The 4 Golf Courses of Cyprus

This week’s blog is a guide to the four courses of Cyprus. In recent years, Cyprus has gained a brilliant reputation for being a superb golf break destination. Many players will return year after year to enjoy the luxurious hotels and great golf courses – make sure that you get a piece of that luxury by booking your next golf escape to Cyprus today.

Top 4 best golf Courses in Cyprus

Cyprus boasts a rich history, culture and a mild, year-round climate which makes it the ideal place for a golf escape. Whether you are travelling with golfers or non-golfers, everyone will find something enjoyable to do whether it is lying on one of the sandy beaches, visiting historical sites or taking part in the many leisure activities found within the different resorts. In Paphos, you can find a beautiful harbour situated to the south of the country, there is plenty to do here and some beautiful bars and restaurants to enjoy. There is no doubt that a golf escape to Cyprus would be an enjoyable one so take a look at these brilliant courses and the resorts associated with them – or you can just give us a call and we will sort you a great golf holiday.

Aphrodite Hills, PGA National Cyprus

First up, we have Aphrodite Hills, PGA National Cyprus which is situated in South Cyprus, the course opened for play in 2002 and was designed by the world-renowned golf architect, Cabell Robinson. The course is situated within the Aphrodite Hills Resort which is the largest golf resort in Cyprus and boasts a hotel, apartments and villas for guests. The course is a great mix of challenging pot bunkers, beautifully manicured fairways of Bermuda grass and generous, tiered greens. As you play, you wind your way through olive and carob trees, and you can enjoy stunning views over the Mediterranean Sea.

Whilst the trees add to the scenery, they can pose a threat to your game as they are lying in wait for any errant shots. There are some truly magnificent holes along the course including the 3^rd hole which is the lengthiest and most challenging hole along the course. For most players, you can play this hole as an uphill par 4 but for those more experienced players, you can play the hole as a par 5 from the back tees.

The 7^th hole is another outstanding hole, it is a stunning par 3 where the green is positioned so that you must make a long carry over the ravine. The signature hole of the course is the 8^th which boasts a panoramic view of the ocean from the tee, this is a breath-taking hole and is not one to miss out on!

Of course, if you are looking to play this great course, you should take a look at some of the accommodation options for you. The Aphrodite Hills Hotel is a five-star hotel which boasts luxurious rooms, brilliant leisure facilities and world-class service. The hotel also boasts three fantastic restaurants where you can find delicious Asian cuisine, authentic Mediterranean cuisine and a buffet restaurant. Each of the rooms is beautifully decorated and boasts beautiful views of the neighbouring golf course, the sea, pool or the garden. You can choose to upgrade to a suite which are perfect for young families. There are many leisure activities that you can enjoy during your stay including the fitness centre, the tennis courts and a spacious pool area with sun beds. You can enjoy a range of health and beauty treatments within the Retreat Spa.

Alternatively, you can enjoy a stay within Aphrodite Hills Residences where you can choose from a range of accommodation frogolf holim luxury apartments to five bedrooms villas. Each accommodation option comes with a fully-equipped kitchen as well as a private terrace or balcony. You can opt for villas that sleep up to 10 people, these five-bedroom villas boast their own private swimming pool. Whilst you are staying within the Residences, you can self-cater, but you can also enjoy all of the restaurants and bars within the Hotel and across the Resort. You can also make use of all of the leisure facilities that guests from the Hotel have access to, including the spa. One of the best things about Aphrodite Hills Resort, regardless of where you choose to stay, is that the resort provides frequent shuttle buses to and from the town of Paphos where you can find a range of superb bars and restaurants as well as a lovely harbour to walk around. For your next golf break to Cyprus – look no further than a stay at Aphrodite Hills Resort and a round on the PGA National.

Elea Golf Club

Elea Golf Club is a brilliant par 71 golf course situated in an idyllic location above the Mediterranean Sea. The course boasts a stunning landscape and has been beautifully carved through a dramatic terrain which is full of character. The course was designed with input from Sir Nick Faldo and boasts many distinctive features typical of his designs. There is no doubt that this course poses a stern test of golf, there is an array of hazards situated along the course waiting to damage your scorecard. However, although the course is full of hazards, the more amateur golfer can enjoy this stunning course, too.

There is no doubt that this is a testing round of golf, every skill that you have developed as a golfer will be tested during this round. The course is considered to be an iconic parkland course in Cyprus but there is a links-feel to many of the holes due to their generous fairways and Arizona-style areas of wasteland.

The par 4 4^th hole is perhaps the most outrageously bunkered hole in Europe, two irregularly shaped bunkers must be avoided from the tee in order to find sanctuary on the fairway, there is then the bridged green that slopes up at the front and then cants away towards the back – this green is heavily protected to the left and right by bunkers. The course’s signature hole is considered to be the par 4 17^th hole. This hole has been nicknamed “Bobby Jones”, again, this is another hole which features lots of bunkers but also, a severely sloping fairway. You may be pleased to know that there are three bunker-less holes along the course! This is a superb golf course and one that you can enjoy whilst staying at the Aphrodite Hills Resort – either in the Hotel or in the Residences.

Next up, we have the par 71 18-hole championship course at Secret Valley which is uniquely situated at the base of a long valley that extends right out to the Mediterranean Sea. The course is situated just 18km from the lively resort of Paphos and opened for play in 1996.

Secret Valley

Secret Valley is a two-time winner of the Best Golf Course in Cyprus and it isn’t hard to see why. The course winds its way through a spectacular valley consisting of distinctive coloured Sty Kingly rock formations. In the mornings and the evenings, you can enjoy some beautiful sights created by the shadows – another good thing about playing during the mornings and the evenings is that you can avoid the burning heat of the day.

The front nine holes of the course are quite forgiving, but you must bring your best game with you if you are to score well on the back nine. As they boast different layouts, and their own distinctive features, you are set to have an excellent round of golf filled with varied play. With an array of hazards set along the course in order to challenge your scorecard, a stunning location with a beautiful setting, it is no surprise that this course is so highly recommended for your next golf break to Cyprus. Enjoy a stay at the Aphrodite Hills Hotel or within the Aphrodite Hills Residences as you can easily venture out to play a round here or at the other golf courses in the area, including the PGA National onsite of the Aphrodite Hills Resort.

Minthis Golf Club

Last, but certainly not least, is Minthis Golf Club. Situated on an elevated position of 550 metres above sea level, even during the summer months, you can enjoy a refreshing sea breeze. The course blends effortlessly into its beautiful surroundings, and it’s no surprise that this course is a favourite amongst golfers.

The course measures to just under 6000 metres long and plays to a par-72. Due to the range of tee options and USGA standard greens, this layout is suitable for golfers of all levels which makes it a perfect holiday course. However, this does not mean that you won’t find it to be a challenge. A unique feature of the club is the fact that it boasts captivating views over a 12th-century monastery and the nearby Troodos Mountains. Of course, due to its position, there is the mountain breeze coming into play which can make things difficult and may cause a few wayward shots! This is a fantastic course filled with a variety of holes, including the short par-4 14^th hole which boasts a steep, hazardous valley off on the left. This is followed by the signature 15^th hole which is a challenging par-3, it is impossible to convey how brilliant this hole is. It is one that you must try out for yourself, but it does include an island green surrounded by hazardous water…

If you are looking to play a round or two at Minthis Golf Club, we highly recommend you stay at the stunning new Minthis Resort – a 5* resort that blends effortlessly into the natural countryside. Offering a unique stay, hidden away yet close enough to Paphos for a trip out, it offers a great-value stay and a new alternative accommodation choice built with class and sustainability in mind.

We hope that you have enjoyed this week’s blog and that you will take a further look at these outstanding golf courses and the resorts that you could have the pleasure of staying within. Give us a call if you have any questions or queries, we can always tailor make a Cyprus golf break suited perfectly to you and whoever you are travelling with.