
Located on the Island’s most elevated terrain with sweeping views of both the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, Apes Hill Barbados is also home to a developing range of accommodation options, with a portfolio of stunning real estate on site alongside golf vacation properties set to allow guests to stay and play from later this year.
Amenities at Apes Hill Barbados will include a wellness centre, several kilometers of enchanting nature trails, flood-lit Padel courts, TigerTurf tennis courts, spa, dining, and bespoke outdoor and well-being activities as well as a dedicated concierge service, among other top-class amenities. For more information visit www.apeshill.com.
