It is always great to escape the UK’s weather at this time of year and as we head into spring the first taste of sunshine is always welcome.
This year we decided to take the Tour to Aphrodite Hills in Cyprus. The resort has been well established for some time but the recent opening of the Faldo Elea, located just a few minutes drive from the hotel enabled us include two courses and made the venue an attractive option for the February short haul event.
On arrival in Paphos, the transfer time to Aphrodite Hills was just 20 minutes and after a welcome drink we were all checked in and looking forward to playing the following morning.
The golf programme included four rounds on Aphrodite Hills and one round on Elea. The opening AM AM round was played in ideal conditions with the sun shining and it was the team captained by Martin Kent and including Paul Borrell, Tony Marshall and Davina Pike who took the victory on countback with a total of 103. The runners up were captained by Alistair Booth and included John Lewis, Peter Roe and Gail Hegarty.
The weather forecast for the week looked encouraging but did suggest that rain would be around on the Tuesday. When we woke on the second morning and glanced across towards the sea, it was evident that the forecast was correct. The sky was black and within a few minutes of arriving at the course the rain arrived. With the course being busy we were unable to move our tee times and so headed over to the first tee. However, with the first tee time of 10am approaching the rain suddenly stopped and we set off in the dry. Now throughout the round there were some heavy showers but we finished the day in the dry and high spirits. The conditions had certainly been challenging but it did not prevent Peter Roe carding a superb 36 points and taking the early lead in the event. There were then several players on 32 including Anne Bridges, Alistair Booth and Gerry Gentle.
We were promised sunshine the next day and were not disappointed. We headed over to the Elea Faldo course for the second round. The greens were certainly as testing, if not more so than Aphrodite Hills. This was a typical Faldo design with plenty of bunkers to avoid and your short game had to be on song to score well. We thought that 30 would be a good score here and so it proved with the day’s best being 32 points. This belonged to the “chick”, Alan Orritt and was enough to move him up to sixth place and just four points off the lead. Anne Bridges continued to play well and finished the day with 31 points, one ahead of Gerry. At the half way stage Anne Bridges and Peter Roe were at the top of the leaderboard with 63 points, Gerry was lying in third with 62 and Janette was one further back.
The free day followed and the sun continued to shine. Several members of the group headed down to explore the sights of Paphos, while others relaxed around the hotel or played another round of golf.
We returned to Aphrodite Hills for the third round where it was the turn of Gerry Gentle to claim the best score of the day with 34 points and take the lead in the event. After a difficult front nine, he played exceptionally well on the back finishing with 18 points. Anne was still hot on his heels with 30 points which left her just 3 behind the lead. Janette had another good day on the course with 31, whilst Peter’s 29 ensured that they would both be playing in the final group for the last round.
Aphrodite Hills is a great test of golf and there are some stunning holes, including the dramatic signature par 3, where it is necessary to hit over a huge ravine to a green guarded by bunkers. It certainly tests the nerves on the tee!
The fairways were in excellent condition and the greens certainly challenged every player in the group.
You had to be positive to keep the line on the putt but then had to be prepared to hole the five foot return. It had been clear from the first round that the winner here would have to be on top of their short game and putting.
As we set off for the final round the general feeling was that the winner was likely to come from the final group. It seemed a tough ask for someone to come racing through from the back as it was difficult to play in an aggressive manner. The sky was blue but the wind was blowing and conditions were not easy. You need to be accurate on the final few holes at Aphrodite, none more so than the 18th par 5. After a good drive and second you still have to hold your nerve to pitch over water to a narrow green. The group was gathered round watching as the final group approached. Peter and Janette were safely over the water and Gerry soon followed. Anne was the final player to play and there were a few anxious comments in the gallery as the ball was in the air. However, we need not have worried as it came to rest just a few feet from the hole. We were not sure who was winning until Gerry holed his final putt and the look of delight suggested he had claimed another Greencard victory.
It was a great week and Aphrodite Hills was impressive, with excellent facilities, comfortable rooms and friendly staff. The course had spectacular views with very enjoyable and challenging holes. We will certainly consider returning here and with a third course in Secret Valley recently reopening to great reviews our course options are further enhanced.
