Hestia Group News

For the true afficiando, golf is not so much a sport as a way of life - and when you go on holiday, you certainly don’t stop living!  On the contrary, a welcome break from the normal workaday routine is a way of recharging your energy and doing more of what you would like to be doing back home – if only work and the pressures of daily life didn’t get in the way. So, a trip to cyprus is an excellent opportunity to make up for lost time in getting in some well deserved rest and recuperation – and doing what comes naturally to the instinctive golfer.

Although cyprus may not be a place that immediately springs to mind when thinking of golfing destinations in the Mediterranean, a little enquiry shows that there is an impressive choice to be had for the enthusiast prepared to break away from the more traditional tourist trails of Paphos, agia napa or the Troodos Mountains. Not that these places don’t have a lot to offer – far from it. There is a wealth of history, leisure and exploration to excite the curious spirit. But for golfers, knowing that their passion can be pursued in the glorious sunshine and tranquillity of an idyllic cyprus setting is a prize worth seeking out.

The Paphos area in the west of the country plays host to three well known golf courses – at Aphrodite Hills, Tsada and Secret Valley golf Course. There are plans for others courses on the island, including Tersefano which is close to Larnaca International Airport, between Paralimni and agia napa and more in the Limassol region. For those who are looking for something ‘midway’ and closer to Limassol, they don’t have to wait - there is already a club that provides a friendly welcome for the golfing enthusiast and their family. 
 
Vikla golf and Country Club is the only golf course in the Limassol area. It was founded in 1992 by Robin Houry near the village of Vikla and is only 20kms drive from the main Limassol tourist / residential area – pick up can be arranged. With its spectacular mountain views, its welcoming and informal atmosphere makes it an ideal place to play golf or simply relax!  The club boasts an 18 whole golf course with a par of 68 from the championship tees.

This is a great course for experienced golfers and beginners alike. No handicap certificate is required and tee-off times can be booked. The two par fives and six par threes offer a realistic challenge. Gross par is only ever broken once or twice a year, if that!

If value for money is important to you, give the club a call and check out their current rates for playing and hiring equipment - they claim to be about 75% cheaper than other courses on the island. The club is committed to making the golfing experience as enjoyable as possible. For some, the most convenient - and best time to play in the hot cyprus climate - may be towards the end of the day. So, whilst other courses close promptly at 5:30pm, Vikla remains open until the sun sets.
The facilities at Vikla are designed to be ‘family friendly’ - providing the true golfing enthusiast with some good reasons to visit the course whilst catering for non-golfers in the family with drinks and bar snacks at the Club House or dipping into the swimming pool with its outside terrace overlooking the course during summer months. Clubs and trolleys are available for hire from the PROSHOP, where there is also an excellent selection of golfing equipment for sale.
The accent is very much on friendly informality – so there is no course dress code and the practice ground helps you on the way to perfecting your game!

For further information, check out the Vikla golf Club website:
www.vikla-golf.com - or send an e-mail to: viklagolf@cytanet.com.cy
Telephone:  00357 99674218

Cricket has been played in cyprus for many years, but has mainly been confined to the British Army bases. The European Cricket Council, given the task of promoting cricket throughout Europe, encouraged cyprus Cricket to form its own organisation, the cyprus Cricket Association, with its own committee and constitution. Since 2003 they have been organising cricket on the island, extended the game into the towns, set up a league, started youth cricket in the schools, and formed a national team to enter European competitions. The European Cricket Council has provided funds to promote youth cricket, and trained coaches to go out into the schools.
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The castle of Kolossi, also known as Kulas, is one of the most important extant fortification works in cyprus from the era of Frankish domination and is directly linked to important events of the history of cyprus. The most important of these being the conquest of the island by Richard Coeur-de-lion (Richard the Lionheart of England) and later on by the Knights Templar and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights Hospitallers).

Kolossi Castle is a fine example of military architecture originally constructed in the 13th century and subsequently rebuilt in its present form in the middle of the 15th century. It served first as the Grand Commandery of the Knights Templar and, after the fall of Acre in 1291, for some years as the headquarters of the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.

Kolossi and its castle are directly connected with several key events in the tempestuous history of cyprus. In 1191 Richard the Lionheart of England conquered cyprus after it had been ruled by Isaac Commenus. Isaac Comnenus was the Byzantine Continue Reading »