Early October, EGA General Secretary, Richard Heath, spent a few days with the Cyprus Golf Federation President, Demetris Papapetrou, General Secretary, Nick Rossides and Treasurer, Mathias Papapetrou, to attend meetings with the Cyprus Olympic Committee and the Cyprus Sports Organisation. A further meeting with the Ministry of Education and Culture was cancelled owing to an unexpected parliamentary meeting.
The golfing delegates made their case for increasing golf facilities in the Nicosia region. Not least of all, the CGF's participation and eighth position in the European Men's Team Shield illustrated their commitment. Golf Europe's publication, What is Golf?, will also assist the CGF to help their government officials better understand golf's community benefits and to break down some of the concerns often associated with the sport.
The delegates then set-off to Paphos, where the majority of Cyprus' golf courses are located. There, they met with CGF Vice-President, Stelios Patsalides, who is also manager of the Minthis Hills GC. The courses in the region are oriented towards tourism and the delegates met with all of the local managers to engage them in the benefits of hosting EGA events.
The region offers great golfing experiences, with courses emulating those resorts found in the US arid regions, but with coastal hotels nearby.
Photo from left: EGA General Secretary, Richard Heath, CGF General Secretary, Nick Rossides, Cyprus NOC President, Constantinos Michaelides, and CGF President, Demetris Papapetrou and the NOC HQ in Nicosia.