Drawing the monastery into the landscape

Minthis Golf Club

Cyprus

Written by: Margarete Dunst

Legend has it, back in the 12th century a large wooden cross was discovered by monks, concealed in a cluster of mint bushes on a tranquil hilltop. This was considered a sign so the local monks decided to build a monastery on the spot: Stavros Tis Minthis.

Over 800 years later, the Church built the first professional grass golf course on the island and initiated Golf Tourism in Cyprus. Originally designed by legendary golf architect Donald Steel in 1994 and renovated by renowned course designers Mackenzie & Ebert, the course is a flawless example of their philosophy that golf courses should fit into the natural terrain in keeping with their local setting.

Tom Mackenzie was particularly inclined to honour the historic heritage and to focus the monastery as the integral part of his design by creating three native tree-lined avenues leading towards it. As Tom said: "Our work at Minthis has focused on making it even more beautiful by drawing the monastery into the landscape".

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