It was funny to read about the Secret Valley Golf Club (Cyprus; part of the Bank of Cyprus’ investment portfolio) that it is one of the most popular golf courses in Cyprus.
Not so far away from the Secret Valley Golf Club we can find much more sophisticated and integrated golf resorts (e.g. Eléa Estate: luxury and garden villas, boutique hotel, full concierge, etc; Aphrodite Hills Golf Course: residences, apartments, 5 restaurants, 2 pubs, spa; Cyprus Best Golf Course in 2016 by World Golf Awards; Minthis Hills).
Recently Troon has been selected to provide full management services to amplify the Secret Valley Golf Club.
The Secret Valley Golf Club has got only one, 18-hole golf course. The Tony Jacklin Signature Championship Course is a par-71, 5400-meter long golf course. I don’t think the Tony Jacklin brand name is convincing enough to attract more golf tourists (vs. Cabell Robinson, Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones, Tom Doak, Pete Dye, Lobb & Partners etc.).
It could be more attractive if they could become a golf complex like Gloria Golf Club in Belek, Tukey where golfers can play on 45 holes.
The golf club has not got a hotel or residential real estates and communities (villas, apartments) nor a big variety of restaurants and pubs. This could be a growing area for the Secret Valley Golf Club.
Here is the bottom line:
- To become a real competitor for Turkish golf resorts, Bank of Cyprus / Secret Valley Golf Club must invest in a hotel, residential real estates and golf course development.
- In general, Cyprian golf clubs need state support to be able to grow and improve the island’s image. They need more than two-day events for major golf tour operators from leading golf countries.
- Without such investments, Troon will not be able to do miracles and bring down the stars.
- What I do not see also is that how they want to compete against Turkish (especially the Belek golf cluster) and Egyptian golf resorts.
