Five things to know ahead of the inaugural Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Open
50th Country visited by European Tour
This week marks a significant milestone as Cyprus becomes the 50th country visited by the European Tour in its 48-year history.
The location of this week’s venue is Aphrodite Hills, situated in Paphos, and is the first ever leisure and golf development of its kind in the country. Its 18-hole championship golf course is just one of six courses across the entire nation.
A new challenge awaits
European Tour stars will experience a new test over the award-winning Aphrodite Hills at both this week’s Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Open and next week’s Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Showdown.
The course itself, a 6,956-yard par 71, was officially opened in 2002, and was designed by acclaimed architect Cabell Robinson.
With the backdrop of the Mediterranean and built on two plateaux separated by a dramatic ravine, the course is a visual spectacle. One of the most striking holes is the par three seventh, where players have to navigate over a 140-yard gorge.
There are also several unique parts of the course’s landscape which have been retained, including an 18th century kiln on the first fairway and an ancient olive press on the eighth fairway.
Inside the field
Laurie Canter will head to Cyprus after a runner-up finish at last week’s Italian Open – his third top ten and second runner-up since the season restarted in July.
He’s joined in the field by no less than 20 players who have claimed European Tour victories in the last two seasons, including compatriots Andy Sullivan and Sam Horsfield – who have both earned titles in the past couple of months.
Thomas Detry, who finished as the runner-up behind Horsfield on two occasions this year, is making his first start since the BMW PGA Championship, and is the highest ranked player on the Race to Dubai in the field this week.
The legend of Aphrodite Hills
The resort and its surrounding area holds several connections to both ancient mythology and history, and was built in the vicinity of three important archaeological sites – the Rantidi Forest, the plateau of Hadjiabdoulla, and the man-made mount of Laona.
With reference to the Greek Goddess of Love, Aphrodite Hills is aptly named after the actual Aphrodite’s Hill in Ancient mythology. It’s unique location in Kouklia overlooks her birthplace (where she emerged from the sea), and Rantidi Forest (where the resort is located) is where Aphrodite would spend most of her time hunting with the eternally youthful Adonis, who was the deity of plans and rebirth. When the site was excavated, thousands of terracotta statue fragments were recovered, as well as more than 200 inscriptions, all of which reflect the legend of Adonis and Aphrodite.
A new event and a new trophy
The inaugural Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Open will see its first winner crowned on Sunday, and the champion will be rewarded with the new perpetual trophy – a bespoke design created by Asprey.
Commissioned by International Sports Management (ISM) and the European Tour, the perpetual trophy took 85 hours to complete and was expertly crafted by master silversmiths in the Asprey workshops, housed above the Mayfair store in Asprey’s New Bond Street. Asprey also produced the Harry Vardon Trophy, awarded to the winner of the season-long Race to Dubai, and The Ryder Cup.
The perpetual trophy features specialist hand engraved detail highlighting its Cypriot identity with the pierced-out outline of the island itself and olive branches, taking Asprey’s Master Engraver two days to complete. The gold-plated interior reflecting through the piercing to give added definition to the 65cm tall trophy, which stands proudly on a hand-carved wood base.
