Golfers seeking warm breaks in the east Mediterranean have been turning to Cyprus for courses in stunning and relaxing settings.

Cyprus has only recently begun to make its way in the golf holiday market but is fast becoming a favourite with many travellers.

This is due to an improvement in facilities and, of course, its superb all-year round climate.Cyprus offers golfers challenging world class championship courses, top quality hotels and warm hospitality.

The island now boasts three championship courses –with plans for 11 more. They are situated in the south west of the island, close to the popular resort of Paphos.

Aphrodite Hills is an exceptional golf, leisure and residential resort standing in a magnificent setting close to Paphos airport.

It is rightly regarded as among the most exclusive, 5-star golf and leisure resort in the eastern Mediterranean.At the heart of this prestigious award-winning resort is the acclaimed 18-hole golf course designed by Cabell Robinson.

The superb course has been open since October 2002 and the condition belies its tender age.

The layout is tremendous and it is difficult to pick out any hole that is remotely weak or uninteresting.

This course will quickly earn the reputation as one of Europe’s finest. The facilities are first-class – clubhouse, bar and practice facilities all in keeping with the rest of this exceptional golf village complex.

Five years in the making, the challenging fairways cut a swathe through lakes, olive and carob trees.

The spectacular par-3 7th hole plays steeply downhill with a 30m drop across a ravine, requiring careful club selection to a large undulating green.

The luxurious Intercontinental Resort Hotel opened its doors in March 2005 and is at the heart of the resort. It is the perfect getaway for those wanting to just relax as well as sports enthusiasts looking to improve their golf swing or tennis backhand.

Elsewhere, the aptly-named Secret Valley Golf Course is tucked away in a valley just 18 kilometres east of Paphos near “Petra tou Romiou,” the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite, the mythical goddess of love.

The front nine offers four nice holes for warming up, two birdie opportunities and an easy dogleg. The back nine plays longer than the first nine.

Secret Valley started operation in September 1996. At present there is one 18-hole course and a modern clubhouse with good facilities but the whole site is being expanded to include a second 18-hole course, as well as a new clubhouse and hotel.

Located 20 minutes from the town of Paphos, Minthis Hills Golf Club – formerly Tsada Golf Club – offers 18 holes of superb championship golf set in the grounds of a 12th century monastery.

Designed by Donald Steel, this was the first grass course to be built in Cyprus in 1994. The course, designed in two loops of nine, reveals the subtle hand of a man who always allows a course to blend into its natural surroundings.

Minthis Hills has a sort of rustic feel to it, with fairways that are more natural than manicured running through fruit orchards and vineyards. It’s a pleasant course where accuracy is more important than length although the sloping fairways mean you’ll play precious few shots off a flat surface.

Some fairways play havoc with even the straightest of drives but take an iron off the tee, play with the slopes and you’ll have a lot of fun.

Cypriot property developer Pafilia is currently undergoing a huge development programme at Minthis Hills. They are merging traditional Cypriot architecture with cutting-edge design.

Golfers are spoilt for choice when it comes to holidays in Europe. I can’t help thinking they will be missing out if they don’t pay a visit to Cyprus soon.

APHRODITE HILLS GOLF RESORT

Green fee for 18 holes (includes buggy): 150 euros (until the end of May and from September 16-November 30); 105 euros (from June 1-September 15).

Green fee for 9 holes (includes buggy): 78 euros (until the end of May and from September 16-November 30); 57 euros (from June 1-September 15.

Tel: +357 26 828 200 or go to www.aphroditehills.com

SECRET VALLEY GOLF CLUB

Green fee for 18 holes: 65 euros (until the end of May and from September 14-October 31); 48 euros (from May 11-September 13)

Tel: +357 26 274000/2,

E-mail secretvalley@spidernet.com.cy or go to www.cyprusgolf.com

MINTHIS HILLS GOLF CLUB

Green fee for 18 holes: 65 euros (until the end of May and from September 14-October 31); 48 euros (from May 11-September 13)

Tel: +357 26 642774/5, e-mail golfers2@cytanet.com.cy or go to www.cyprusgolf.com

Columbia Beach Hotel & Resort (Cyprus) Tel: +357 25 833 000 or go to www.columbia-hotels.com

Aphrodite Hills Resort Hotel

Tel: +357 26 829 000 or visit www.intercontinental.com/aphrodite

Alexander The Great Beach Hotel, Paphos

Tel: +357 26 244 000

Cyprus Tourism Organisation (London) Tel: +44 (0) 207 569 8822 or visit www.visitcyprus.com

Mike Rees travelled to Cyprus as a guest of Hellas Golf whose aim is to promote golf, mainly in Greece and Cyprus. Its services include promoting courses, hotels and resorts. Tel: 020 7193 4390 or go to www.hellasgolf.co.uk