Hestia Group News

cyprus is a great place to learn Diving and also has plenty to see for other members of the family who don’t dive.  It is blessed with around 340 days of sunshine a year and although you can dive throughout the year, May through to October is by far the best time.  During these months you probably only need a light wet suit to explore the many and varied dive sites around the island.

The best of these and indeed, voted one of the top ten wreck dives in the world, is the Zenobia, a Swedish ro-ro cargo ferry which sank off the coast of cyprus, on her maiden voyage.  She is approx 10,000 tonnes and well over 170m long but unfortunately developed a problem with the computerized ballast system while on her way to her destination in Syria.  The captain steered her toward Larnaca when he realised she was listing badly and it was here that she sunk with over 100 trucks and trailers on board.  It is generally thought that it needs at least two dives to explore this large wreck to fully appreciate it and probably shouldn’t be attempted as a novice.

There are plenty of other dives around the coast of cyprus suitable for all levels of experience and some of the more interesting ones can be found around Paphos, around The Akamas or off the East coast near ayia napa where simple wrecks and caves can be explored.  Although interesting artifacts can be found on the seabed, please be aware that it is strictly forbidden to remove any. The beautiful and rugged Sea Caves and St Georges areas of Paphos host some exciting dives sites along with Yeronissos Island which lies just of this coastline.

There are many differnet Dive Centres accros cyprus, with shops in Paphos, Limassol, Larnaca, agia napa and a few others. One local company, Cydive was established in Paphos around 30 years ago and was the first scuba Diving centre in cyprus to achieve PADI IDC five star accreditation.  It also has a second Diving centre in Coral Bay and is the longest established dive school on the island.  With a whole host of courses run by fully qualified PADI instructors, from beginners and children’s courses, to accredited courses to further your Diving career, Cydive has something suitable for all the family if they wish to join in and if not, non-divers are most welcome on dive trips (space permitting).

What a great activity and experience to enjoy whilst on holiday, with one-off introductory dives to PADI ‘Open Water’ courses.

If a change is as good as a rest, then a visit to cyprus is the ideal opportunity for the keen golfer to get some rest and recuperation. The island enjoys excellent air links with all parts of the UK. In little over four hours the transition is made from a climate which can be indifferent to the best interests of the keen golfer to a destination soaked in sunshine and the ‘feel good’ factor – and some choice golf courses.

Regardless of what else you decide to do during your visit – or where you stay -  finding good value accommodation and arranging Car hire is straightforward. The helpful people at Hestia Holidays provide the ideal  ‘one stop’  solution for those who simply want to make the most of their time in cyprus – leaving you free to explore and enjoy what the island has to offer. They can advise on Car hire, Currency exchange - and offer a wide choice of rental villas and apartments to ensure that you can easily get to the golf courses of your choice – as well as reach the beach and other attractions that lie in wait of your discovery.

Whether you are a keen amateur golfer, an aspiring ‘pro’ - or simply someone who wants to find out what all the fuss is about - one course that is a  ‘must’  on your itinerary is the ‘gem’ to be found at the Tasada golf Club.

The course was founded in 1994 on the hills of Tsada and set on the grounds of a 12th century monastery in a verdant valley. It was originally created by Donald Steel and renovated by Mackenzie & Ebert in 2006/07.
 
Located in western cyprus, the Tsada golf Club is near Tsada village - 15 km northeast of the city of Paphos or roughly 20 minutes drive. The altitude of 550 meters above sea level ensures cool breezes during the summer months.

The course credentials are truly impressive:

• 18 hole par 72 course of 6,060 meters 
• Handicap requirements: 28 for men and 36 for ladies.
• A handicap certificate is essential except in the low, winter season
• There is a 12 bay driving range, putting green, a pitching and chipping area and a PGA pro available for lessons
• Course map on the website

For current information, visit the club website: www.cyprusgolf.com/tsada. This provides full information on Rates, Location / Directions for getting there plus a comprehensive Course Map.

For the golfing enthusiast, the superb setting and the pleasant altitude provides more than cool breezes in the summer months as you play a round. It is a real breath of fresh air and an uplifting experience to treasure before returning home – in the expectation of some day returning for more of the same!
   
Contact Tel: 00357 26 642774/5

Visitors to cyprus make the trip for many reasons – an escape from the regular routine that life throws at us, a well deserved break or perhaps the pursuit of happiness by indulging in a favourite pastime. For many people  ‘pastime’ is an understatement for the passion that is golf.

More people are becoming increasingly aware that a trip to the sun-drenched island of cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean provides an excellent opportunity – if not excuse – to pursue their passion!  The difference between playing in the UK and cyprus is something that only the individual player can determine - and may well lie in the eye if not the ‘swing’ of the beholder.

Location is certainly one of the distinctions that cyprus has to offer when it comes to the setting of its golf courses. There are several golf course  ‘gems’ set in the landscape of cyprus – with promises of more to come – but for the discerning golfer The Secret Valley golf Course is perhaps one of the more prestigious courses.

Located by the renowned area of ‘Petra tou Romiou’, the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite, the Goddess of love, it is set in a scenic valley surrounded by mature trees and beautiful natural rock formations. It is consistently chosen as the preferred course amongst the island’s visiting players in terms of sheer playability and enjoyment. It can be found 18 km east of Paphos and 49 km west of Limassol, near to the Aphrodite’s Rock. Directions are clearly signposted from the exits on the Paphos-Limassol or Limassol-Paphos highways. From the Highway exit it is a few minutes drive of about 3 km into the valley – look out for signs showing the nearest village of Kouklia.

The course has a great deal to offer the amateur or ‘pro’ golfer alike:
• 18 hole course, par 71, measuring 5,904 metres
• Handicap requirements are 28 for men and 36 for women
• Handicap certificate is essential except during the low season 
• Carts, trolleys and clubs are available to rent
• There is a 12 bay covered driving range and ball machine
• 2 putting greens
• golf pro available for lessons
• There is a well stocked Pro Shop which sells a comprehensive range of equipment and golfing accessories such as bags, clubs, gloves, balls, golf shoes, protective sun creams, caps and visors.

For up-to-date information on what Secret Valley golf Club has to offer, visit their website at: www.cyprusgolf.com/secret_valley

There’s no doubt that the experience of playing a round or more at Secret Valley will be the highlight of a visit to cyprus – and perhaps prompt the pursuit of the many other indulgences the island has to offer. You can enjoy the challenge of relaxing in the sun on one of the Blue Flag Beaches, visit the Nicosia Racecourse, the Troodos mountains or go on a tour of the keo Brewery in Limassol! 

In much the same way that no two golf courses are the same - or two rounds on the same course ever identical – cyprus is an eclectic mixture of the past, present and what remains to be discovered by the enquiring human spirit.       

Hestia Holidays have available a superb villa for renting on the Secret Valley Resort, please click on the word ‘Secret Valley‘ within this article for details.

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

The Republic of cyprus is set to become the next major location on the international golf scene – with an increasing impact on the local property market.

The government of cyprus is standing by its long-term commitment to make major improvements to the infrastructure of cyprus. golf courses have taken pride of place in the overall strategy to turn Aphrodite’s isle from one of the most popular Mediterranean destinations for European holidaymakers into a vacation paradise for visitors from around the globe. golf is still a relatively new sport here. However, Continue Reading »

One of the great joys of cyprus is the incredible mix of leisure and recreational pursuits that sit alongside each other on an island steeped with legend, history and modernity. Aphrodite, the mythical goddess of love, is celebrated widely in the Paphos region, with ‘Aphrodite’s Rock’ a destination of choice for the true afficiando of ancient mythology. Yet, little more than a stone’s throw away lies the world class golf course at Aphrodite Hills, a true golfing paradise.
Continue Reading »

The very mention of cyprus conjures up images of sun, sea and idyllic beaches stretching into the sunset. For the casual visitor or the permanent resident alike, that image is the genuine reality – and there is a lifestyle to be savoured if you look for it.

The real beauty of cyprus is that there is so much more to experience – and the voyage of discovery involves little more than putting one foot in front of the other, opening your eyes and soaking up what nature has to offer. Although cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, nowhere is really that far from anywhere else – and exploring the heartland with its variety of landscape is a true gift of nature.

An ideal way to get a feel Continue Reading »

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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