What I Learned About Golf, Cricket, and Life in Barbados

My relationship to Barbados in the Caribbean is much like other people I think, in that the Caribbean has always been a bucket list destination. You see the blue waters and the warm weather and the palm trees—it’s an inviting place to visit, vacation, and recuperate from the grind of daily life here in America. Every depiction of Bajan people is friendly and welcoming and kind, and it goes under the radar that Barbados in particular is home to some world class golf as well. I had never visited Barbados, but I’ve been to other places in the Caribbean, and Caribbean people love to be good hosts, love to share good food and drink with you, have impeccable taste in music, and live within a culture of unmatched vibe and energy.

Before I went to Barbados, I knew very little of Desmond Haynes and of cricket only that cricket matches can sometimes take up to five days to complete and they wear what looks like hockey pads. I purposely did not research Desmond or his accomplishments because I wanted to learn from the man himself, and was really excited about the opportunity to spend time with him and golf with him. I was blown away to learn that Desmond had accomplished as much as he had in the sport of cricket—his name is in the grandstands in the biggest oval on the island. He’s a cricket legend and Hall of Famer, and I was extremely fortunate to get to spend time with him, break bread with him, and play some golf with him.

The cricket lesson I received from him is one I will take with me for the rest of my life. To get a one on one lesson from a Hall of Famer in any sport is something you write home about—fortunately there is video evidence and proof that I got a hands-on, one-on-one lesson from him. I had so much fun learning about cricket through his lens, listening to him speak about how much the game means to him, how much giving back to the next generation of cricketers means to him, and how much the game of cricket means to the culture of Barbados and the West Indies.

When I had first arrived, my senses were telling me this island was going to hold me and breathe life back into me, and that is true of any Caribbean island. When I was greeted at the airport and could hear the locals speaking and laughing and communicating with one another, I was instantly dropped into a cultural experience that you simply cannot get anywhere else in the world. As I was flying in, I was really excited that I was going to be escorted around and shown the side of the island that most never get to see. I was excited at the prospect of going somewhere for the first time. And I was excited to get to spend time with some folks who spent their entire lives on this island.

Every day on the island of Barbados was an adventure. Every day I had something to look forward to from the golf courses to the restaurants and marketplaces to the roadside coconut merchants. Every day brought its own flavor and its own frequency. The locals were extremely friendly and when they learned that I was visiting Barbados for the first time, they couldn’t wait to show me or tell me something that I needed to do while I was on the island. Playing golf with Tari and Christopher, two bright young talented golfers from the island was a special day for me as well. The future of golf is bright and shines heavily on those two. I’m excited to watch them progress as Christopher looks to attend school in the states next year, and Tari continues to rise through the junior ranks on the island.

One thing that will stay with me always is the cricket match I got to take part in. I played against the local Academy kids. They are so talented and so passionate about the game, and it transported me back to my childhood going to summer camps playing soccer—the camaraderie and laughter that I heard from the children was palpable. When you attend an academy that is specialized for a sport, it can consume you, but the way that these kids approached cricket was dutiful and almost like a right of passage. They wanted me to succeed, they wanted to see me grasp what they love about this sport, and having Desmond with me carried some weight as well. Having him cheer me on from the sidelines was really special, and to see him light up whenever I made contact with an 80 km/h fastball from a 12 year-old was one of the highlights of my entire trip.

When I left Barbados, I felt full. I felt like I got a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel somewhere new and try something new and take stories back with me. I’m extremely blessed to have had that experience. Barbados will always remain one of my favorite destinations because of this trip, and I can’t wait to frame my signed Desmond Haynes cricket jersey. And to tell anyone who will listen about what I learned that week