COLUMBIA SECRET VALLEY GOLF

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ENJOY OUR NEW AFTER-GOLF BEER & NACHOS SPECIAL AT THE CSVG SUMMER OPEN 2026!

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Dear Members,

 

ENJOY OUR NEW AFTER-GOLF BEER & NACHOS SPECIAL

AT THE CSVG SUMMER OPEN 2026!

 

We are launching a very special ice-cold ‘Beer & Nachos’ deal at the Clubhouse Restaurant this week,

to coincide with the CSVG Summer Open 2026 – Saturday 8.8.26.

 

Let’s meet at the Clubhouse!”

 

Columbia Secret Valley Team


<img src="https://www.secretvalleygolfresort.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/[email protected]” alt=”[email protected]” width=”266″ height=”473″ class=”gmail-CToWUd gmail-a6T” tabindex=”0″ style=”cursor: pointer; outline: 0px; margin-right: 0px;”>

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Late Withdrawal and No Show Policy

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Dear Members, 
Please take time to read the updated Late Withdrawal and No Show Policy as at 1st August 2026.

https://www.secretvalleygolfresort.net/late-withdrawal-no-show-policy

Late Withdrawal and No Show Policy


Background

With the Tournament Admissions List
published 6 days in advance, it is surprising, and frustrating for the Competition
Secretary, when there are Late Withdrawals
and No-Shows from scheduled tournaments
without a reason given. This leaves the Competition Secretary in a
compromised position with limited availability to call up reserve players or amend
the starting draw. This further impacts those players waiting for the Late-Withdrawal
or No-Show to attend and, in a Pairs format Late-Withdrawals and No-Shows
deprive fellow members of the opportunity to play and are not acceptable.

Policy

A three-stage
sanctions policy for Late-Withdrawals and No-Shows is effective from 1
August 2026.  

Withdrawal
Procedure

Players
withdrawing must contact the Competition Secretary by 12.00
on the day before the tournament to provide a reason for their
withdrawal. Illness and injury would be acceptable. Other reasons will be
considered on a case-by-case basis, however, non-contact with the Competition
Secretary for a Late-Withdrawal or No-Show will place players at the first
stage of sanctions, irrespective of whether they had a good reason or not.


It is important
that the Competition Secretary is the first point of contact as there may be
players on the reserve list waiting to be allocated or Draw starting times
could be amended


The Competition Secretary
email address is [email protected] or, as
a last resort, on the day of the tournament, calling the Pro shop on
+357-26-274 000.


Stage 1

Warning email to those who
did not provide a good reason for non-attendance on the day, or who failed to
contact the Competition Secretary for a Late-Withdrawal or No-Show.


Stage 2

If the player fails to heed
the warning email and is a Late-Withdrawal or No-Show for a subsequent tournament,
and without a valid reason, within 6 months
of the stage 1 warning email, the
sanction would be a suspension from the next two tournaments for which they were eligible.


Stage 3

If the player is a Late-Withdrawal
or No-Show for a third time, and without a valid reason, the sanction would be
a suspension for 3 months from the
date of the stage 2 warning email from all tournaments for which they were
eligible.


We know that sometimes illness and
injury mean you are unable to play golf. But if you do need to withdraw
from a tournament, you must let the Competition
Secretary know in good time. It helps with the smooth running of competitions,
which benefits us all.


Golf Operations Team 

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Golf Clubhouse Renovations

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Dear Members,
As many of you will already be aware, renovation works on and around the clubhouse are now underway. The project began with the reconstruction of the function area, which is currently ongoing, and has now progressed to the clubhouse itself, commencing ahead of the original schedule. As a result, we apologise that we were unable to communicate these works to you in advance.
The project includes renovations to the side balcony, featuring new tiling, improvements to the roof structure, and the installation of a new walkway connecting to the front balcony.
In the coming days, renovation works will also begin inside the clubhouse restaurant, before then moving on to the front balcony. To minimise disruption, the renovation team will be working in phases, aiming to reopen one area before closing another.
In addition, renovations to the locker rooms will begin shortly. Further details on these works will be communicated in a future update.
These works are currently on schedule to be completed by the end of September, and we appreciate your patience while they are carried out.
We apologise for any temporary disruption and are confident these improvements will significantly enhance the clubhouse, providing an even better experience for all our members. We look forward to welcoming you to the upgraded facilities.
Kind regards,
 
The Columbia Secret Valley Golf Team

Best regards,

Adam Collinson
PGA Director of Golf

T: (357) 26 27 4006
E: directorofgolf<a href="mailto:[email protected]" id="m_-636939398560954431m_-8215772316989662309OWAdb508fd5-63cc-f3a8-4230-64db605ccd2f" title="mailto:[email protected]” target=”_blank” style=”color:rgb(102,102,102);text-decoration:none;margin:0px”>@csvgolf.com
W: www.csvgolf.com

Kouklia 8510, P.O. Box 60269, 8101 Paphos, Cyprus


Columbia Secret Valley Golf: csvgolf.com

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MyCGF – Your Personal DataGolf Portal

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Dear Members, 

MyCGF – Your personal DataGolf Portal. 

The MyCGF portal permits Federated Members of the CGF to view their Results, Handicap history,
printing of HI Certificate and the self-submission of handicap qualifying scorecards. 

MyCGF incorporates historical playing records from the European Golf Association (EGA) Handicap
System updated to the World Handicap System (WHS) in May 2020.  

Please take time to carefully read the updated MyGCF Guide and the following statement on Handicap Integrity. 

Handicap Integrity

The Cyprus Golf Federation maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of
Handicap manipulation or the submission of false or misleading score information. 
Any player who knowingly submits a false, inaccurate, or misleading Score Card, or
otherwise attempts to influence their Handicap Index improperly, will be subject to
investigation by their Home Club and/or the Federation's Handicap, Rules & Course Rating
Committee (HR&CRC). 
Where an investigation establishes that a breach has occurred, the Federation may impose
disciplinary sanctions, which may include the suspension or revocation of the player's
Federation Licence, adjustment or withdrawal of the player's Handicap Index,
disqualification from competitions, and any other disciplinary measures deemed appropriate
under the Federation's Rules and Regulations.  


Updated MyCGF Guide: https://cgf.cy/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/MyCGF-Guide-2.pdf


MyCGF Player Area:  https://my.cgf.org.cy


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Kind Regards 


Jamie Evans 
Competitions, Handicaps & Membership Secretary 
Golf Operations Team 
Columbia Secret Valley Golf 


Members Portal: secretvalleygolfresort.net 

Columbia Secret Valley Golf: csvgolf.com
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Guidance and Explanation of Best Practice to Help Prevent “Backstopping” and R&A Rule 15.3

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Guidance and Explanation of Best Practice to Help Prevent “Backstopping”
“Backstopping“ is the common term used to describe the following situation in stroke play: A player, without agreement with any other player, leaves their ball in place on the putting green close to the hole in a position where another player, who is about to play from off the putting green, could benefit if their ball struck the ball at rest.As there has been no agreement to leave the ball in place to help any player, there is no breach of the Rules (see Rule 15.3a).However, The R&A and USGA take the view that “backstopping” fails to take into account all of the other players in the competition and has the potential to give the player with the “backstop” an advantage over those other players.As a result, the following guidance and explanation of best practice is available to players to help prevent backstopping:

  • In stroke play, the competition involves all players and, because each player in the competition cannot be present to protect their own interests, protecting the field is an important responsibility that all players in the competition share.
  • Therefore, in stroke play, if there is a reasonable possibility that a player’s ball close to the hole could help another player who is about to play from off the green, both players should ensure that the player whose ball is close to the hole marks and lifts that ball before the other player plays.
  • If all players follow this best practice, it ensures the protection of the interests of everyone in the competition.
15.3

Ball or Ball-Marker Helping or Interfering with Play

15.3a/1
Breach of Rule for Leaving Helping Ball in Place Does Not Require Knowledge
In stroke play, under Rule 15.3a, if two or more players agree to leave a ball in place on the putting green to help any player, and the stroke is made with the helping ball left in place, each player who made the agreement gets two penalty strokes. A breach of Rule 15.3a does not depend on whether the players know that such an agreement is not allowed.For example, in stroke play, before playing from just off the putting green, a player asks another player to leave their ball that is near the hole, in order to use it as a backstop. Without knowing this is not allowed, the other player agrees to leave their ball by the hole to help the other player. Once the stroke is made with the ball in place, both players get the penalty under Rule 15.3a.The same outcome would apply if the player whose ball was near the hole offered to leave the ball in play to help the other player, and the other player accepted the offer and then played.If the players know that they are not allowed to make such an agreement, but still do it, they are both disqualified under Rule 1.3b(1) for deliberately ignoring Rule 15.3a.
15.3a/2
Players Allowed to Leave Helping Ball in Match Play
In a match, a player may agree to leave their ball in place to help the opponent since the outcome of any benefit that may come from the agreement affects only their match.
15.3/1
Methods for Moving Ball or Ball-Marker Helping or Interfering with Play
When a player is moving their ball or ball-marker under Rule 15.3, it should be placed to the side by measuring with a club, such as by using the clubhead or the full length of a club. This can be done by measuring directly from the ball or by marking the spot of the ball and measuring from there.Some examples of this include:

  • The player may mark the spot of the ball and then move the ball-marker one or more clubheads to the side.
  • The player may lay a club or clubhead down immediately to the side of the ball and move the ball to the other end of the club or clubhead, or place a ball-marker at that point.

In moving the ball or ball-marker, the player should align the club with a fixed object (such as a blemish on the green or a sprinkler head) to ensure that when replacing the ball, the steps can be reversed and the ball be replaced on the spot from which it was lifted.

Kind Regards 

Jamie Evans 
Competitions, Handicaps & Membership Secretary 
Golf Operations Team 
Columbia Secret Valley Golf 


Members Portal: secretvalleygolfresort.net 

Columbia Secret Valley Golf: csvgolf.com
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Length of Rough around the Greens – Update from the Golf Course Superintendent

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Dear Members, 
The increased height of the rough around the greens is a deliberate management decision due to the ongoing water shortage and drought conditions we are currently experiencing. By maintaining a higher height of cut in these areas, the turf is better able to retain moisture, reduce heat stress, and remain healthy while we continue to manage our limited irrigation water allocation.
I am aware that the height is not completely consistent around the course and that it can make finding and playing a ball more difficult, particularly where a shot has only just missed the green. Unfortunately, this is one of the compromises we have had to make to ensure we can maintain the overall health and presentation of the golf course throughout the summer.

For the foreseeable future, while these water restrictions remain in place, I intend to continue managing the rough at this height. I appreciate that this may cause some inconvenience, but it is the most sustainable approach to preserving turf quality during the current conditions.
In addition to this, the heights of cut have been raised on all surfaces: Tees, Fairways & Approaches, Greens. 
Regards,