When considering sports and outdoor activities, Barbados is known as a mecca, a paradise and the home to several disciplines found on the island. From leisurely activities, such as horseback riding and hiking, to the best in watersports, Barbados brings the sporting diversity along with the perfect climate to enjoy an active holiday!
With a historic closeness to England, is it no surprise that the island’s national – and most widely practiced sport – is cricket. From bat-toting youngsters along the island’s beaches, to renowned names on the pitch during world-series matches at the legendary Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, cricket is a staple – and quite frankly a religion – for Barbadians. Another discipline that has its origins in the Britishness inherited by Barbadian culture is polo – which was first documented as being played on the island in 1884! Its modern incarnation is played seasonally – from January to May – and is an exciting spectacle, and something which several visitors experience for the first time ever on the islands’ shores. And, as if witnessing polo in Barbados isn’t a grand enough experience, the polo grounds dotted across the island are truly breathtaking, and offer a new perspective on the island’s true charm.
But if cricket and polo are not your cup of tea, head for the greens and golf your stay away at the amazing – and world class – golf courses on the island! St. James and the stately west coast offer an open invitation to enjoy another bit of leisure including sand – but it’s not beside the rippling waters of the sea. Golf is a massive part of the Platinum Coast lifestyle, and with over 1500 acres dedicated to the sport, the parish has earned the title of having the most golf courses than any other – and the most luxurious at that. Sandy Lane, Royal Westmoreland and Apes Hill await to challenge even the most professional golfer around! Also on the rise – but in no way dethroning cricket – is motorsports, which has taken off on the island in such an impressive way that these shores were host to the Race of Champions, Global Rally Cross and, the festival of one of the most watched motorsports show in the United Kingdom in the mid-2000s – Top Gear.
But, no segment on sports in Barbados would be complete without exploring watersports. The more leisurely versions of this kind of activity take the form of jet skiing, waterskiing and the like, while the more competitive – and some will say more serious – watersport is surfing. The island’s east is the home of surfing, and yearly, surfers from around the region and world flock to Bathsheba to participate in the international surfing championships. So, whether you are taking in the surfing action, or putting on the greens, Barbados brings a world of sporting options to your fingertips!
