Financial Mirror / Golf craze hits Cyprus: 3 new 18-hole courses planned

Golf craze hits Cyprus: 3 new 18-hole courses planned

Photis Photiou

December 24th, 2003 -- The golf craze sweeping Cyprus continues, with plans underway for the development of three more, 18-hole golf courses in the districts of Limassol (Pentakomo), Larnaca (Oroklini) and Famagusta (Ayia Napa) by consortia of local authorities and hoteliers, according to Photis Photiou (photo), Chairman of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation.

Photiou made the remarks at the 2003 European GOLF Investment and Real Estate Conference & Exhibition held in Athens organised by INV International Ltd.

In the cases of Oroklini and Ayia Napa, the government has decided to offer public land to the consortia on a long-term lease. The relevant environmental impact studies have already been completed. Two other local investors have also expressed interest to develop golf courses on private land, said Photiou.

Foreign investors interested in golf developments on the island could investigate the possibility of co-operating with local investors.

The Cyprus Golf Federation, which was elected as a new member of the European Golf Federation in 2001, has joined 31 other countries in promoting the sport in Europe. It has been active in organising local golf tournaments and matches with British golf societies, and the PGA has been to Cyprus to inspect the golf courses.

For the last two years, the Federation has organised the first and second annual Cyprus Amateur Golf Open Championship Tournaments which took place at the golf clubs of Tsada and Secret Valley and attracted golfers from 15 countries in Europe and the US. The CTO co-sponsored both events.

DEVELOPMENT OF NEW COURSES
The Council of Ministers has approved a strategy for the development of golf courses based on the recommendations of a study, Photiou told delegates at the conference.

In addition, the government has approved a set of relevant selection criteria, which serve as a basis for the examination of golf course development applications. The development of golf courses will undoubtedly contribute towards the enrichment and diversification of the tourist product, the alleviation of the seasonality problem, the attraction of a quality special interest market segment and the upgrading of the image of Cyprus as a quality tourist destination in the international market place.

In addition to the Strategy for Golf Course Development, the Tourism Strategy Plan to 2010 evaluates golf courses as supplementary tourist projects which add value to the tourist product and contribute towards the increase of per capita tourism expenditure and improvement in hotel occupancy rates, which in turn will improve their financial viability.
Taking into consideration all relevant factors and constraints regarding the development of golf courses such as the use of land, water, environmental concerns and other factors, the strategy suggested the development of four to five international standard, 18-hole courses in Paphos district, and one each in Limassol, Larnaca, Nicosia and the free area of Famagusta.

Thus, the aim is to have a total of 9 golf courses on the island.

EXISTING COURSES
There are already three golf courses on the island, all in the region of Paphos.

1) Tsada Golf Club: an 18 hole golf course, situated on the northern outskirts of Paphos, at an altitude of 550 metres above sea level, and set in the grounds of a 12th century monastery which lies in a valley near Tsada village. Designed by Donald Steel, it plays to a par 72 and measures 6,060 metres. It has been operating since 1994.

2) Secret Valley Golf Club: an 18 hole golf course, situated 18 km east of Paphos near the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. It lies in a scenic valley with grand trees and beautiful rock formations all around. It plays to a par 71 and measures 5,904 metres. Operating since 1996.

3) Aphrodite Hills: an 18 hole integrated golf resort, situated around 20 km east of Paphos on 2 plateaus, adjacent to Secreta Valley, 300 metres high and overlooking the legendary birth-place of Aphrodite. Designed by Cabell Robinson, it plays to a par 71 and measures 6,232 metres. An Inter-Continental 5-star hotel, a health spa, a tennis academy, and other types of real estate development will be developed. Operating since 2002.

FUTURE PROSPECTS
In light of the attractive investment climate that Cyprus has to offer, as well as the potential benefits resulting from the island's accession to the EU, potential investors are undoubtedly presented with a window of opportunity not to be missed, said Photiou.

Considering that golf development on the island is at its embryonic stage, future potential investors could reap the benefits that will result when Cyprus completes its golf infrastructure and thus becomes a golfing destination.

There is a defined future for golf in Cyprus, said Photiou. A definite plus is the all year sunshine of the island, which means that golfers who find they cannot play in their own countries in winter, when their own courses are closed by ice and snow, can come to Cyprus. Their season ends around October, just when the golfing high season in Cyprus is getting under way.

The CTO participates in all major travel markets and golf fairs (Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, and Britain) and organises familiarisation visits to the island for golf journalists and tour operators.

"We are confident that within a comparatively short period of time Cyprus will occupy an elevated spot on the world's golfing map. Who knows, in a few years' time we could be looking at a Cyprus Open on the European PGA Tour and a new Mecca for wandering golfers on the lovely Mediterranean island where Aphrodite made her home," said Photiou.

Source: Financial Mirror, December 24th, 2003.