The current opening of Limassol Greens, a brand new championship course created by famend American architect Cabell B Robinson, has offered yet one more compelling motive to e book a {golfing} getaway to the beautiful Mediterranean island of Cyprus, the place year-round sunshine and fantastic hospitality add to the intoxicating vacation combine that so many discover onerous to withstand. Phrases by Nick Bayly
With a laid-back tempo of life, nice climate, lovely seashores, scrumptious meals, extensively spoken English, a manageable mid-haul flight time, and even a highway system that includes driving on the left.
It’s no shock that Cyprus has lengthy been a well-liked vacation spot for UK holidaymakers. Throw in a terrific mixture of inns and a robust personal rental property market and it’s straightforward to see why us Brits make up over a 3rd of the 4 million vacationers that go to this lovely island yearly.
Whereas the ‘fly ‘n’ flop’ brigade historically dominate the sun-seeking guests that fly into Larnaca and Paphos in the course of the scorching summer season months.
An rising variety of golfers are selecting to e book their important {golfing} vacation in Cyprus in the course of the extra temperate shoulder season (September-November and March-Might) due to a quintet of championship golf programs that now characteristic within the south-western nook of the island.Whereas Minthis Hills (minthisresort.com) and Secret Valley (secretvalleygolfresort.com) put Cyprus on the golf vacation map after they first opened within the mid-Nineteen Nineties, it wasn’t till 2002.
With the arrival of Aphrodite Hills (aphroditehills.com), with its Cabell B Robinson-designed championship course and attendant five-star lodge and resort, that critical golf aficionados started to think about the island one thing a bit greater than a spot to take pleasure in a little bit of vacation golf between journeys to the solar lounger.
RAISING THE BAR
That bar was raised nonetheless additional in 2010 when {golfing} knight Sir Nick Faldo put down his marker within the plentiful sand on the Eléa Golf Membership (eleaestate.com), whose majestic structure situated only a brief drive from Paphos.
And now that quartet has been joined by Limassol Greens, one other Cabell Robinson design that opened on the finish of 2025 that’s set to boost the bar by yet one more notch.
Including depth and selection to the golf providing in Cyprus, and creating the potential for prolonged {golfing} stays, Limmasol Greens was solely totally open to members in November – once I had the chance to play it – however is now welcoming customer bookings for 2026.
Positioned on a flattish strip of land a mile west of the historic city of Limassol, on probably the most southern tip of the island, the 18-hole course overlooks a saltwater lagoon and past that.
Considerably incongruously, the RAF airbase at Akrotiri, which, I used to be amazed to find, is deemed to be a British Abroad Territory as a hangover from when Cyprus was a British colony previous to its independence in 1960.
The golfers among the many 4,000-plus personnel who work on the base will little doubt be delighted to have a brand new course to play on their doorstep, as the opposite aforementioned layouts are all situated 50-60km to the west.
FLOWING DESIGN
Whereas Limmasol Greens’ barely inland setting doesn’t boast the theatrical drama of Aphrodite Hills or the grandiose bunkering of Eléa.
The standard of its design and the spectacular consideration to element in its presentation, makes it greater than maintain its personal as a {golfing} expertise.
Robinson, the architect behind tremendous programs resembling La Reserva do Sotogrande, Finca Cortesín and Las Colinas, is a grasp of letting technique and setting do the speaking.
And he has performed a few of his finest work right here, constructing a course that flows via the panorama relatively than imposing itself on it.
At simply over 6,900 yards from the again tees, the par-71 course has the size anticipated of a contemporary championship structure, but it surely doesn’t bully you with it.
Fairways are beneficiant with out being featureless, inviting you to swing freely whereas nonetheless punishing lapses in focus.
Bunkering is considerate relatively than decorative, water options are strategic relatively than punitive, and the general impression is of a course that rewards endurance and placement greater than brute pressure.
The white tees take the general size to a extra holiday-friendly 6,450 yards, whereas the yellows (5,900), blues (5,480) and reds (5,000) ensures that there are tees to swimsuit all requirements of participant.
Whereas additionally offering a wide range of choices to vary the technique of every gap. I performed off the whites, which most mid-handicappers will really feel comfy with, and one which affords a very good check with out being too extreme.
STRATEGIC TEST
The course kicks off with an easy, if considerably prolonged, par 5, though with water all the best way down the left, you’ll should be each straight and ahead on this 550-yarder to keep away from an early reload.
Gutsy two-putt par secured, we moved onto the second, a shortish par 4, which is a characteristic of the course, with the cardboard boasting no fewer than 5 ‘two-shoters’ which can be beneath 360 yards, which makes for a refreshing change from the kind of programs which assume vacation golfers get a kick out of attempting to make a par on a 470-yard par-4.
The third is the primary of 5 par-3s on the cardboard, and is arguably the least fascinating of the bunch, with the opening taking part in between 180 and 210 yards relying on the pin place, to a inexperienced that slopes gently from again to entrance. Guarded by bunkers left and proper it presents fairly a tricky goal from the tee.
I appreciated the look of the sixth gap off the tee, with this 380-yard par 4 that includes a 90-degree left-to-right dogleg which asks you to resolve how grasping need to be.
The reply, in my case, was too grasping, as my drive, which regarded nice within the air, stalled within the wind – it’s virtually at all times a bit breezy right here, I’m instructed – and caught the sting of the marshy water hazard that lurks half-way down the canine leg’s tibia.
A second-ball par ensued, with my reloaded tee shot giving the hazard a bit extra respect.
The seventh, a 310-yard par 4, presents an out of doors eagle likelihood for large hitters with a serving to wind. I got here up 60 yards brief and was blissful to make a bogey after a duffed chip from the clawing semi-rough got here up in need of the placing floor.
Talking of grass, the turf decisions converse volumes concerning the ambition right here. The Bermuda grass sown on the fairways affords sturdiness and consistency within the dry Cypriot local weather.
Whereas Bentgrass greens delivered the smoothest, truest placing surfaces I performed on for fairly a while.
The entrance 9 finishes with one other dog-leg, this time a right-to-left, 580-yard par-five with a lake guarding the world to the left of the all the best way as much as the sting of the inexperienced.
It would require two lusty blows, the second over the angle of the lake to arrange a shortish strategy to pin that hopefully isn’t too near the water’s edge.
The again 9 is barely longer than the entrance and feels it on the tenth, a 430-yard par-4 that options a big swale in entrance of the inexperienced that can see shorter hitters battle to seek out the brief stuff in regulation.
A ridge working via the center of the inexperienced makes discover the precise facet of the opening important in case you are to keep away from dropping photographs. The eleventh, the fourth of the brief holes, is a enjoyable 150-yarder requiring a mid-to-short iron to a inexperienced that characteristic a lake lurking on the precise facet.
No fewer than six bunkers to the left of the placing floor will snaffle up those that over-cook their bale out.
CHALLENGING FINISH
The par-4 thirteenth begins a very robust stretch, with the 400-yard gap residing as much as its stroke index 1 billing due to out-of-bounds down the left and bunkers left and proper of the touchdown space of a fairway that sweeps round to the left.
An elevated inexperienced with a deep bunker brief left completes the problem.
The 14th is a comparatively simple par-5 that larger hitters will have the ability to make in two offering they keep away from a group of fairway bunkers on the 270-yard mark.
Whereas fifteenth is one other of these difficult dog-legs that Robinson appears to have such a liking for, with a large bunker on the knee of the leg able to snap up something beneath hit off the tee.
After navigating the prolonged and difficult par-3 seventeenth, which encompasses a raised inexperienced and a sloping apron, the spherical involves a suitably rousing end on the 18th, a 400-yard dog-leg par 4.
Which affords a tantalising tee shot over a lake to a slender strip of fairway earlier than establishing an strategy to a really lengthy, but slender inexperienced guarded by a brace of entrance bunkers.
After ending my spherical and sipping on a chilly beer within the sunshine on the spacious clubhouse terrace, what struck me most concerning the course — even permitting for the truth that it’s nonetheless bedding in — was how playable it felt.
It is a course that can stand as much as repeated play, with alternatives to seek out new angles and new methods of taking part in every gap relatively than feeling crushed up by it. For vacation golfers, that issues – quite a bit.
OFF-COURSE FACILITIES
Whereas the on-course expertise at Limassol Greens is spectacular, there is no such thing as a let-up in high quality within the off-course amenities. Along with the trendy two-storey clubhouse.
The second section of which is but to be constructed however will comprise a 150-cover restaurant and members’ lounge – the membership boasts a 350-yard, 30-bay out of doors driving vary, with half of the bays kitted out with Trackman ball-tracking expertise which hook up with high-resolution touchscreens to supply prompt suggestions on each swing, from club-head pace and launch angle to hold distances and dispersion patterns.
Add in a course-standard apply placing inexperienced and chipping areas, and a staff {of professional} coaches, and it’s clear that Limassol Greens is aiming to nurture golfers, not simply accommodate them, and makes it a stable choice for golf tuition vacation teams.
WORLD-CLASS ADDITION
It might be remiss of me to depart you pondering that Limassol Greens is the completed article. Some amenities and supporting infrastructure have been nonetheless to be accomplished throughout my go to in November.
Whereas the property improvement that’s a necessary aspect of nearly all new abroad golf ventures lately is being rolled out in phases and might be on-going for a number of years to come back.
However that ought to not deter you from the primary focus – the course, which though will undoubtedly enhance with just a few seasons beneath its belt, is already a world class addition to the Cypriot {golfing} provide chain.
And with inexperienced charges ranging from €98 – together with a buggy – it additionally represents respectable worth, much more so for those who construct a spherical or two right here right into a package deal provided by one of many main golf tour operators that absorb different close by programs.
STAYING & PLAYING AT THE CITY OF DREAMS MEDITERRANEAN
If Limassol Greens represents the brand new face of golf in Cyprus, Metropolis of Desires Mediterranean – the place I stayed throughout my three-night journey – represents its future in hospitality.
Simply minutes from the golf course – and shortly to be related to the golf course by a personal buggy path – this huge, unapologetically luxurious 500-room resort is unattainable to overlook – a 14-storey Limassol landmark with views stretching from the ocean to the mountains.
On arrival on the resort, following a stress-free 40-minute switch from Larnaca airport, I used to be considerably shocked to seek out the central foyer of the lodge main on to cavernous on line casino.
The intense lights and hum of exercise was fairly an assault on the senses however actually provides one other dimension to the extra conventional leisure choices on provide at your common lodge.
Whereas it’s undoubtedly a playing heaven for rollers each excessive and low – lots of whom fly in for the weekend to do nothing else – if slot machines, roulette tables and poker aren’t your bag.
There are many different actions on provide at Metropolis of Desires, with a myriad of out of doors swimming swimming pools, an expansive spa and health centre, tennis courts, youngsters golf equipment.
And a formidable journey playground, making certain {that a} vacation right here doesn’t require apologies to these members of the family travelling with out golf golf equipment or poker chips in tow.
There’s additionally an outside amphitheatre for internet hosting cultural occasions and live shows, and spectacular convention and wedding ceremony amenities, must you be seeking to tie up any enterprise offers or conjugal knots throughout your keep.
ROOMS WITH A VIEW
Visitor bedrooms and suites are spacious and suitably luxurious, with south-facing rooms having fun with views to the lagoon and the ocean, whereas north-facing suites look out to the distant mountain vary.
All characteristic beneficiant balconies with ample seating. From our south-facing room we took nice enjoyment of watching the day by day cargo airplane touchdown on the close by RAF base.
Little doubt delivering provides of Marmite, sliced white bread and copies of the Each day Mail to home-sick members of the British Armed Forces who’re stationed there.
A beside pill controls lighting, curtains and room service – whereas bogs encourage pampering, with deep tubs, highly effective rainforest showers and the sort of towels that make you assume it’s excessive time to improve your individual threadbare choices at house.
EATING AROUND THE WORLD
Eating at Metropolis of Desires is to not be taken frivolously and is correct up there with something I’ve skilled at a resort by way of each high quality and selection. Anaïs, the resort’s flagship tremendous eating restaurant, leans into traditional French cooking with confidence relatively than fuss.
That is grown-up eating — crisp linens, considerate wine pairings, and dishes that respect substances.
Elsewhere, Prime Steakhouse delivers theatrical cuts of high-grade beef from Japan, America and Australia; Amber Dragon affords polished pan-Asian delicacies, and Aura gives a relaxed buffet-style expertise that doesn’t really feel like a compromise.
The latter additionally serves a formidable breakfast unfold that can depart little room for lunch.
EXPLORING THE LIMASSOL AREA
In between luxurious meals and rounds of golf, you should definitely discover time to discover the world in and round Limassol.
On the coronary heart of town is Limassol Fort, a medieval fortress now house to the Cyprus Medieval Museum, the place you possibly can find out about native historical past and admire artifacts spanning centuries.
The Limassol Archaeological Museum and the Folks Artwork Museum additionally reveal native heritage, whereas the encompassing Previous City is ideal for wandering slender streets lined with conventional outlets, cafés and tavernas.
Limassol’s Molos Promenade stretches alongside the waterfront with a variety of cafés, bars and eating places making it best for a night stroll and a sundowner.
Whereas close by seashores resembling Woman’s Mile present smooth sand and calm waters – good for attempting out a wide range of water sports activities like jet-skiing and windsurfing.
Past town, scenic drives result in the Troodos Mountains or charming villages like Apsiou, providing mountaineering, wine tasting and a style of rural Cypriot life.
Whereas historical past buffs ought to head to the Amathus archaeological website, which options the ruins of certainly one of Cyprus’s oldest historic kingdoms, overlooking the ocean; whereas the Greco-Roman theatre at Kourion, which was constructed round 2BC, can also be nicely value seeing.
BOOKINGS & ENQUIRIES
Your Golf Journey is providing a seven-night, four-round package deal, taking in two rounds at Limassol Greens (limassolgreens.com) and two rounds at a alternative of Secret Valley, Minthis, Elea or Aphrodite Hills, plus seven nights’ dinner, B&B at Metropolis of Desires Mediterranean (www.cityofdreamsmed.com.cy), from £1,739pp. For all enquiries, go to www.yourgolftravel.com.
