Korineum Golf Esentepe: A Guide to the Course and Resort

Korineum Golf Club in Esentepe North Cyprus

Korineum Golf Esentepe is North Cyprus’s only 18-hole championship golf course, a par-72, 6,232-metre layout that opened in April 2007 at Esentepe in the Kyrenia district. Designed by David Hemstock, the course runs from the Besparmak Mountains down toward the Mediterranean, and it anchors the Korineum Golf & Beach Resort, a golf-and-country club with a hotel, spa, tennis academy and private beach.

This guide covers the course, green fees and membership, the resort facilities, how to reach it, and what a home beside golf in North Cyprus means for buyers and holidaymakers.

The Quick Version
  • Korineum Golf & Beach Resort in Esentepe is built around North Cyprus’s only 18-hole championship course, inside a 65-hectare estate with a hotel, spa, tennis academy, and private beach.
  • The course is a par-72, 6,232-metre championship layout that opened in April 2007, playing from the Besparmak Mountains down toward the Mediterranean.
  • Green fees are around €64 per round, with annual membership across 6 tiers and a 10% discount on the pro shop, bar, and restaurant.
  • Korineum sits at Esentepe in the Kyrenia district, 20 km east of Kyrenia town, and roughly 35 km from Ercan International Airport.
  • The Paspalum surface stays playable through summer while spring and autumn are the prime seasons, making golf-front homes attractive to players and buyers.

What is Korineum Golf & Beach Resort?

Korineum Golf & Beach Resort is a golf-and-country club in Esentepe, North Cyprus, built around the country’s only 18-hole championship course. The 6,232-metre, par-72 layout opened in April 2007 and sits inside a 65-hectare estate that also holds a boutique hotel, a spa, a tennis academy and a private beach.

As a property destination, the Korineum Golf and Beach Resort blends a serious golf offer with a residential setting, which is why the surrounding hillside has filled with Esentepe golf villas that overlook the fairways. First laid out by British designer David Hemstock, with Peter Harradine as construction consultant, Korineum was the first championship-length course built in North Cyprus, and it remains the only one. Golf directories still list it under its original Esentepe name, a nod to the village it sits above.

“The Korineum golf course is a par-72, 6,232-metre championship layout that plays from the Besparmak Mountains down toward the Mediterranean Sea.”

What is the Korineum golf course like to play?

The Korineum golf course is a par-72, 6,232-metre championship layout that plays from the Besparmak Mountains down toward the Mediterranean Sea. Every hole carries a mountain or sea view, 5 tees stretch or shorten each hole for all abilities, and undulating fairways, 2 lakes and white-marble bunkers give the round its shape.

Built on 65 hectares of olive and carob scrub, the course holds Paspalum grass all year, which is what lets it stay green and playable through the hot months. The official Korineum course details record the par-72, 6,232-metre measurements, a David Hemstock design opened in April 2007. Greens average 500 square metres, and a handicap certificate is expected, capped at 28 for men and 36 for women.

Course scorecard and tees

Korineum sets 5 tee boxes at each hole, so the same par stays at 72 while the length drops from a full championship test to a friendlier front-tee card. The table lists each main tee’s length and Standard Scratch Score (SSS).

Tee setLengthParSSS
Back6,232 m7273.5
Club5,646 m7270.5
Front4,790 m7271.5

Playing conditions and terrain

Korineum plays as an undulating parkland course with a few climbs, so most visitors take a buggy for the hillier holes. The club runs 44 battery-powered buggies, and soft spikes are required on the course. Two lakes and crushed-marble bunkers guard the greens, and the Paspalum surface drains and recovers well, which keeps the course in strong condition even in high summer. Golfshake reviewers score it 4.7 out of 5 across 12 reviews, rating conditions 4.9.

Warning

Green fees and korineum golf prices are perishable, so confirm the current rate with the club before you travel.

How much are Korineum golf green fees and membership?

Korineum golf green fees are around €64 per round, with discounts for hotel guests and members. Annual membership runs across 6 tiers, from a full 7-day membership to overseas and time-smart options capped at 50 and 60 rounds a year, and every tier adds a 10% discount on the pro shop, bar and restaurant.

Green fees and korineum golf prices are perishable, so confirm the current rate with the club before you travel. Membership suits regular players: the korineum golf membership fees cover unlimited or capped rounds depending on the tier, and the club quotes them on request rather than publishing them online. Buggy, club and soft-spike shoe hire are available at the pro shop, and the resident golf professional, Michael Jones, gives lessons.

Membership options

Korineum runs 6 membership categories, so both residents and visiting golfers find a fit. The table sets out who each suits and its round allowance.

MembershipWho it suitsRounds included
Full (7-day)Residents playing any dayUnlimited
5-DayResidents playing weekdaysUnlimited, 5 days a week
FamilyHouseholds, minimum 2 playing membersUnlimited
JuniorPlayers under 16Unlimited, junior terms
OverseasNon-residents of North Cyprus (TRNC)Maximum 50 per year
Time-SmartOccasional playersMaximum 60 per year
Find your home in Esentepe Browse property in Esentepe

What facilities does the Korineum resort have?

The Korineum resort is a full golf-and-country club, pairing the course with a golf academy, a boutique hotel, a spa, 4 clay tennis courts, swimming pools and a private beach. The clubhouse holds a pro shop, changing rooms, the Valley Restaurant and the Clubers Lounge, so a day here runs from a driving-range warm-up to dinner with mountain views.

Beyond golf, Korineum works as a wider country club. The 4 clay courts run a tennis academy with coaching, a nature trail loops through the estate’s endemic plants, and the clubhouse and grounds host weddings, conferences and events. That range is why owners and guests treat the resort as a full-day base rather than a course to tick off.

The golf academy

The Korineum Golf Academy is one of the most complete practice grounds in North Cyprus, built around a 34-bay driving range just under 300 metres long. It adds 2 putting greens, a chipping green and a practice bunker, plus a short academy course with par-3, par-4 and par-5 holes. Coaches qualified through the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) use Trackman launch-monitor technology for swing analysis, so beginners and low handicappers both have somewhere to work.

The hotel and spa

The Korineum hotel is a boutique property of about 86 rooms, split between 48 Korineum Residence rooms and 38 Elite rooms across 5 blocks, with pool access or sea and forest views. Room grades run from a standard Hotel Room to Elite Sea View and Junior Suite, with rates from about £64 per person a night depending on grade and season. The spa adds 2 massage rooms, a sauna, a hammam and quiet resting areas, and the resort also has a gym, a relaxation pool set among the pines and a children’s pool beside a small play park.

The private beach

Korineum has its own 70-metre private beach 1.5 km below the resort, reached by a free shuttle. The beach mixes sand, grass and a sun deck, and adds a pier, a snack bar, changing cabins, toilets and outdoor showers. It sits on the same quiet coastline as the wider run of Esentepe beaches, a short drive from the resort’s fairways.

Where is Korineum Golf and how do you get there?

Korineum Golf sits at Esentepe in the Kyrenia district, 20 km east of Kyrenia town along a 20-minute drive, and roughly 35 km from Ercan International Airport. The resort runs a courtesy shuttle from the airport and down to its beach, and a hire car is the easiest way to reach the fairways and the villages around them.

Anyone searching for golf courses near Kyrenia finds a single option, because Korineum is the only course in the country, and it draws players from across the north. The setting is rural and low-rise, wrapped in olive groves below the Besparmak ridge, with Bellapais Monastery about 25 minutes away and Alagadi Turtle Beach a short drive down the coast. That quiet, green backdrop is a large part of the appeal of living in Esentepe for buyers who want golf on the doorstep.

Why do golfers and property buyers choose Korineum?

Golfers choose Korineum for year-round play on the only championship course in North Cyprus, and buyers choose it for the lifestyle and rental demand that golf brings. The Paspalum surface stays playable through summer, while spring and autumn are the prime seasons, and golf-front homes let owners either play daily or rent to visiting golfers.

The buyers Korineum attracts are mostly British and Northern European retirees and lifestyle investors, drawn by the low-rise Esentepe and Bahceli zoning that protects sea and mountain views. Homes beside the fairways command premium rental rates in the spring and autumn golf seasons, when demand peaks. Overseas visitors often research the Korineum golf club North Cyprus reputation before booking a winter-sun trip, and that makes it the default answer for golf North Cyprus searches, from short breaks to relocation scouting. Search interest in Korineum golf Cyprus and requests for Korineum golf and beach resort photos reflect how much the course sells the location, and the home with it, so a villa here pairs a tee time with a rental asset.

The bottom line on Korineum Golf Esentepe

Korineum Golf Esentepe stands alone as North Cyprus’s championship course, and that scarcity is exactly what makes it a fixture for golfers and property buyers alike. The par-72 layout, the academy, the hotel and the private beach turn a round of golf into a full resort day, while the Esentepe setting holds homes beside the fairways in steady demand. Confirm current green fees and membership terms with the club, pick your season in spring or autumn, and Korineum rewards both a golf holiday and a life spent by the first tee.

Looking for a home in Esentepe?
Browse the latest properties for sale in Esentepe, with current prices and locations.
Browse property in Esentepe

FAQ

How much are green fees at Korineum Golf?

Green fees at Korineum Golf are around €64 per round, based on the latest published rate. Hotel guests and members pay less, and buggy, club and shoe hire cost extra at the pro shop. Green fees are a live price, so confirm the current figure with the club before you book a tee time.

Do you need a handicap to play Korineum?

Yes, Korineum expects a valid handicap certificate, capped at 28 for men and 36 for women. Soft spikes are required, and visitors arrange tee times in advance. Beginners without a handicap still use the golf academy and its coaching before booking a round on the championship course.

Is Korineum the only golf course in North Cyprus?

Yes, Korineum is the only 18-hole championship golf course in North Cyprus, and it has been since it opened in April 2007. Smaller practice and academy facilities exist, but no other full-length course operates in the country, which is why golfers across the north travel to Esentepe to play.

When is the best time to play golf at Korineum?

The best time to play golf at Korineum is spring and autumn, when temperatures are comfortable and the course is at its greenest. The Paspalum surface stays playable all year, so winter golf works well too, while high summer suits early-morning tee times before the midday heat.

How far is Korineum Golf from Kyrenia?

Korineum Golf is about 20 km east of Kyrenia, a drive of roughly 20 minutes along the coast road through Esentepe. Ercan International Airport is around 35 km away, about 40 minutes by car, and the resort runs a courtesy shuttle for hotel guests.

Compare listings

Compare