Secret Valley - Cyprus

I really enjoyed playing Secret Valley this past weekend. It was my first time in Cyprus and only a short trip, but I'm glad I prioritized playing a round of golf here. The setting is gorgeous and the course makes great use of the scenery and natural undulation of the land. The condition is generally excellent, but it's a drier climate, which means shots were tending to bounce and roll further and into different directions than I was expecting much of the time. It wasn't a very long course, but with the narrowness of most of the holes and plenty of OB on almost every hole, it was plenty challenging. I would absolutely recommend playing here and would only place it below New Giza in Egypt of all of the courses I've played in recent years, maybe ever. Beautiful, highly enjoyable course.

Nice friendly welcome and a good sedate course, many strategic lay up shots required and local knowledge on some blind tee shots helps but a nice walkable course.

The setting is stunning probably the most scenic of the 3 courses listed in my opinion, green a lovely pace, the only negative is the pace of play touching 4.5 hours for not a long course difficult to not lose concentration

To be honest, I enjoyed Secret Valley the most of the Big Three in Cyprus. In lovely condition with some tights holes around 6 and 7. A nice welcome and a great food in the Clubhouse. It does not have the drama of Aphrodite Hills but it is less crowded and very peaceful. Bit of a secret, really!!

As you will see from my reviews of Aphrodite Hills and Elea, in my opinion Secret Valley is definitely number 3 in the rankings, but don’t let that out you off as being third to one great and one amazing “must play” is not a bad place to be. We didn’t play Minthis as only 1x nine open, but I suspect - whenever it gets listed - it will push S/Valley to number 4 …. but of course that is just speculation and personal opinion and preference.

Anyway, was it not two days after having your golfing mind blown by the landscape at the Aphrodite “golf-themed mountain tour” (!), although quite short Secret Valley would be impressive in its own right, funnelling down the valley as it does.

He start of the front nine is “comfortable” and (again 2 days after Aphrodite Hills) it was quite comforting even to see where you were going and where you could miss.

Then you reach the 6th and you get a “here we go again” feeling as it all feels to close in on you and the green ahead over a dry water hazard.

The feeling is absolutely correct too as the 7th - first time at least (even with sky caddie) a daunting club choice which I could not manage to commit to with the obvious results.

Battered and scarred from that the 8 tee then feels worse than it is but any lift is soon lost as you see that the 9th is SI 1 and a par five …. round a corner.

It is actually a good and fair hole.

Although there is NOTHING else “linksy” about this course you do at least feel like you are turning for home on the par 3 10th and then you hit what in my opinion is the best looking part of the course. The 11th must be the signature hole and - annoyingly - we got called through here so it blew what would have been multiple photo shoot angles, a stunningly good looking hole.

If you come over for Aphrodite Hills you would be foolish not to pop round the corner and play Secret Valley too …. and don’t worry about the “DANGER SNAKES” signage, we didn’t see any he he

Secret Valley golf course located by “Petra tou Romiou”, the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Goddess of love. Nestled in a scenic valley surrounded by mature trees and beautiful natural rock formations, protecting from sea breeze. In my opinion, this is one of the most picturesque, beautiful and interesting golf clubs in Cyprus, where every time you discover new challenges and enjoyment of the game. I played here three times and will definitely come back again. The staff's helpfulness and friendliness is another story, but it's an example of what a golf club staff should be. Returning to the golf course, they have really improved the quality at current time.

They have ~300 meter long wide driving range which 2 large grass tee’s, covered bays, also 3 full size practice greens (chipping, putting and pitching), 2 full size bunkers and warm up putting green next to the 1st tee. Welcoming, comfortable & spacious clubhouse, cozy restaurant with lot of varieties of local and international beers, tasty food with acceptable price.

Fields condition was very good, greens and fairways well maintained in the low season. Secret Valley truly offering one of the island’s most challenging 18-hole golf courses in Cyprus. Fields are not very long from white tee, but not easy at all. Starting from first easy par 4 hole, reachable by straight long drive with possibility of eagle or birdie, another par 5 is more challenging and forcing to think about different strategies. The 6th hole (par 3) look likes not very difficult, but shot must be accurate. The drive from 7th hole tee is absolutely blind, so you can get good position after that…or lost ball.

The 9th hole par 5 one of the best, longest and hardest in course (index 1) with a slight dog leg to the right ends with reward of good result or cold beer and sandwich at half house. Next nine is very different. Some really easy, but some with character. The drives needs to be accurate as the fairway is narrow with trees and water hazard guarding. Risky game could get award or big disappointing. The last two (par 4 and par 5) are interesting and can reward for clever and good game, but also punish for so much risk or incorrect strategy. The last par 5 allows long hitters reach green with their second shots with a chance for a birdie or an eagle depends on in lucky bounce and position of pin. Undoubtedly, in any case, it is a pleasure to return to the clubhouse for glass of cold beer with a snack. Good service provided here from arriving to leaving with friendly and helpful staff. Prices definitely one of the best in Cyprus especially in low season and Sundays.

I‘m sure every golf course rating is always a subject with a lot of subjectivity, depending on various criteria. My rating depends on following criteria: course complexity or challenging, fields condition (especially greens & fairways), service (only what you can get: buggie, club rent, condition of clubs, the amount of choice and etc. except staff and other subjective things that depends on your or staff mood), surrounding views or pleasure to the eyes and definitely value for the price. All criteries will be rating from 1 to 5 stars. Secret Valley golf club my personal opinion is the best in Cyprus and gets:

1. Challenging - 5*

2. Condition - 4* +

3. Service - 5*

4. Surroundings - 4* +

5. Value for the price - 5*

Actually could be improved some of the greens, but I hope it‘s question of time...they goes to the right direction. It's really attractive and interesting to play golf course.

Secret Valley is a really fun course and it's in excellent condition. We played off the White Tees - about 6000 yards - and it's about 6200 from the back tees. The location is spectacular, laid out in a valley, with a classic Out/In configuration. There are some beautiful drives from elevated tees and some really pretty Par 3s. The greens were in excellent condition - fast and true. Good value at 45 euros for 18 holes, a buggy and use of the practice range. I'll be back - tomorrow!

The redesign of Secret Valley has turned a pleasant holiday track into a must-play. Having visited Cyprus recently (also played Elea and Aphrodite Hills) I must say this was my favorite of the three. It may be short (5700 yds from the backs) but it’s great fun and very engaging.

Basically a good holiday layout spoilt by poor levels of maintenance. Not a long course but shot placement required particularly off the tee where trouble awaits on both sides of the fairway. Sadly a potentially playable course is spoilt by its condition, as with other contributors we found heavily sanded greens and poorly maintained bunkers, a pity because it could be really pleasant to play. Another potential problem for some is that almost everywhere on the course you will find "beware of snakes" signs, if like me you are scared witless by the little sliders then you don't go in looking for a ball as the vipers on the course are reportedly very venomous.

A beautiful setting to a golf course that i would generously describe as mediocre. Whilst the greenkeeping team are not keeping things green they do appear to have plenty of sand available from the local beaches. Unfortunately the sand is being placed on the greens (rather than in the bunkers) as a substitute for grass. As my first putt of the day pulled up in sand some 15 feet short of the hole (on what began as an 18 foot putt) I knew this round would be tricky. There are a couple of average holes amongst the poor ones but overall the condition was such that I won’t be rushing back.

Fantastic location, a very scenic course with some excellent holes, but I agree the greens were very average, at least when I visited. Many of them had large sandy patches on them covering bare earth beneath, and consequently the gloss was rather taken off my round. That said, Secret Valley has the potential to be a really good venue, and at 40 Euros it is well worth a visit.