Episkopi · Cyprus
The Joint Services Golf Club Episkopi JSGC(E) has a unique, informal history tied directly to the presence of the British military in Cyprus following World War II. Long before commercial golf resorts existed on the island, JSGC(E) served as one of the few places to play the sport.
Timeline & Origins
Pre-1955
Before the Ministry of Defence (MOD) bought the land or built the Episkopi tunnel, the area was owned by the Houry family, who used the beachside pastures for grazing horses. Avid golf fans stationed at the garrison would walk down a cliff path behind the Officers' Mess just to hit balls into the open fields.
They walked down a cliff path behind the Officers' Mess just to hit balls into the open fields.
1955
When the Episkopi tunnel was completed in 1955, a Roman Catholic Padre — who was a passionate golfer — realised the coastal land near Tunnel Beach would make a perfect golf course. He convinced the military Sappers (Royal Engineers) to clear the land with their bulldozers, creating the club's very first primitive fairways.
He convinced the Royal Engineers to clear the land with their bulldozers.
The early years
In the early years, the Padre would persuade military personnel who skipped Sunday morning church services to walk down the cliff path and pick up stones from the rough fairways to make the course playable.
Miss Sunday service, pick stones off the fairway.
1960s–1980s
Along with its sister facility, the Joint Services Golf Club Dhekelia, the club offered a rare “links style” terrain in Cyprus. For decades, players adapted to the rugged Mediterranean landscape, hitting from elevated mat tees down toward “browns” (putting surfaces traditionally made of oiled sand spread over concrete or packed earth) rather than standard grass greens.
Elevated mat tees, and “browns” of oiled sand spread over concrete.
2001
The club hosted the first-ever junior open golf tournament in Cyprus, the “Cyprus Junior Open” (later renamed the Episkopi Junior Open), marking a major milestone for youth sports on the island.
Today
Today, the club has evolved into a well-manicured 18-hole par-71 course. While it now features Astroturf greens, it still preserves its historic layout winding through the scenic, cliffside valleys of Happy Valley.
The same story, told down the hole and through the Episkopi tunnel — then all eighteen holes as they play today.
Club history supplied by the committee. Corrections to episkopigolf.secretary@gmail.com.
