Leisure Activities
Golfing
Golf in North Cyprus started in 1926 in the
village of Yesilyurt near Lefke by the Cyprus Mining
Corporation. Quietly growing, and quietly attracting overseas
golfers, this small course has had a big significance in a land
suffering a sports embargo.
Not many people even know of the club's
existence in the Lefke area, and those who do may have only
found out from reading articles in the local press. Nonetheless
the club has over 1000 members, coming mainly from North Cyprus,
Turkey, the UK and Croatia
If you prefer the cooling
sea breezes on the coast to accompany your golfing in North
Cyprus, then the CMC
golf club is for you. The course features 11 holes,
looped to give a testing 18 hole course with a total par of 72
and a total distance of 5,768 yards. There are enough features
to challenge the experienced golfer as well as the novice,
especially on the seaside holes, where you will have a cooling
breeze even on the hottest of days. In places, greens are
replaced with browns, a mixture of sand and oil that provides a
good surface for putting. The course is open every day, a
nominal green fee is payable, and you can hire clubs.
The course is open
every day, a nominal green fee is payable, and you can hire
clubs. You will not need special clothes except for special
shoes to protect the grass. However jeans and T-shirts are not
permitted on the course.
A warm welcome is assured to all guests, and
the best days to meet and play with the local members are
Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The CMC golf course is
watered from a nearby dam, so it does not affect the
drinking water stocks in Northern Cyprus.
The new
Korineum Esentepe Golf and Country Club is the
first 18 hole international standard
golf
course in Northern Cyprus, and boasts the
usual range of features, including greens, sand bunkers and
water hazards. The 6,600 yards-long course is set amongst
natural greenery and scenery, including mature trees and shrubs,
so it feels like a long-established golf course in North Cyprus,
not a new and soulless one. The greens are watered from two
man-made reservoirs, which again reduces the environmental impact on the
North Cyprus water reserves.
You can practice your swing
at the 30 bay driving range, which is a spacious 295m x 100m, or
take a lesson from the golf academy (with three holes of its
own). After all that exercise, you can relax at the 19th hole in
the clubhouse with a cooling drink or enjoy a meal at the
200-seat restaurant. Golf carts are available for those who
prefer to ride rather than walk on their round of
golf
in North Cyprus.
The
excellent Cyprus climate means that keen golfers
can play all year round. From November to March the climate is
cool and ideal for golf, so long as you don’t mind the
occasional rain shower. By May, the midday sun means you should
opt for early tee times to avoid the heat, or come in September
and October, which offer near ideal playing conditions.
Paintball
In less than a decade, the
sport of paintball has become one of the world's most exciting
outdoor participation sports. Paintball is played in over two
dozen countries by millions of men and women of all ages, races
and lifestyles. Paintball is a combination of the childhood
games of "Tag" and "Hide and Seek", but much more challenging
and sophisticated. Although there are many different styles of
games, typically a group of players will divide into two teams
to play "Capture the Flag". The object of the game is to capture
the opposing team's flag while preventing them from capturing
your own.
Paintball is played by
people from all professions and lifestyles. It is a sport where
men and women compete equally, and where age is not dominated by
youth. Physical size and strength are not nearly as important as
cunning and determination. Being able to think quickly and
decisively and good sportsmanship is what makes you a winner.
Above all, paintball is fun. It's a chance to relax from your
day-to-day responsibilities and rekindle your spirit of
adventure.
Go-Karting
The few karting circuits
have become usual stops for the fans of the sport in recent
years. Professionals, as well as beginners, frequent karting
circuits in North Cyprus. There are two major Karting circuits
on North Cyprus, both close to Nicosia, the Cemsa sporting
centre and the Zet karting circuit. The ZET International Karting Circuit,
which exceeds the highest European standards and has one of the
best racing surfaces in the region, has become a frequent stop
for the fans of the sport since its opening in 2000. This
remarkable structure which is un-matched even in Europe and is
expected to contribute immensely to the Karting sport, provides
drivers with 5 different racing distances, namely 300, 600, 900,
1100 and 1200 meters. The asphalt platform is 7 meters wide and
has sand and earth barriers.
Paragliding
The coastal mountain range
of North Cyprus offers a fantastic opportunity for paragliding.
Soar like a bird, taking off at 2000 ft from the stunning
Kyrenia Mountains down to the coast of North Cyprus. Paragliding
in North Cyprus is the way all paragliding should be: exciting,
uncrowded and remarkably affordable.
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