The Green Monkey at Sandy Lane - Old Nine Golf Course

The Green Monkey occupies a former limestone quarry on the Sandy Lane estate in Barbados, representing Tom Fazio's most dramatic Caribbean design work. Opened in 2004, the course sits entirely within the excavated quarry walls, creating a playing environment some forty feet below the surrounding terrain. This unusual topography allows Fazio to incorporate the natural rock formations and coral stone outcroppings into the routing, with fairways carved through and around the quarry's existing contours. The elevation changes and enclosed setting distinguish it from the resort's other courses, which occupy more traditional coastal terrain.

The routing moves through the quarry floor with significant elevation shifts between holes, and several greens are positioned against or within the limestone walls. Water features appear throughout, fed by natural springs within the quarry. The course measures over 7,300 yards from the championship tees, though the dramatic setting rather than pure length defines the experience. Fazio's design emphasizes visual impact, using the quarry walls and tropical vegetation to frame holes and create a sense of seclusion from the surrounding resort property.

The Green Monkey operates as part of the Sandy Lane resort complex, which includes two other courses and extensive resort amenities. Access is limited to resort guests and members, maintaining exclusivity within Barbados's luxury tourism market. The course name references the island's indigenous green monkey population, though the animals themselves rarely appear within the quarry environment.