Around Barbados In Your Favourite Sports
Barbados is well known for its idyllic beaches and beautiful resorts and is a wonderful and leisurely holiday destination. Although Barbados itself is small in comparison to other popular holiday destinations, it is rich in culture, entertainment and discovery.
For fans of sport, there is also plenty of opportunity to both play and spectate your favourite sports when you visit the island. Read on to find out more about how your favourite sports are played in Barbados.
Cricket
Cricket is the most popular sport of all in Barbados since it is the national sport. Barbadians follow it avidly and the island has produced several famous cricketers, including Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Frank Worrell, and Sir Everton Weekes. If you’re a cricket fan, you should definitely head to the Cricket Legends of Barbados Museum in Fontabelle.
If you’re hoping to catch a game of cricket while visiting you’ll want to head to the Kensington Oval to watch a match, or even find a friendly game at a local beach or village green. The sport is played all year round, so on any given day you are sure to be able to find a game being played somewhere!
Golf
With its year round sunny climate, Barbados is a golf lover’s paradise. Keen golfers can choose from some of the best championship courses in the Caribbean, and in fact, we have our very own world class golf course here at Royal Westmoreland!
Whether you are a seasoned golfer, or you want to improve your game, we have fantastic facilities, and lessons are also available. Learn more here.
Rugby
The British introduced rugby to Barbados in the 1900s, and despite the heat, the sport is played on the island to this day.
While it was first played by ex-pats, there was an increase in local players in the 70s and in recent times Barbados teams have participated in prestigious tournaments including the Hong Kong Sevens Tournament, the Las Vegas Sevens, and even the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The Barbados Rugby Club and bar is located in the Garrison Historic Area in St Michael, and the post game celebrations make for a great party!
Horse Racing
Horses are a big part of Barbadian heritage, and horse racing on the island dates back to the days of the British Empire when British officers would race plantation owners and merchants.
The Garrison Savannah, just outside of Bridgetown, is home to the Barbados Turf Club, and is the place to head to if you’re a fan of racing. Find out about race days and events on their website here.
Polo
It isn’t just about racing on the island, with polo also being a big sport, which attracts many visitors to the island during the season. Teams from all over the world visit to play the sport and enjoy the island’s hospitality!
Several polo centres have been established in recent years, but the main venue for polo is still Holders Polo Field in St James.
Tennis
Tennis in Barbados is a very accessible sport, as there are Schools Tennis Initiative Development Programmes in schools, and coaching is available at the National Tennis Centre, so it is enjoyed by the locals.
For visitors wishing to play a game of tennis, there are courts across the island, and we have our own superb tennis courts here at Royal Westmoreland. They are the only Har-Tru clay courts on the island and are floodlit at night. We also offer expert professional coaching if you wish to improve your game.
Watersports
The water sports in Barbados are something special, as Barbados is renowned for the gorgeous surrounding beaches. Check out our article here for more on 5 Watersports To Try Your Hand At In Barbados.
For more information on sports in Barbados, visit the Barbados Tourism website here.