Cyprus Golf: Everything You Need to Know Before Booking

Cyprus is one of those golf destinations that divides opinion. Some golfers absolutely love it — reliable sunshine, good food, beautiful scenery. Others look at the green fees and wince. Both groups have a point.

I've been out to Paphos three times now, played all four main courses multiple times, and stayed at the hotels we sell. Here's my honest assessment of everything you need to know before booking a Cyprus golf holiday.

The Courses

Aphrodite Hills — The Star Attraction

This is the course that puts Cyprus on the golf map. It's a Cabell Robinson design carved into the hillside above Paphos, and the centrepiece is the 7th hole — a par 3 that plays across a dramatic gorge. You're standing on the tee looking down at a ravine that drops about 60 metres to the riverbed below, with the green sitting on the opposite cliff face about 170 yards away.

It's spectacular. It's also terrifying if you've just thinned your last three iron shots. Bring spare balls.

Beyond the 7th, Aphrodite Hills is a properly good course. The front nine winds through olive groves and the back nine opens up with views towards the coast. The 15th is an underrated par 5 that doglegs right and drops downhill — a genuine eagle chance if you catch your drive properly. The greens are generally firm and fast, so if you're used to soft UK greens in winter, adjust your expectations.

Green fee: approximately €130-175 depending on season. Yes, that's expensive. But it's a course you'll remember.

Elea Golf Club

Another Cabell Robinson design, which tells you something about the quality of course design on the island. Elea is longer and more open than Aphrodite Hills, with wider fairways and less drama but arguably a sterner test of golf.

The 8th is a cracking par 4 — about 410 yards with a lake down the left that catches any hook or pull. The back nine features several holes that run through natural scrubland with views towards the Troodos Mountains. It's a beautiful course to walk if they let you — though most visitors take buggies because the distances between some greens and the next tee are lengthy.

Green fee: approximately €130-160. The twilight rate after 2pm drops to around €90, which is worth considering if you're playing two courses in a day.

Minthis Golf Club

The oldest club in Cyprus, rebuilt and redesigned in 2019 by Mackenzie & Ebert. It sits up in the hills above Paphos at about 550 metres elevation, which means it's a few degrees cooler than the coast — a genuine advantage in July and August.

Minthis is a thinking course. The fairways are tighter than Aphrodite or Elea, there's more shaping required off the tee, and the greens have serious contour. The 12th hole, a short par 4, is one of my favourites in Cyprus — driveable for big hitters but with a false front that kicks anything short back into a hollow. It rewards a precise wedge shot far more than a big drive.

Green fee: approximately €150-215. This is the most expensive round on the island, and honestly, it's hard to justify unless you're a golf course design nerd (which I am, so I loved it).

Secret Valley Golf Club

The hidden gem. Secret Valley sits inland in a genuine valley — the course runs between rocky hillsides with citrus trees and wildflowers everywhere. It's shorter and less demanding than the other three, which makes it perfect for a warm-up round or for groups with higher-handicap players.

The 11th is a lovely short par 3 over a small lake, and the closing holes run back towards the clubhouse with a nice downhill 18th. The clubhouse itself is basic but the food is good and cheap — a full English and a coffee will set you back about €8.

Green fee: approximately €85-100. Easily the best value on the island and a course I'd genuinely recommend to anyone.

The Weather — Month by Month

The sweet spots are March-May and October-November. You get warm temperatures, minimal rain, and lower prices than the peak summer months (when it's honestly too hot to enjoy 18 holes unless you tee off at 7am).

Where to Stay

Athena Royal Beach Hotel — £995pp (7N/4R)

This is our go-to hotel in Paphos and it's a cracker. It's a four-star plus right on the beach in Kato Paphos, about 20 minutes from Aphrodite Hills and 25 minutes from Elea. The rooms are spacious, the pools are well-maintained, and the all-inclusive upgrade is worth considering — it covers all meals, local drinks, and snacks, which takes the stress out of budgeting.

At £995 per person for 7 nights and 4 rounds, this is our most popular Cyprus package. That includes transfers from Paphos airport, shared buggies at each course, and B&B as standard. Upgrade to all-inclusive for about £150pp more.

The hotel is within walking distance of Paphos harbour and the main restaurant strip, so you don't need a car for evenings out.

The Flights Situation

Paphos airport (PFO) has direct flights from most major UK airports — Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh. Flight time is about 4.5 hours.

The important thing to know: Paphos flights are much more frequent than Larnaca flights for golf holidays. Larnaca is the bigger airport, but it's on the wrong side of the island — you'd be looking at a 2-hour transfer to the Paphos golf courses. Always fly into Paphos.

Return flights in spring and autumn are generally £150-250pp with Ryanair, Jet2, or easyJet. We can include flights in your package or you're welcome to book them separately if you've got a particular airline preference or loyalty points to use.

The Honest Assessment

Let me be straight with you: Cyprus golf is expensive. Green fees run €85-215 per round, and four rounds will cost you €400-600 per person in fees alone. That's significantly more than Portugal, where you'd pay €40-85 per round for comparable-quality courses.

So why do people keep booking Cyprus? Three reasons:

• Weather reliability. Cyprus gets 340 days of sunshine per year. You can book for March with near-certainty that you'll play in warm, dry conditions. The Algarve can throw you a rainy week in March — Cyprus rarely does.
• Quality over quantity. There are only four main courses, so you play each one once and every round feels different and special. There's no "filler round" in a Cyprus golf holiday.
• The non-golf experience. Paphos is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The food is outstanding — fresh grilled halloumi, souvlaki, meze that goes on for two hours. The wine is underrated. And the historical sites (Tombs of the Kings, Paphos mosaics) give you something to do on a rest day.

If you're on a tight budget, Portugal gives you more golf for less money. If you want reliable weather, great food, and four memorable rounds rather than seven average ones, Cyprus is excellent.

I had a couple from Hampshire last October — both played off about 15. They did the 7-night Athena Royal package with four rounds at all four courses. They said the 7th at Aphrodite Hills was "the most exciting hole we've ever played" and the meze at the hotel was "better than our local Greek restaurant." They're already booked for March 2026.

Ring us on 01277 284284 or get a quote at golfplanetholidays.com. We'll talk you through the course options and build a package that works for your group.