Cyprus

Goddess of Love und Monastery-Golf

Cyprus is the island, where the Goddess of Love is said to have been born from foam in the Mediterranean. It is the island, where Mount Olympus in the Troodos Mountains was home to the principal Pantheon Gods – the island, where you can enjoy the sun over the winter, and enjoy spectacular golf on great golf courses – where you will be in love all year round with its breathtaking nature, culture, history, and – please note – with golf.

The peaks of the over 2000 m high Troodos mountain range with its green forests tower over the coast between Larnaka and Pafos. From the Olympresidence of the gods, and from Platres, one of the most remarkable areas, you have a fantastic view of the Mediterranean sparkling with sun. All over the island you stumble upon remains of ancient culture, whether in Larnaka, Lemesos or Pissouri, but fi rst and foremost in Pafos, which was founded by a King. Churches, monasteries and convents, temple ruins and the old cities of Lemesos, Pafos and Polis are testament to eventful history. The vineyards provide a succession of excellent harvest and the numerous olive groves another sort of island gold: a soft olive oil, which is still handmade.

Time has not stopped on Cyprus, which was once famous for its copper resources. As a matter of fact, the word copper is derived from the Greek name for this island (Kupros). Tourism is the gift of the gods for the much affl icted Greeks. Centres of remarkable hotels have been established in Agia Napa, Larnaka, Lemesos und Pafos.

And then, in the early 90ies, golf entered the world of the island where “gods spend their holidays”. On this island with a very religious population and numerous historical church monuments, it is must be considered a „divine providence“ that the fi rst golf-tourism related course was located in a mountain and valley area around an old monastery, the Agios tis Mintis. Tsada Golf opened in the mid-90ies and features not only fairways and greens, but also vineyards where you can feast on blue grapes and walnuts. From a technical point of view, Tsada was considered diffi cult due to its hanging fairways, very stony roughs and high-speed greens; some even considered the course partially “unfair”.

That is past history, though, then Tsada has been renovated from 2006- 2007 to match highest standards; holes have been overhauled (the 14th, par 3, has been extended to a spectacular par 4, and the 15th, a diffi cult par 4, has become a short, but fair, challenging par three) The stony roughs have disappeared. Green has become the predominant colour of Tsada.

And very soon a new club house will be ready. With this new design, Tsada is well prepared for the future- as the golf gem of the island.

Part of the hitherto three-pointed golf crown of Cyprus is also the spectacular Secret Valley Golf Course of the Cyprus Golf Resort, set in a scenic valley of colourful rocks which very much reminds you of Arizona. This course will be added 18 holes to feature a total of 36 as well as a hotel. It will become a real fi rst-class golf resort.

Aphrodite, we return to the Cypriot Pantheon of gods, lend her name to the so far only real golf resort on the island, Aphrodite Hills, a Hotel- and Spa Resort featuring an 18-hole golf course with spectacular holes (hole 7, par 3, hole 8, par 4) and is rated among the very best of the eastern Mediterranean - where each holiday is a joyful day.

The ancient copper island of Cyprus is foretold a golden tourism future. Within a very short time, as already mentioned, Secret Valley will be added 18 holes, also Aphrodite Hills plans a further 18 holes and it is said the area of Larnaka, Lemesos and Polis is already beyond planning stage.

Cyprus makes dreams come true. The island where “gods spend their holidays” has become the island for golf-gods.

Kalo Sorisate – Welcome to fourseason Cyprus!