THE RISE OF CYPRUS

BY CLIVE AGRAN: The most gifted golf writer either side of the Urals in his words!

Although it only has a handful of courses, Cyprus is determined to develop into a fully-fledged golf destination and the authorities have set of target of 14 courses in the belief that it will one day rival Majorca as the Mediterranean’s most popular golf island.

It certainly also has the necessary infrastructure. The roads are excellent and there are hundreds of hotels from the comparatively modest to the simply luxurious. The only commodity of which it is rather short is water. The stuff you drink, not swim in.

The shortage of water is relevant to the often vexed issue of irrigating courses. Acutely conscious of this, the existing courses have gone to extreme lengths to harvest their rainfall and be selfsufficient.

Just 10 miles east of Paphos and overlooking the site where Aphrodite is said to have emerged from the sea, Aphrodite Hills is a wonderfully impressive resort with a superb course.

Designer Cabell Robinson must have wrestled with a few problems when trying to decide on the layout. Although he doubtless relished the elevation, of which there is plenty, the site rather awkwardly bestrides two plateaux. A deep gorge lies between them and Mr Robinson must have confronted a stimulating mix of problems and challenges.

Eléa Estate Golf Club in Paphos

The lush are inviting. The greens, which are very large, are quick and everything from the flowerbeds upwards is well maintained. The only serious criticism is you have to take a buggy which, for those who like to walk, is irritating. However, with several long drives to the next tee and some perilous descents and steep climbs, there’s no alternative.

The finish is strong with the toughest par four on the course, the 16th, followed by a tricky par three and then a splendid par five complete with a well-protected green squeezed between a lake and two bunkers. If you struggle here, there will doubtless be dozens smugly sipping beer and watching you suffer from the comfort of the clubhouse.

The only serious threat to Aphrodite Hills’ claim to be the best course on the island comes from Eléa. Situated in Paphos, this Nick Faldo creation is sensationally good.

Although it appears wide open with generous fairways, it’s a lot tougher and tighter than that. Reflecting the character of its designer, it’s a rather technical course that puts a premium on precision and contains plenty of bunkers and waste areas to punish inaccuracy. Having said that, it’s an extraordinarily beautiful course and great fun even if you can’t thread a needle from 225 yards.

Minthis Hills

A change of name is rarely a good sign as it suggests an unhappy past and a desperate attempt to establish a new beginning. However, the radical re-build that transformed Tsada Golf Club into Minthis Hills was so comprehensive that a new name was justified. Incidentally, Minthis comes from Stavros tis Minthis, the name of the 12th century monastery that stood near the site.

Occupying a wonderfully elevated position not far short of 2000 feet above sea level, the enormous clubhouse offers fabulous views across the surrounding hills, down to the distant bright blue water of the Mediterranean and over the town of Paphos. And it’s not just the clubhouse that enjoys an elevated spot as the new driving range is similarly perched on the brow of a hill. Even a topped shot will travel a fair distance and you could drain a cool bottle of beer during the hang-time of a wellstruck nine iron.

Originally built in 1994, major renovation work which required the reconstruction of every tee and bunker and a couple of new greens, began in 2006 and was completed the following year. It was well worth the considerable effort and expense as the new course is terrific.

It now offers a great variety of holes, superb views and enough problems to challenge even the most accomplished. Buggies are popular but certainly not essential. There are a couple of quite lengthy strolls to the next tee but the overall layout makes walking a distinctly viable option.

Because of its height above sea level, Minthis Hills is particularly popular during the hottest months when it’s noticeably cooler and breezier than it is lower down.

Cyprus Golf Resorts, the proprietors at Minthis Hills, also own Secret Valley.

Secret Valley

Designed by a local man and only the second course to be opened in Cyprus, it was created largely in response to demand from the considerable expatriate British community.

No one knows for certain where the name ‘Secret Valley’ came from but, with tall craggy cliffs rising almost vertically on both sides, it’s difficult to access and therefore, perhaps, something of a secret.

Because the valley slopes gently towards the sea and there are consequently no steep inclines to negotiate, the course is eminently walkable. The downside is that there are no especially dramatic drops from elevated tees.

There is a significant stream that weaves throughout the entire length of the course. After winter rain it swells into a more impressive feature but even in the summer months, when the water largely disappears, its rocky bed creates a serious hazard. The

numerous pretty wooden bridges that cross it are attractive features that add considerably to the visual appeal.

A more obvious problem for golfers are the trees which line most fairways. Although not thick enough to form woods, they effectively punish the wayward shot. Because the shortage of water prevents the rough from growing to any great height and at 6500 yards off the back tees the course is not too long, these ‘nuisance’ trees are a legitimate means for the course to defend itself.

There are two other courses that deserve a mention. Close to Larnaca, Vikla Golf and Country Club is a relaxed, low-key club where you can wear what you like and play all day long for not very much.

And there is Korineum in the Turkish north of the island which is set among olive groves, enjoys glorious views up to the Kyrenia Mountains and is truly lovely.