Type of course? “Nick Faldo’s Mediterranean masterpiece” undulates amongst olive trees and orange groves up the hills behind Paphos.
Pleasant staff? Yes, they wouldn’t hear of us carrying our bags back to the club house. I think they were worried they’d have a medical emergency on their hands if we didn’t sit down asap.
Best hole? 16th “Curium”. The second shot has to clear a wide bit of scrub to reach a really beautiful elevated green in a natural amphitheatre. Great view from the top as well.
Après golf? A delicious local beer recommended by the nice waiter on the terrace watching the sunset, exhausted, barely able to grunt at each other.
Nice round? A game of two halves, as they say. +3 on the front 9, +17 on the back 9. The score would have been very different if the bunkers hadn’t been GUR as I visited 12 of them, but we won’t mention that, as it doesn’t matter because of…
Special memory? … my amazing eagle on the 9th par 5! A proper eagle as well, not a fluky one, with a 214 yard drive, a 165 yard second shot that cleverly avoided the water and many massive bunkers to rest a mere 40 yard from the pin. I got my hybrid out to try the new bump and run shot I’ve been practicing, and the rest is history.
Must play again? Yes, on Thursday. I’m praying the bunkers are still GUR because my opponent only went into one of them, so the Crackett Cup score might have been a bit different without my 12 free drops.
Cypriot Crackett Cup – Day 1 (Stableford): 1-0 (32-26)
Soul-southing view from the terrace
Thank the Greek Goddesses all the bunkers were GUR
Another boring drive in the middle of the fairway
Eléa club house, like a mirage in the distance
The attractive and massive 16th green