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Copyright © 2003 INV International Limited All Rights Reserved |
Pre-conference golf outing and business networking trip to Crete Wednesday, November 26,
2003 (departure from Athens/Piraeus)
Mixing
business with pleasure: A pre-conference golf outing and business networking trip to Crete will take place between November 26th and 28th and is open to all the delegates of the 2003 European GOLF Investment and Real Estate Conference & Exhibition.
This is an extraordinary time to be visiting Greece...
Official transportation sponsor
Programme
About The Crete Golf Club
The Crete Golf Club Introducing golf to Crete, local hoteliers have put together a team of world-class designers (PGADC) and developers to create an 18-hole championship golf resort. Catering to tourists the course was built to meet USGA standards. It features a desert course design language, with four sets of tees, wide fairways and perfect maintenance in a typical mountainous Cretan environment, offering unparalleled views. Located within a 10-minute drive from the favourite tourist destination of Hersonissos and 20 minutes from the Heraklion airport, The Crete Golf Club is built on a 720,000 square metres site. The Crete Golf Club, which cost EUR 16,140,870 to develop, was officially opened by Mr. Nikos Christodoulakis, Greece's Minister of Economy and Finance, on Sunday, October 19th, 2003, yet has been operating since the beginning of July 2003. Dr. Michael Vranas, a lawyer and hotelier by profession, is President of The Crete Golf Club and co-owner of Robinson Club - Lyttos Beach. He has been the visionary moving force in opening the way for The Crete Golf Club and the new era of golf development in Greece. He successfully gathered, led and cemented 32 individual partners into an effective team, which packaged the land with 92 separate contracts. He knows the legal framework, political intricacies and bureaucratic obstacles in Greece, and has developed an effective strategy for overcoming them. The company currently has 43 shareholders.
It is a 6,430-yard course with two driving ranges. Here is a brief overview of the course:
The course has two loops of nine, which seamlessly blend into the existing landscape. The slopes, visible rocky ground, groundcover plants and absence of trees provide a character, which is easily identifiable as Crete. Each hole has a selection of 4 tee beds, providing a challenge for all golfers whatever their standard. Where the scratch golfer will find the course a tough enough test from the back tee, the novice will find the forward tees more suited to their game. The natural terrain has been maintained with the continual wind and breeze conditions will present a good test to all golfers. As a resort style course it will require the use of buggies. The course also comes with the full range of practice facilities for novice golfers, tourists and golf club members. This includes a double-ended covered driving range with practice bunkers, short game area and practice putting green. There is also a second putting green adjacent to the first tee. Driving range
The spacious golf clubhouse has been designed by PGA Design Consulting to give the golfer the feeling of Cretan architecture and hospitality. It is situated between the first and tenth tees to offer quality services. After a friendly greeting at the reception, you can enjoy the:
The Golf Academy at The Crete Golf Club features a variety of golf programmes offering unparalleled instruction and the most advanced teaching methods to improve your performance, whether you are a novice or you need a "refresher' for your game. The golf course's PGA qualified instructions will assess your standard and recommend a suitable programme, with the emphasis on relaxation and fun. Programmes include individual or group tuition, half and full-day formats, 3- to 5-day programmes, corporate and society golf days and specialised clinics. The Crete Golf Club lies approximately 23.5 km. east of the 'Nikos Kazantzakis' Heraklion International Airport and 7 km. south of Hersonissos. With Heraklion as your starting point, go East on the 'New Road,' the E75, with direction to Aghios Nikolaos and turn south (right) on the Lassithi Plateau intersection with direction to Kasteli, 3.5 km. The Crete Golf Club is situated on your right hand side next to a water park.
There were numerous reasons to build this golf course on Crete. Crete is the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean (260 km. long) and the largest Greek island. It stands at the crossroads of the three known continents of the ancient world and due to its strategic position it has been coveted by foreign invaders, including the long periods of Byzantine, Arab, Venetian and Turkish occupations. The ancient Greeks called it "The Great Island" and they were right. It is one of the most important, if not the most important, island in the eastern Mediterranean and its history is long and eventful. It was home to Europe's first civilisation, the Minoan culture, of which impressive remains may be seen at Knossos. This was the capital city of the kingdom of the legendary king Minos that flourished from about 3000 to 1400 B.C. Crete has been the "melting pot" for civilisation with many layers of history and differing cultures -- a realm of nature's wonders with 'real' people who still regard themselves firstly as Cretans and then as Greeks. Their unique character embodies their heroic spirit of independence. They cherish their ancient customs and 'philoxenia' -- the generosity to strangers) is still a matter of tradition and pride. Crete's variety of features includes mountain villages, long sandy beaches, rocky bays, beach-bar-boogie & nightlife. There are magnificent mountain ranges, water-sports, tranquil locations and clean seas. Bathed in clear sunlight much of the year, the climate is one of the best in Europe. It is understandably a most popular travel and vacation destination, especially for families. There is an abundance of plants and flowers that are unique on the island. Breathe in the ever-present scents of wild herbs, taste fresh fruit, the best of the world's olive oil and healthy, delicious cheeses. Enjoy the delight of sipping a Greek coffee at the roadside in a mountain village. Because Crete is the largest of the Greek islands, it offers both developed tourist areas with resort hotels and also quiet coves, hidden beaches and invigorating mountain villages and plateaus that reward the discerning world traveller. Heraclion, the capital city of Crete, 25 km. to the west of the golf course, has the major archaeological museum, smart and trendy cafes and shops and a noisy business bustle. Just outside Heraklion is Knossos, the major archaeological site of the Minoans. Closer still is Heronissos, just 7 km. away from the course. Heronissos is a seaside resort with a pretty seafront offering excellent restaurants, lively bars and interesting tourist shops and is the centre of nightlife on Crete. The golf course is a great asset for Crete, as it extends the island's tourist season and upgrades the quality of Crete's tourist mix, which attracts higher-income clients. Mr. Bob Hunt, golf architect and Managing Director of PGA Design Consulting, commented, "This is an important site where we have followed our design philosophy of environmental friendliness. Golf is the fastest developing sport in the world. There are more than 30,000 golf courses and more than 50 million golfers world-wide. It is certainly one of the more important events in Greek tourism for many years." He also noted that, as a desert-style course, the course will be in great demand by athletes. Of the many features awaiting the guests, the Pro Shop deserves highlighting. This is now stocked with fashion goods and golfing accessories for the discerning golfer. Then there is the restaurant serving light meals, which may be consumed on the terrace overlooking the 18th green. Last but not least, you will find numerous ancient sites, villages, mountains and beautiful beaches around the island that will take your golfing holidays to the highest level.
Introduction
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