Why Not Try A Spot of Golf in Cyprus?

Although the art of golf first reached the shores of Cyprus quite a few decades ago with the opening of the first course within the British Sovereign Base at Akrotiri, it was the opening of the Tsada Golf Course in 1994 which truly marks the beginning of the games spread across Aphrodites Isle.

Since those days, golf in Cyprus has experienced a veritable explosion in popularity especially due to the growing influx of immigrants and holidaymakers from the UK.

Now, just 13 years after Tsadas opening, Cyprus already features three additional courses (not including those in the British bases), with another eleven to fourteen being constructed during the coming 3 to 5 years in a concerted effort to put the Republic of Cyprus firmly on the international golfing map.

What about the Republics existing golf courses?

The Aphrodite Hills Golf and Country Club:

Located near the village of Kouklia, about halfway between Limassol and Paphos, this spectacular complex is currently considered to be the jewel in the crown of golf in Cyprus. This 6269 metres spectacular course is located on two plateaux separated by a ravine running down to the nearby coast, plays to a par 70/71 and offers some truly spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea.

The Secret Valley Golf and Country Club:

First opened in 1996, Secret Valley was the second golf course to be opened in Cyprus. As the name implies, it is located in a secluded little valley, so close to Aphrodite Hills that some of Aphrodite Hills golf properties actually overlook the Secret Valley course. This particular venue is currently undergoing a major expansion programme which is set to make it one of the finest golf resorts in the Mediterranean, but more of these plans shortly.

Tsada Golf Course:

Cyprus original golf course is still considered by many to provide the best playing experience of any course on the island. Set at an altitude of around 500 metres above sea level in the hills above Paphos, Tsada is never without a cooling breeze. Its elevation also puts it well above the coastal humidity zone, so it offers a pleasant playing experience, even in the heat of the Cypriot summer.

Vikla Golf Course:

Unlike the Republics three other courses; Vikla is not located in the Paphos area. Instead it is set in the hills above Limassol, just a few miles north-east of the town. Originally designed as a 9-hole course, Vikla was later extended and now offers a decidedly family-orientated playing experience. With no handicap certificate required, this course provides an ideal starting point for novice golfers.

But what of the new golf courses in Cyprus?

Some time ago, the Cypriot government, in association with the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO), declared its unswerving commitment to firmly establish Cyprus place on the international golfing scene by issuing licences for the construction of a further eleven golf courses across the island.

Whilst there can be no doubt that all of these courses will be well designed and thought out, there are nevertheless two venues which have attracted more attention from golfers (and indeed overseas homebuyers) than any of the others.

Secret Valley:

With the addition of a further three courses to the existing facility, this is easily the most ambitious and luxurious golf development in Cyprus and, once finished will see the resort rivalling such exclusive destinations as Vale dos Lobos, Sun City and La Manga.

But golf courses are not the only thing being constructed at Secret Valley. In addition, the resort will also include a large number of highly exclusive golf properties, a retail village, leisure & fitness centre, football & tennis academies, two 5-star hotels, a seafront entertainment & water sports complex and 500 metres of manmade beach.

There is no question that, once works have been completed, the Secret Valley Golf and Country Club will become the Jewel in the Crown of golf in Cyprus, if not the entire Mediterranean.

Larnaca Golf Course and Country Club:

Whilst not as grand a plan as Secret Valley, the Larnaca golf course has nevertheless attracted an awful lot of attention, simply because it is set to become the first 18-hole grass course in the islands east. Set just outside the small village of Tersefanou near Larnaca, this course will form the heart of a large scale leisure and residential golf complex, including hotels, shops, bars, restaurants and more which is sure to turn it into a main attraction for the Larnaca area.

If, like many avid golfers, you are tired of the rain, floods, fog and the generally damp playing environment found in the UK, you might want to consider taking a look at Cyprus. With an average 326 days of sunshine each year, there is certainly no shortage of opportunities to play its courses, both current and future.

As an avid golfer, Brian Rettendon has been living in Cyprus since 2001. Since 2005, he has been working as a sales manager for Aphrodite property Sales, the 100% independent Cyprus property specialist. To find out more about Golf in Cyprus or any of the courses featured in this article, please visit the Aphrodite property Sales website.

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5 Essential Golf Swing Basics - Cut 7-10 Strokes By Mastering The Basic Golf Swing Secrets

Golf is one of the most technical sports in terms of player technique. However, it isn't as complicated as some players make it out to be. In fact, in order to improve your game, all you have to do is learn and implement the basics correctly.

As any experienced golfer will tell you, the key to having the lowest score in golf is to get your golf swing right. Once you have a decent golf swing, you can hit the ball in whichever direction and for whatever distance you want 8 times out of 10. If you've ever marveled at how easily great golfers like Tiger woods or Vijay Singh get the golf ball to do their bidding, then you should probably know that these players first spent years perfecting their golf swing basics to reach the top of their game.

Here is a brief look at the important golf swing basics:

Golf swing Basic #1:

The golf swing begins at the time before you are about to tee off. This is where a lot of amateur golfers lose focus and end up hitting the ball into the pond or woods instead of the fairway. Here, it is important to make a mental map in your head and chart out a specific area where you would like for the golf ball to land and concentrate on hitting it there. Once you do this, you should be able to hit your target without much problem. The key to this is mental focus.

Golf Swing Basic #2:

Next, you need to take care of how well you grip the handle of your golf club. If your grip is too relaxed you are likely to end up slicing the ball and if you grip the club handle too tight, you will probably hook the shot instead of hitting it where you want to. The solution is to find the right grip level that you are comfortable with before the back-swing. Speaking of which, another important golf swing basic is the back-swing.

Golf Swing Basic #3:

It is a common mistake for rookie golfers to raise the club somewhat casually during the back-swing. If you make this error, it means that you won't be able to hit the ball very far. This is because, the downswing is where, as you begin to twist your body and energy from your muscles is stored as potential energy, which is then converted into kinetic energy during the downswing and all that energy is transferred to the golf ball at the point of impact. To put it simply, you need to be like a tightly wound up spring in order to generate enough momentum and the best way to achieve that is by executing the back-swing in one motion moving only your arms and not your hands or wrists!

Golf Swing Basic #4:

After the back-swing comes the all important downswing. The secret to getting this right is to make sure that you have a smooth and gradual back-swing to begin with and then bring down the head of the club at least 30-35% faster than the speed of your back-swing.

Golf Swing Basic #5:

One of the most important basics for a good swing is the pivot movement during the back-swing. For right-handers, it is pertinent to get the left shoulder and hips properly into correct alignment while transferring weight slightly to the inside of the right foot. At the same time, it's equally important to keep this movement as natural as possible without overdoing it.

To conclude, apart from the above-mentioned golf swing basics, the best way to start a day of golf is to step up to the tee with a positive mindset, since a nervous golfer is a poor golfer. So just be confident, stick to the basics and you should comfortably find your way around the golf course better than most!

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Warm-up for Soccer Training and GamesTo improve your soccer coaching skills, youve got to make sure your players give their bodies the chance to perform at their best. That means sensible warm-ups and cool-down, before and after a match or a soccer training session of any kind.

Soccer is a demanding physical game. So providing encouragement and instruction and making sure your players do adequate physical preparation is one of the most important responsibilities in soccer coaching.

The warm up is a process to increase awareness, improve co-ordination, improve elasticity and contractibility of muscles, and increase the efficiency of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

Soccer training and blood flow to muscles

In a body at rest, the blood flow to the muscles is comparatively low, and the majority of the small blood vessels (capillaries) supplying them are closed. When soccer training or playing begins, the blood flow in the exercising muscles increases markedly, as the capillaries open.

At rest, 15-20% of the blood flow supplies muscles, while after 10-12 minutes of all-round exercise, the percentage of blood flow supplying the muscles rises to 70-75%. A muscle can only achieve maximum performance when all its blood vessels are functional.Physical work increases the energy output and temperature of the muscle, this in turn leads to improved co-ordination with less likelihood of injury.

A warm-up therefore prepares the body by:

raising muscle temperature towards an optimum level for performance

enabling metabolic processes in cells to proceed at higher rates

and allowing nerve messages to travel faster

Why warm-up is important in soccer coaching

Reasons for conducting a thorough warm-up prior to soccer training and games include the following:

To increase blood flow to muscular tissue

To increase muscle temperature

To reduce muscle tightness

To elevate body temperature

To stimulate reflex activity related to balance and co-ordination

To achieve full joint mobility in the specific joints involved in the activity

To achieve full soft tissue extensibility muscles, tendons, ligaments

To enhance the functioning of the neuromuscular system

To prepare the cardiovascular and respiratory systems

To prepare the player psychologically for the coming activity

To familiarize themselves with the environmental conditions

Warm-ups should be intense enough to increase the body temperature, the effects of which will ultimately wear off depending upon its intensity and specificity. The procedure should begin with movements of the large muscle groups, as these are the main areas to which blood is redistributed. These include the following areas:

Back lower leg: gastrocnemius and soleus

Front lower leg: peroneals (shin)

Front thigh: quadriceps

Back thigh: hamstrings

Inner thigh: adductors

Back: erector spinae

Trunk: abdominal muscles

Shoulders and chest: deltoids and pectorials

Specialized soccer exercises

After the general warm-up players can begin more specialized exercises including mobilization of the joints and dynamic movements of muscles, particularly of the lower extremity. The final stage of a warm-up concentrates on technique, and/or practicing a specific movement.

Whether warm-ups are performed with or without a ball depends entirely upon the philosophy adopted by the coach. This part of the soccer training session does provide an opportunity to work on specific technical skills in conjunction with mobility work and may also provide a greater mental and neurological stimulus for the players. In soccer coaching generally a lack or improper use of a warm-up and a cool-down is a risk factor for lower extremity overuse muscular injuries, especially during running.

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