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North Cyprus
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Kyrenia
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Esentepe
"Esentepe"
Why Not Own Part of It?
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Esentepe Golf and Country Club
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Esentepe Golf and Country
Club
An exclusive Cyprus Today preview of the
Esentepe Golf and Country Club — to give it its correct
title — revealed all that has been going on since April
2004. Giving us the guided tour were Korman Construction
owner Dr Gunay Çerkez and golf project manager and
designer Arne van Amerongen.
Stay tuned
for updated golf course developments!
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Having only played on three
different courses in my short golf career, I took some
extra "ammo" along in the shape of Brian Young — a
golfer of some 30 years with an eight handicap —for his
personal and informed view.
Once past the
security-guarded main entrance, we were met at the newly
constructed maintenance building which is the kind of
facility you would expect to see somewhere like
Wentworth. Brian and I exchanged knowing looks; this was
a "proper" set-up, we realized, and this would be
reflected throughout, the whole project.
The
ground equipment had just arrived from the US and five
gleaming Toros mini-tractors were lined up in the
courtyard. The maintenance building will also include
accommodation for in-house staff.
Our guides
then took us for a tour of the proposed course. It is a
21-hole route, three to be used for a training academy.
A 30-bay driving range is currently under construction,
measuring 295m by 100m. The total distance of the course
from the championship tees is 6.6OO yards.
An
hotel will be constructed on a 40,000 square foot area
to the left of the course, with mountain views out over
to the Karpaz. Currently at footing stages is the hub of
the site: the clubhouse. It will include a 200-seater
restaurant, with large terracing and views of the coast,
and is cleverly positioned to view the first tee, the
ninth and tile 18th greens for maximum entertainment.
On the subject, of views, the location of the
whole complex is simply stunning, with an uninterrupted
view of Besparmak Mountain to the west, the mountain
range to the east and to the north the coast.
My
expert Brian was impressed. "Oh, this has been
beautifully laid out," was his verdict.
"There
is something here for everyone — gullies, the lake,
lofted tees, sculptured greens . . . then the driving
range and proper practice holes — it is everything I
would expect, to see at a big club back in England.
"To design a full 18-hole course and lose
virtually no trees is, in itself, amazing — I can't wait
to get out and play it."
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Mr. Van Amerongen has now
completed the layout, neatly transplanting 285 olive
trees, and losing just five in the process. The trees
and greens have been shaped and the forming of fairways
is well under way so that the vast irrigation system can
now go in. Grass seed can now go in — they have 12 tons
of it on order and expect to begin laying in six weeks.
There are four different types: one for the tees, two
for the fairways and one for the greens — the same seed
used in championship courses in southern Spain and the
Algarve. Planting this autumn will give the grass a
six-month winter period to settle in.
Contrary
to rumour, water is not a problem. Mr. Cerkez explained:
"We have use of the reservoir and because of the
topography; we can gravity-feed water down the hill to
our specially built cistern. Utilizing three pumping
stations which are interlinked, we can easily cover the
west, east and southern [side] of the course. However,
we also have coming a 500 cubic metre desalination plant
as a back-up which will give us 35 percent of our total
yearly need."
Extensive work is now being
carried out on the planned 7.500 square metres of
pathways linking the holes. Thirty-seven golf carts will
be available for those who don't want to walk.
Mr. Van Amerongen seems pleased with the way
things are coming together on this, the 16th golf course
he has designed, and he is very confident, of an April
2006 opening. His other courses have been built all over
the world, from Switzerland to Dubai. He has an HNC in
golf management gained in Scotland and, having worked
for the well-known course designer David Thomas, this
enthusiastic young man has built up a strong rapport
with Mr. Cerkez.
With the 60-strong construction
team hard at it day and night, attention is now on
recruitment of professional staff. The head green keeper
from The Grail Golfing Society joins soon to oversee the
seeding.
Talking of joining, we come to the fees
and a rumour to dispel: nothing has been agreed or set.
There may be special rates for residents, but again
there may not — it's all down to budgets. Life
membership is, naturally, being considered, Asked about
fees, Mr. Cerkez smiled and said: "I don't know yet.
What do you think?"
Stay tuned for
updated golf course developments!
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