Everything you need to know about playing golf in Cyprus.
Recently I went to Cyprus on a golf trip with the EGTMA, or European Golf Travel Media Association. Headed up by President Jo Maes, this is a group where I've found a home, as an alternative golf media personality, blogger, influencer to the easily influenced... and budding filmmaker. What you are about to read and see wont be flowery English, but will help you if you plan on going to somewhere different to the usual places to play golf. like CYPRUS.
Getting To Cyprus
Getting to the island of Cyprus is actually very handy. We flew from Dublin to Paphos with Ryanair. And the UK travellers in the group flew direct with Easyjet It takes about four hours and you’ve usually got the wind behind you on your way out so it's basically watching a couple of episodes of "drive to survive" on my Netflix downloads and next thing we were touching down!!
We landed late at night and the airport in Paphos was relatively quick to get through, which was great on the way over. On the way back home though we arrived at the airport at the same time as other flights so be prepared for a bit of queueing and mini-chaos. Having said that, the crazy thing is that if we had arrived at airport after said groups, and much closer to our flight time, the airport was as quiet as a mouse and we would have breezed through!!
Should You Bring Your Own Clubs or Hire?
I did bring my golf bag with me, I think it’s worth it, and a lot of the courses do not have hire clubs per se. However you can hire golf clubs in Cyprus with ClubstoHire.com who have a base at Aphrodite Hills. For me, I love having my own clubs, especially when I travel to new courses. I’ve got a big long putter that a pole vaulter would be proud of, and its kindof a must have or I'm lost!!
Where To Stay
We stayed at the Constantinou Bros Athena Royal Beach Hotel on the edge of Paphos. Our hotel was an "adults only" 5 Star hotel and one of a group of Constantinou Bros hotels that cater for differing clients. If you want ultra luxury, if you want family, if you want adults only, they have an option for everyone.
I also think our quieter location on the beach, away from the crowds, but within one or two minutes across the road of a couple of lovely pubs and places to eat was perfect. Over on the beach side of the hotel, you can walk along the coast for 15 minutes to reach more bars, restaurants and things to do there also.
Our hotel was quiet, classy and friendly, with absolutely loads of things to do from pools to nighttime entertainment and for a guy like me who loves gym and trail running it was heaven. Taking a left outside the hotel one morning I ran along the beach, through stunning farm roads all the way to airport and back.
Food
Oh my God. The food in the hotel was absolutely terrific, if you love Seafood, you'll be in Heaven in Cyprus, everyone was raving over the array of fish dishes!!
I'm a good old fashioned Irish meat and two veg eater and the food throughout the trip, whether it be in the hotels, in the golf clubs or in a Paphos tavern was as good as I have ever tasted or seen!! Meal of the trip was one night we went to one of the Constantinou Bros sister hotels up the road from our own where I had a fantastic fillet steak!!
The People
The people of Cyprus are very friendly and super proud of their country and heritage. Things haven’t been easy historically which adds greatly to the sense of national pride and resilience. We spent a lovely evening enjoying traditional Cypriot food and dancing at a Tavern in old town Paphos which was excellent. As an Irishman, I could really connect an engage with our host for the evening, Nicolas Tsifoutis, Deputy Minister of Tourism with the the Cyprus tourist board. What a top guy!! Thanks also to Lucas, Nicoletta and Denise who spent time with us along the way and are great ambassadors for the island. Click this link to find out more about the what makes Cyprus special for golfers.
Day One: Elea Golf Club
Our first round of golf was at the Elea Golf Club. This is a Nick Faldo design, which in itself is a stamp of excellence. Elea is a real test, with room off the tee then demanding second shots into the greens. It really uses the natural terrain of rocks and bushes to frame the holes, but don’t get me wrong, the fairways bunkers and greens are all absolutely top-notch excellent. Hit off-line and you may well end up in a bush, but a word of advice, give that bush a whack with your club first before reaching your hand in just in case there's a snake lurking!
My big takeaway from Elea Golf Club besides the excellence of the golf course was the friendliness of all the staff, genuine friendliness, and the superb facilities. Probably the best facilities and professionalism of all the clubs we visited. From the caddymaster to the bar staff, it was five star service all the way.
Thanks to André, Gabriella, Paul and the staff for welcoming us so warmly.
Elea Golf Visit Video
Can't see the video?
It's on my Facebook Page here
And on my X page here
Day Two: Minthis Golf
On day two, we went to Minthis Resort. Now it’s hard to believe I’m writing this but the weather on the day wasn’t the usual 25 to 30 degrees and sunshine, more it was an Irish day, a little bit cool and rainy. But it only rains a handful of days in Cyprus every year so there’s happiness in the drops, every bead of water is vital in providing life for the golf courses. We did manage to play nine holes though, and I loved every second of it.
Minthis Resort is a real getaway golf destination. You could see yourself staying on-site for a week in the most amazing villas, with their spectacular views out over the hills and golf course. It’s a fully catered for all in one 5 star resort even down to the incredible Spa building, the likes of which I’ve rarely seen. The whole complex is a masterpiece of design and engineering and excellence.
The Minthis course itself is very enjoyable with two absolutely stunning standout holes. The 10th hole requires an Indiana Jones style leap of faith with your tee shot. You must stand on the tee, stop your knees knocking, trust that thing you call your golf swing and launch your ball into the abyss below. It might be one of the best tee boxes I’ve ever stood on. Here's my playing partner Ann Mooney after hitting a super tee shot down the middle!!
The other hole that had me putting away my Pro V1 one and searching for an old Pinnacle on the tee box was the par-15 hole over water. Very Sawgrass! Maybe even tougher! I lost the Pinnacle.
After a shower and change into dry clothes, we had the most wonderful lunch in the Minthis clubhouse, followed by a tour of the resort. My thanks to Margarete Dunst and Adam Davison for hosting us.
Minthis Golf Visit Video
Day Three Morning: Secret Valley Golf Resort
Our day three plan was to play nine holes at two different golf courses. The first course of the day was Secret Valley Golf Resort. Now this course had more of a members club feel, we arrived a couple of minutes late due to a scheduling mixup, and kindof had to fend for ourselves to get going. But in fairness the starter did squeeze us in and we were off!!
I absolutely loved this place. Why? Because it really was a Secret Valley. Standing on every tee I loved what I saw on front of me, from straight holes where you could hit it hard to beautifully framed holes which required pinpoint accuracy every step of the way. And the greens at Secret Valley? Well I would love to know their secret, because they were far and away the best greens I’ve seen in a long time.
You know a great green when you start a 20 footer online and it just stays there, plumb-bob straight, end over end and finds the hole. If I could be a member of any club on the island, the Secret Valley would probably be it!
We were spoiled after the round with more superb food, I think a theme is emerging with great food at every course, and joined by the Director of Golf and gentleman Adam Collinson for a chat.
Secret Valley Visit Video
Cant see my Minthis video?
It's on my Facebook Page here.
And on X here
Day Three Afternoon: Aphrodite Hills Resort
Our final stop was an afternoon nine holes at Aphrodite Hills Resort. This is the big one, the daddy, this is THE course you have to play on the island. This is the PGA National of Cyprus and it didn’t disappoint. We played the back nine, Tony and I versus Jo and Danny; it was super fun a real proper test of GOLF. I mean a Tour level test!! Great shots rewarded, poor ones drowned.
Some of the group played the front nine and they came back with their jaws on the floor after playing the par-3 7th hole. My only regret is that we couldn’t play the full 18 holes at Aphrodite Hills. I want to come back!!! Huge thanks to Leontine Fleischer and Miguel Girbes and all the staff for making us feel so welcome as we finished our golfing trip.
Aphrodite Hills Visit Video
Make Sure You Get Some Cyrpus Culture
When we weren't golfing, I was super busy throughout making videos of the courses which you've seen in this post. But thanks to the tourist board, we also saw plenty of Cypriot culture. We had Halloumi and bread making at Mrs Sofia`s house in Letymbou. We also called to Arsinoe`s delights (loukoumia Cyprus delights) workshop at Yeroskipou.
The mosaics were incredible and of course, we had to visit the famous Rock of Aphrodite, where the views were stunning!
One evening, we enjoyed a fantastic meal at Pagkratios “Pagratios” Local Tavern Pano old Paphos, complete with traditional music, amazing dancers balancing glasses on their heads, and pranking poor Jo into thinking he was setting a World Record for glass balancing himself!!
Thanks again to the EGTMA and Cypriot Tourist Board for putting together this trip. If you need any more information or advice please email me at golfcentraldaily@gmail.com and I'll be happy to help.
And PS, the local beer is Keo!! It's nice!!
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