Minthis

Nestled in the hills to the northeast of Paphos, the 18-hole layout at Minthis was originally designed by Donald Steel for Tsada Golf Club back to the mid-1990s, with holes laid out next to a 12th century monastery on land that was once owned by the Church of Cyprus.

Early in the new millennium, Tom Mackenzie was engaged to upgrade the layout, rebuilding tees and bunkers, levelling fairways and installing a new irrigation system. Property developers Pafilia then became partners in the project, introducing further investment.

The old greens have been re-constructed and these new putting surfaces seeded with bent grass. Major back nine developments include a dramatic new par five 10th hole to the east of the property, a new short par three 13th and a terrific island green on the par three 15th.

Measuring 5,900 metres from the tips, Minthis plays to a par of 72 (35 out, 37 in), with holes arranged as two returning nines. An irrigation pond lies between the 9th and 18th fairways but it’s more ornamental than strategic, leaving the 15th as the only hole on the card with aquatic menace.

The par three 2nd is a real highlight on the front nine, played to a two-tiered offset green with a couple of bunkers to the front left of the putting surface, while the par five 11th is a feature hole on the back nine, plunging downhill and left to a wonderfully contoured green.