Elea Golf Course

Elea Golf Course

Where To Stay: Constantinou Bros Athena Royal Beach Hotel

Located on the outskirts close to Paphos and just a 15-minute drive from Paphos international airport, you will find the stunning Elea Golf course.

Sir Nick Faldo has created a gem of a golf course here that is very different from the other three on this beautiful island of Cyprus.

This Nick Faldo-designed par 71 Championship golf course measures 6,775 yards from the back tees.

Elea Golf Course sits at the centre of the Elea Estate and looks to be a relatively flat golf course. However, generous, immaculately kept open fairways carve their way through the untouched landscape with occasion weathered outcrops of limestone alongside the fairways.  Mature carob and olive trees adorn the golf course and are a natural hazard, along with the strategically placed lake.

Each of the holes at Elea has its name. The par 5, 9th "Barneys Rest " is a classic. Generally, the is Hole Downwind. It's very "reachable," but avoid reaching the cascade with wind and a slope-assisted tee shot. There are numerous options for second shots; consider the risks and rewards. The green is boldly contoured, necessitating accuracy from any approach shot, long or short. The lay-up areas are bigger than they appear at first glance.

The closing Hole, "The Prodigal son," plays a very different hole depending on which Tee Box you are playing from,  playing the second shot from the right half of the fairway is preferable unless the pin is cut back right. The 'perspective' bunkers on the fairway's left side may distort the apparent length of approach shots. Because of the green slopes to the left, you can use the fairway approach slope to run the ball in from the left.