More than 50 years ago, the renowned course architect Donald Harradine was commissioned to design Greece’s first 18-hole course in the posh Athens suburb of Glyfada. In the early 1970s, Harradine designed two more classy courses on Rhodes and on Corfu. But, somehow, golf never really took off in Greece in the same way as it did in Spain, Portugal – or the UAE. Grandiose plans for 25 new courses by 2005 failed, and hopes of a new dawn for the Glyfada greens faded even before the financial crisis of 2008. That once-grand course is in need of tender loving care. So is the Rodos Golf Club’s Afandou course, which it bravely bills as “the most complete golf club resort in the Mediterranean” – a claim that will surprise anyone who has played the greens of Portugal or Spain. The Corfu Golf Club’s Ropa Valley course, also designed by Harradine, has fared a bit better. It emerged last year from a three-year renovation programme with a new irrigation system and deeper, sandier bunkers.
All three of these veteran venues have a loyal local following, but if you’re looking for world-class golf in Greece, there are better options. On the northern mainland, two new courses are planned at the Porto Carras Golf and Country Club, and its Olive Grove course deserves to be better known. On Greece’s largest island, the Crete Golf Club has acquired an international following. At Costa Navarino, on the Ionian coast, the greens of The Dunes and The Bay have set a new benchmark for golf in Greece. And a Jack Nicklaus signature course is to be built as part of the new Chedi resort at Kilada Hills on the Argolic Gulf.
Meanwhile, Cyprus is maturing as a golfer’s paradise. Claiming the longest playing season in Europe, the island has four international-class courses, all of quite recent vintage, ranging from Donald Steel’s Minthis Hills – which turns 20 in 2014 – to the Elèa Golf Club, conceived by Sir Nick Faldo and opened in 2010. The latest and biggest development is at Secret Valley, where an 18-hole course opened in September. Work starts in the spring on a second, linked 18-hole course.
GREECE
Costa Navarino (www.costanavarino.com)
I challenge you to find a golf resort that matches Costa Navarino’s unique mix of luxury accommodation, fabulous location and superb greens. At Greece’s newest resort, two signature golf courses spread over 130 hectares of rolling hillsides, close to a kilometre-long stretch of virtually private beach. Designed by Bernhard Langer, The Dunes is a monster par-72 course, almost 6,200 metres long from its back tees. Opened in 2011, the nearby Bay Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones II, is a meandering all-level course set among canyons and olive groves, where the view of Navarino Bay can be literally dazzling. Both are managed by Troon Golf, and complemented by two luxury hotels, the Romanos and The Westin Resort.
Where is it?
On the west coast, about 270km south-west of Athens; driving time (mostly on motorways) three to four hours. Or fly in by private air charter to Kalamata International Airport, about 20km from the resort.
Staying there
Five nights at the five-star Westin Resort, Costa Navarino, including three rounds of golf, start at £475 (Dh2,854) per person from www.golfbreaks.com.
Off the course
All the land and watersports (including sailing packages) you could wish for are within the resort. Ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Games, is within day-trip distance. There are more ancient ruins at Pylos (practically at your doorstep) and unspoilt Messini. A few kilometres away are dramatic Venetian castles at Methoni and Koroni. The Westin has a Cocoon day centre for tots and a SandCastle activity hub for older kids.
The Olive Grove at Porto Carras (www.portocarras.com)
Laid out in 1974 as a nine-holer, the Olive Grove course was extended to 18 holes in 2002/03. It’s billed as a course for all levels – sloping fairways keep things interesting, but those in search of a challenge may find it a tad bland. When the course was extended, its balding turf was replaced with salt-resistant paspalum grass, solving the irrigation problems that challenge all Greek green-keepers in the summer. Some would say it makes for a springier, slightly slower surface, but that’s no bad thing compared to the unforgiving aridity before its facelift. Watch out for the three lakes that lurk at the back nine.
Where is it?
The Olive Grove is part of the Porto Carras Grand Resort, 110km (75 minutes) east of Thessaloniki’s Macedonia International Airport.
Staying there
Double rooms at the Porto Carras Meliton or the Porto Carras Sithonia, both part of the same resort and both five-star, start at €71 (Dh354).
Off the course
Long sandy beaches, plenty of watersports from the resort’s own marina, but not a lot in the way of sightseeing or off-site dining.
Crete Golf Club (www.crete-golf.com)
Crete has scenery that puts other islands in the shade, and the velvety greens laid out at the Crete Golf Club by Bob Hunt are in dramatic contrast with the rugged massif of Dikti, to the south. This is a par-70 mountain course, carved out of Cretan hillsides, and, with a slope index of 124 to 145, it can be wickedly swift. You’ll need at least a 9.3 handicap to play off the white, yellow or blue tees, but the gold fairway tees are open to players with a handicap of 37 to 54.
Where is it?
In the foothills, 24km (25 minutes) east of Heraklion International Airport.
Staying there
The five-star Grecotel Amirandes Hotel (www.amirandes.com) is on the coast about 15 minutes away. Rooms and suites have private pools, there’s a private beach, and the hotel has its own golf academy. Doubles start at €204 (Dh1,018).
Off the course
Water sports and tennis at Amirandes. In Heraklion, don’t miss the ruins of ancient Knossos and an outstanding archaeological museum.
CYPRUS
Aphrodite Hills (www.aphroditehills.com)
If you’re looking for challenging golf and excellent on-site accommodation in a lush setting, look no further. On the course, wide fairways carve their way through olive groves and water features. Some holes perch on the very edge of the canyon that cuts the course in two, with the nerve-wracking third offering perhaps the most thrilling shot. The course is integrated with the InterContinental Aphrodite Hills Resort Hotel, with its vast pool and upscale dining.
Where is it?
Overlooking the sea, just inland from the main coast highway, 20km west of Paphos and 107km east of Larnaca.
Staying there
The InterContinental Aphrodite Hills Resort offers seven-day packages including accommodation and four rounds of golf from approximately €1,300 (Dh6,486).
Off the course
The village-style resort offers tennis courts and a tennis academy. There’s a vast open-air pool and a luxury spa, plus nightlife, shopping, ancient tombs and temples and watersports at Paphos. There are regular shuttles to the hotel’s two beaches – one just a couple of minutes from the hotel, the other 15km away.
Eléa Estate Golf Club (www.eleaestate.com)
Sir Nick Faldo’s baby turns four this year and goes from strength to strength. This has to be one of the Med’s loveliest courses, with olive and carob groves, scented Mediterranean shrubs in the rough, and greens that lip right down to the sea. It will be even more attractive when its planned 40-room on-site hotel and spa is complete. In the meantime, enjoy the speedy, par 71 of this formidable course. The seaside location means wind can add to the challenge, especially in the afternoon.
Where is it?
About 15km inland from Paphos.
Staying there
Until the Eléa’s own boutique hotel is completed, there are plenty of fabulous places to stay in Paphos, just about 10 to 15 minutes away. The Almyra (see below) should satisfy.
Off the course
Seven bars and restaurants on-site (including the Halfway House, midway round the course) and all the attractions of Paphos at your doorstep.
Cyprus Golf Resorts (www.cyprusgolf.com and www.minthishills.com)
Cyprus Golf Resorts boasts the newest and oldest fairways in Cyprus. The management company introduced the game to the island 20 years ago at Minthis Hills, and the opening of the new Tony Jacklin-inspired Secret Valley course last September has taken golf here to new levels. At 5,989 metres, Secret Valley is eminently walkable (at least in cooler weather – regulars have already nicknamed one steeper section “Cardiac Hill”). The par-72 course is still maturing – the rough lives up to its name, greens are quick and, as yet, none too elastic, and narrow fairways make accuracy really essential. Watch out for bunkers, too – there are a lot of them, lurking in wait for the unwary. Overall, the new Secret Valley already stands up well to comparisons with Cyprus’s other top courses. When fully mature, it will be an even more desirable addition to the island’s golfing portfolio, and work is set to begin this spring on a second Secret Valley course. Meanwhile, the par-71, 5,843-metre Minthis Hills, laid out by Donald Steel in 1994 and recently given a facelift by Mackenzie & Ebert, is still challenging. The par-four 14th is especially tricky. The uphill 13th and 16th can be nerve-wracking, too, and there are plenty of sneaky little bunkers.
Where are they?
Secret Valley is about 15km east of Paphos. Minthis Hills is about 12km north of the resort. Larnaka International Airport is about 120km east.
Staying there
In Paphos, The Almyra (www.almyra.com) is a luxury cocoon with four restaurants, four pools and a portfolio of five-star frills. Doubles from around €130 (Dh650) per night; four-night and six-night golf packages including half-board and three or five rounds available.
Off the course
Loads of Roman, Hellenic and medieval fortresses nearby at Paphos, Kourion and Kolossi. Plenty of nightlife and shopping in Paphos and Limassol. Scuba diving and other watersports from Paphos, and in winter, you can get in a day’s skiing on the slopes of Troodos, about 40km away.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
Scotland 59 (Tries: Hastings (2), G Horne (3), Turner, Seymour, Barclay, Kinghorn, McInally; Cons: Hastings 8)
Russia 0
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Where to buy art books in the UAE
There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.
In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show.
In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.
In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Motori Profile
Date started: March 2020
Co-founder/CEO: Ahmed Eissa
Based: UAE, Abu Dhabi
Sector: Insurance Sector
Size: 50 full-time employees (Inside and Outside UAE)
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Safe City Group
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Formula One top 10 drivers' standings after Japan
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 306
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 234
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 192
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 148
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 111
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 82
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 65
9. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 48
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault 34
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
TWISTERS
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos
Rating: 2.5/5
BAD%20BOYS%3A%20RIDE%20OR%20DIE
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How green is the expo nursery?
Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery
An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo
Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery
Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape
The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides
All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality
Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country
Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow
Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site
Green waste is recycled as compost
Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs
Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers
About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer
Main themes of expo is ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.
Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The%20specs
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Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
