Aphrodite Hills Golf Resort Review

Aphrodite Hills is considered to be the leading golf destination in Cyprus. During a recent visit to the island, Golfshake Ambassador Andy Picken had the opportunity to experience it for himself.

Aphrodite Hills has earned the status of PGA Cyprus - establishing it as the premier golf venue in the country. 

The location is jaw dropping in its beauty as the golf course overlooks the azure, blue Mediterranean Sea. Situated between Paphos and Limassol, this is an extraordinary and award-winning integrated golf, leisure and real estate development of the highest standards. 

The site is easily accessible with a 15-minute drive from Paphos airport or 55 minutes from Larnaca Airport. 

This is an area of outstanding beauty and historical significance linking ancient mythology and history due to its position in the vicinity of the Rantidi Forest, the plateau of Hadjiabdoulla, and the man-made mount of Laona. 

Kouklia, where the course sits, overlooks the birthplace of Aphrodite herself. Aphrodite Rocks are close by, and I would recommend a visit as they are a unique tourist site that is easy to access and has a worldwide reputation. The Rantidi Forest was the location used by Adonis and Aphrodite for their hunting expeditions. Its significance is further enhanced by the hundreds of terracotta fragments that have been excavated from the site all detailing the legend of Adonis and Aphrodite.

What You Need to Know About Aphrodite Hills

It is difficult to appreciate the scale of this venue without visiting as it provides rental and permanent accommodation in the form of a village for thousands of guests. There is a water park for kids and its bars and restaurants cater for all. It boasts both tennis and football academies supported by an equestrian centre. Hiking and cycling are also available for guests and residents.

Aphrodite Hills provides the consummate golfing country club experience worthy of comparison with the very best that are offered in the USA. 

The golf course does not feel imposed on the landscape and the facility as it weaves its way around the ravine. I found myself villa spotting and there are some incredible properties built within this site. There is a hotel with supporting swimming pools that runs adjacent to some of the early golf holes but at no point do they impinge upon the golfing experience. 

The practice facilities are second to none with a double ended 350 metre driving range supported by two short game practice areas and a six-hole academy golf course. There is also a team of resident teaching professionals. 

The Aphrodite Hills Golf Course

Renowned golf course architect Cabell B Robinson created the layout to take advantage of a unique landscape that includes a deep canyon like ravine that separates the two plateaus on which the facility has been developed. He has created many amazing golf courses, having spent over twenty years working with Robert Trent Jones, ultimately running his European office.

European Tour events were held in 2002 with a prize purse of 2 million euros. Another perfect illustration of the quality of this venue. He utilised the elevation changes to create a stunningly beautiful layout supported by a perfect climate for all year-round golf. It is a dramatic, almost theatrical design, with the iconic par 3 7th hole taking centre stage. 

Use of a buggy on the front nine is compulsory. There is a 1km drive between the 3rd green and 4th tee that traverses one side of the ravine. A tee box was in use for professional play requiring a carry over that ravine but us mere mortals are now left facing a much more realistic effort from the tees of the day.

I defy any visiting golfer not to stop and take in the views that are provided during this drive over the valley towards the sea. I always take too many pictures when playing the best golf courses and found myself with a massive library during my play of the front nine holes.

Original carob and olive trees have been preserved and incorporated into the course design and the ecology of the site has been considered and enhanced at every opportunity. 

An 18th century kiln has been preserved and developed into a feature on the 1st fairway and an ancient olive press has been similarly preserved on the 8th fairway. I love how this is a modern development that has identified and preserved these areas of historical interest and then incorporated them into the playing surfaces. 

The course presentation and conditioning were superb. The fairways are remarkably lush and green with Bermuda grass providing a carpet like playing surface on every hole.

Aphrodite Hills Golf Course Review

The opening holes offer a visually enticing view from the tee boxes encouraging a full turn drive. The fairways are cleverly cut and pinched in the exact positions that would normally attract a lay-up shot and the greens are slightly off set requiring accurate distance control to have any chance of a par. 

The 5th, the first short hole ranges from 111 to 154 metres and looks enticing from the tee box. The green's elevated position adding further to its difficulty.

This is followed by a 500-metre par 5 that requires a series of accurate shots especially those nearing the green as the bunkering offering it protection is superb.

I loved the joyous experience of playing the par 3 7th hole. This is a golf hole that has a tee, a green, and nothing in between!

You drive down a tortuous, windy cart path descending the side of the ravine catching sublime views at every turn towards the sea. The gradient is steep and littered with warning signs about careful driving such is the tightness of the dramatic turns.

Halfway down the mountain side you are faced with another course marshal who is supervising the tee box area and ensuring pace of play. I defy anyone playing this hole for the first time not to take some time out for some photography.

Our group negotiated this hole with us all achieving par, and we then drove to the 8th hole with relish. This is an invigorating golf hole. It has a sublime setting, is well managed and was a joy to experience. A similar experience to playing the iconic 17th at TPC Sawgrass.

The 8th hole had a special significance for me as I had been given permission to alter the usual course flags for the Man of Men flag I have proudly carried on my Golfshake travels over the past few years to promote awareness of prostate cancer and the fact that 1 in 8 men are likely to be affected by the disease.

The Charitable Connection

It was particularly poignant as Prostate Cancer UK have decided to reward every person who raises money for them via The Big Golf Race with a chance to enter a draw for a fourball to attend and enjoy this wonderful resort in appreciation of their efforts to raise over £250.00.

Aphrodite Hills are to be applauded for partnering with the charity to encourage fundraising for research to develop a screening programme for this disease that kills 12,000 men a year.

This is a gorgeous golf hole looking directly towards the sea. It is a risk reward hole with some golfers capable of reaching the green in a single blow. I chose the safer route and laid up to enable a pitch shot into the green that was readily grabbed by the bunkers that protect the green to its right edge. 

As I took photographs of the green complex, the sun began its descent to the horizon for a wonderful sunset. As I changed the pin flag back to its original, I felt a lump in my throat as I remembered some parts of the journey I have endured since my own diagnosis. 

I consider myself to be extremely lucky to have found out about my own disease very early in its development, especially compared with that being faced by Sir Chris Hoy, whose first diagnosis was of stage four cancer. 

I have a range of treatment options still open to me because of my proactively requesting checks to research an article I was asked to write about raising awareness of the disease within golfing circles. 

My pin flag has now travelled many thousands of air miles and been raised all over Europe and the UK. Please consider helping the charity by taking part in The Big Race this year.

Final Thoughts on Aphrodite Hills

The 9th hole returns to the main hotel complex and the water park via a sharp dogleg and steep rise. I played the rest of my round with a strange mixture of emotions given the experiences I had enjoyed on the front nine. The short holes were all a challenge yet were a totally enjoyable golfing experience.

The final hole is a genuine par 5 requiring accuracy from every shot. The green is brilliantly protected by a lake and bunkers, but the landing area for the tee shot was also very well protected at its elbow by a string of bunkers.

Playing Aphrodite Hills was a total delight that will live long in my memory.

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