Barbados continues to solidify its reputation as a premier destination for sports, adventure, and unforgettable experiences.
Attracting high-level and diverse sporting events to the island is important and Kamal Springer, Manager of Sports at Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. says: “A key goal in our Sports Tourism Strategy is to continue finding international partners and events that can generate visitor spend and positive awareness for Barbados. Sports hold a special place in the heart of Barbados, not only as a form of entertainment, but it is a vital aspect of our cultural identity and community uplift. Sports play a significant role in promoting unity, fostering healthy lifestyles, and providing opportunities for personal growth and development.”
In May 2024 the island hosted the Legends Tour for the first time – an international golf tour for over 50’s professionals. The Barbados Legends hosted by Ian Woosnam brought golf enthusiasts together to celebrate the sport they love. The maiden tournament at Apes Hill this year was a huge success, drawing top-flight players and big crowds, in part due to its celebrity host, golfing Legend Ian Woosnam (1991 Masters Champion and 2006 Ryder Cup Captain).
The Legends Tour will be returning in April 2025 (25th to 27th April) which is a great result, once again allowing those who come for the event the chance to enjoy awe-inspiring landscapes, world-class golf courses, and legendary hospitality - putting Barbados firmly on the global golfing map and further bolstering the thriving tourism industry.
Phil Harrison, Legends Tour CEO said: “We are excited that Barbados will feature in our 2025 schedule. We have a global list of tournaments, but Barbados is a truly captivating place and we are thrilled to be returning. Working with Barbados Tourism Marketing and Apes Hill is great and it’s fantastic to be helping them attract visitors from around the world who seek to experience the exhilaration of sport against the backdrop of Barbados’ unparalleled beauty.”
It was a dramatic final day at Apes Hill for the conclusion of the 2024 Barbados Legends hosted by Ian Woosnam, and 54 holes wasn’t enough to find a winner either. Sunday saw a play-off down the 9th hole between England’s Peter Baker (the 2023 Legends Tour Road to Mauritius winner), and Australia’s Scott Hend (winner of the 2023 Legends Tour WinstonGolf Senior Open in Austria).
In the play-off Baker made par while Hend could only make bogey, ensuring that the man who won four times last season started 2024 in the same manner.
Baker was delighted: “Absolutely brilliant! It was a tough day for us, and it went right down to the wire. If I’m honest, I didn’t really have all my game with me, but I just tried to not make too many mistakes, everything was difficult today, so I’m really delighted. I had a lot of support all the way around – it’s great that the crowd supported me, I’m very grateful for that.”
The prize presentation, on Apes Hill’s 19th green (a fun island green par 3 the members use for deciding tied matches), saw the tournament host Ian Woosnam give his good friend the trophy.
The Legends Tour’s ambassador Ian Woosnam said, “The host venue team at Apes Hill Barbados are incredible to deal with. It was a great honour to welcome the golf professionals and amateurs to Barbados for the curtain-raiser of the 2024 Legends Tour season and I can’t wait to do it all again in 2025. Apes Hill provides world-class golfing facilities blended with a natural and sustainable environment and, most importantly, they foster a spirit of community and togetherness. It’s great to be able to host the Barbados Legends event here at Apes Hill, and I really look forward to sharing the special recipe of community and experiences again next year.”
About the Legends Tour
Formerly known as the European Senior Tour and the Staysure Tour, the Legends Tour is the men’s professional golf tour for members aged 50 and older. Five years after the first edition of The Senior Open, won by Neil Coles in 1987, more than 60 professionals called for a formally structured Tour, which was then created in 1992. Many of the pioneering champions who played on the European Tour during the 1970s, 80s and 90s make up the Legends Tour’s active membership.
In September 2020, Ryan Howsam, Staysure Group CEO, acquired a majority equity share in the Tour in a ground-breaking joint venture with the European Tour, a unique structure whereby an individual has the majority ownership in a professional tour.
The Legends Tour have just unveiled their first wave of tournaments for the 2025 season with new host venues and an eye-watering prize pool for senior professionals. The Barbados Legends hosted by Ian Woosnam is a key feature of the international schedule which will start with the 2025 Legends Tour Qualifying School played at Gloria Hotel and Resorts, Belek, Turkey (13th-20th January). Following this, sixteen additional tournaments have been confirmed including Barbados, Vietnam, Zambia, Greece, Ireland, France, Italy, Mexico and India.
Legends Tour continues to offer the greatest amateur experience in sport
The Legends Tour also provides unmatched playing experiences for amateur golfers at its Legends Experience, Championship Pro-Am and Celebrity Pro-Am events. These experiences provide golfers with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to rub shoulders with and play alongside legends of the game at competitive events hosted at world-class golfing destinations.
The unique Legends Experiences enable passionate amateurs to tee off alongside their heroes in the Tour’s one-of-a-kind pro-am experience. Guests live the life of a professional golfer, playing in tournament conditions in-front of the crowds and TV cameras with access to the players’ lounge and locker room, private coaching clinics with Legends and practice on the players’ range. Amateurs will also enjoy world-class hospitality and attend VIP functions, such as evenings hosted by Ryder Cup Legends. The Legends Experience has now been rolled out to 11 tournaments across the globe.
Playing experience at the Barbados Legends hosted by Ian Woosnam will sit alongside the Legends Tour flagship event Staysure PGA Seniors Championship which will return to Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeen, Scotland (31st July-3rd August) and the OFX Irish Legends hosted on the championship course at Mount Juliet Estate (16th – 17th May), which has previously been the venue for five Irish Opens and two World Golf Championships.
In Barbados, amateurs will have two playing experience to choose from, the Championship Pro-Am being played on Wednesday 23rd April and the unique Legends Experience running from Thursday 24th – Sunday 27th April.
For more information on the Legends Tour and to book a Legends Experience contact: concierge@legendstour.com or visit www.legendstour.com