BARBADOS - SUN, SEA, SAND AND FUN.

With a smorgasbord of sun, sea and sand, Barbados has become much more than a playground for the rich and famous. But if you’re out on one of the country’s beautiful golf courses, don’t be surprised if you run into somebody who’s really somebody, maybe even a Tiger.

It really is hard not to fall head over heels in love with Barbados - in many ways, it's is like home, minus the cold weather. The official language is English and you'll find gas stations, banks and grocery stores you’ll quickly recognize. You can pig out on pizza and hamburgers. There's definitely a sense of familiarity - a good reason why so many Canadians and Americans visit
every year.

You won't have to worry about rain.
There are more than 3,000 hours of
sunshine each year, with temperatures
hovering around 30C daily. If golf is a
priority, Barbados has some real gems,
with more on the way. What it lacks in
quantity ... well, it makes up for in
quality.
"We don't have a massive number of
courses, but the quality is there," said
Claire Jordan, chief executive officer at
the Barbados Golf Club on the south
coast. "Our slogan 'golf for all.' "We're
still a holiday destination that has golf,
but with a couple of more courses, we
can be a golf destination."The fact that
Tiger Woods chose to get married here
says a little something for the island."

The Barbados Golf Club, designed by
Ron Kirby, has its Bajan Amen Corner,
which can bite you in the butt if the wind
kicks up. The course gives you plenty of
bang for your buck, about $100 US for
a round. Check out
www.barbadosgolfclub.com.
Royal Westmoreland, a Robert
Trent-Jones Jr. creation, can be found
on the west coast. PGA veteran Ian
Woosman, who lives off the 18th hole,
is a friendly chap who, as the legend
goes, will only join your group if you
have a beer with him.

"You should never be surprised by who
you see out there," said resort director
Greg Schofield, who's got plenty of
stories to tell, like the day he played in
a group with Michael Douglas and Jack
Nicholson at Gleneagles in Scotland.
"(Nicholson) is just like he was in The
Shining. He's got that glint in his eye."

Our day on the course was illuminated by a sighting of several green monkeys just off the cart path on the 15th hole. The sixth hole is known as "The Hermit's Hole" because a man was found living in a concrete enclave when the course was built. Golf Digest listed Royal Westmoreland No. 31 on the best courses outside of America. Check out www.royal-westmoreland.com  for more info.

Also on the west coast, Sandy Lane Golf and Country Club is a delight. Hiring a caddy is mandatory at $35 US. My caddy, "J" (Julian) told me golf was the only game that could "make a preacherman swear." He was a big help, guiding me through lightning-fast greens and the shaggy grass just on the perimeter of the fairway, that always seemed to swallow my golf ball. The Country Club and its cousin, The Green Monkey, were both designed by Tom Fazio. The view from the clubhouse is one of those things you've got to experience - with shimmering ocean waters in the background. "We offer an experience," said golf operations manager Elvis Medford. You can play for about $200 US or less than half that to play the Old Nine Course.

It was at Sandy Lane that Tiger Woods married Elin Nordegren. "I don't know if you can put a dollar value on that," said Medford. "They were married in our clubhouse. "  Tiger is a friend of the owners and they thought this would be the ideal location so they invited him for a look. He was blown away."We get a lot of celebrities here - Padraig Harrington, Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood, Mark O'Meara, Darren Clark, Fred Couples..." Check out www.sandylane.com  for more info.

The Green Monkey is majestic and nearly impossible to play. Only six groups of Sandy Lane Hotel guests per day are allowed to sample the course. And ... a room at the resort can run you a couple of thousand bucks - a night. Pocket change for some, but a bit out of my range. Two new 18-hole courses - at Apes Hill and Sugar Hill - are on the way.
If you're looking for a bit of rest and relaxation, you can just leave your clubs in your room and lay beside the ocean - make no mistake about it, Barbados has some of the most pristine beaches in the Caribbean.

The island is a contrast in beauty. On the rugged Atlantic coast on the east side, the water crashes into spectacular rock formations, with a stunning view. A sign on the beach pretty well sums it up: "Warning: Strong Current. You Could be Swept Qway From Shore and Drown." The Caribbean Sea, on the west coast, has calmer waters, with several prime swimming locations.

When in Barbados, do as the Bajans do - enjoy the paradise ... and give their golf courses a try.

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