A golf course designed by Sir Nick Faldo will be officially opened in Paphos tomorrow by the former champion.

Elea golf club is situated in the east of the Paphos district, some eight kilometres from Paphos airport, and is being touted as ‘Nick Faldos Mediterranean masterpiece.’

The golf course is the centerpiece of Elea Estates, a new development that offers “premium villas and apartments and a boutique hotel”.

The Par 71 course is located in a prime position overlooking the Mediterranean and is surrounded by carob and olive trees. The project has been ecologically designed, and the company say that wildlife, along with native flora and fauna are flourishing in the protected environment.

Faldo said: “This golf course certainly has the potential to play a pivotal role in establishing this part of the world as a leading European golf destination. When we designed the golf course at Elea golf club we decided to put the emphasis on thoughtful rather than big hitting golf and there are plenty of strategic riddles for the golfer to explore and unravel over all 18 holes.”

At the tender age of 17, Faldo was a successful British amateur golfer and three years later he was the youngest player ever to qualify for the Ryder Cup.

In his career, spanning three decades, he had won six Major championships, more than 40 tournaments and enjoyed 98 weeks as the world’s number one golfer.

Hailed as the most successful golfer to come out of the UK, Faldo now heads Faldo Enterprises, which umbrellas an impressive number of companies, including world-renowned golf course design company, Faldo Design, which has designed the Paphos course.

Golfing enthusiasts are already hailing the Elea course as a success.

Ross Robertson is the director of golf operations for Elea, and he says his approach to the business is something new.

“For too long the International golf business has been focused on turning over numbers. At Elea we intend to change that. We want everyone, whether a golfer or non-golfer to experience a real club where everyone is welcomed and everyone can feel at home.”

Faldo currently has more than fifty global projects on six continents under his wing and the new course in Paphos is hoping to attract golfers from Europe and all over the world.

Elea golf club will only offer a limited number of annual memberships to locals and a ‘selection’ process will apply.

Robertson said: “We have a responsibility to serve the community of Cyprus as well as attracting visitors from overseas.”