Cornelia Golf Club-Faldo Course
Gaius 9th
FALDO COURSE
TIBERIUS 8TH
Semprionia 8th
SEMPRONIA 7TH
SEMPRONIA 5TH
SEMPRONIA 4TH
TIBERIUS 5TH
SEMPRONIA 5TH
TIBERIUS 9TH
Semprionia 2nd
Tiberius 7th
FALDO COURSE
FALDO’S 7TH MAJOR!
The excellence of a golf architect’s design is directly governed by the quality of the land he is commissioned to shape. With the Cornelia Golf Club Nick Faldo was bestowed with a sublime expanse of golfing terrain on which to work and he grasped the opportunity with relish; the result being a truly stunning course.
The Course and indeed the entire portfolio of the Cornelia Group’s properties take their name from the matriarch of Rome, Cornelia, who was held in such high esteem as a paragon of virtue that a statue was erected in Rome to honour her memory. It is therefore fitting that the nine hole loops are named after her three children, whom she described as her “Diamonds”: Tiberius, Sempronia and Gaius. Unusually, for a 27 hole golf course, all three loops of nine holes offer an equal degree of challenge and intricacy, so it is impossible to decide which loops would combine to constitute the championship course, although at 484 yards off the championship tees and given a par of 4, the 9th hole on the Gaius loop would surely provide a grandstand finale to many a tournament. With enormous lakes on both sides of the fairway at the driving distance, keeping the ball on terra firma is no mean feat. The water on the right then extends down the length of the hole beyond which the green is nestled, forcing the golfer to attempt the challenge of the long carry if a par is to be guaranteed. This is a hole that is destined to provide much drama and wreck many a scorecard!
Given that the typical topography of Belek’s landscape is relatively flat, Faldo was fortunate that there is a broad sand ridge that runs through the course. This affords Faldo the luxury of designing a multitude of elevated tee positions and greens without the undulating nature of the ground being prohibitive to walk. Golfers could be excused for presuming that the reason that the majority of the holes (apart from the par 3 holes) are dog-legged is a lack of space. However, students of Faldo’s fastidious dedication for detail and penchant for shot making will emphasise that his overriding design edict is brains over brawn. To further this theory and as a response of Faldo’s understandable adulation of Augusta, the greens at Cornelia are colossal and fiendishly undulating thus placing two putts at a premium, again stressing the need for accuracy and positional play.
SEMPRONIA LOOP
As with all of the opening holes on each of three loops at Cornelia, no great demand is placed on the golfer in terms of length or pin point accuracy. The waste areas that are almost Faldo’s trade mark for this course are prevalent on this, the first hole. A solid drive should leave no more than a medium or short iron to the green which doglegs to the right. However, the par 5, 2nd hole, is made of sterner substance being 618 yards long and a double dogleg, with a lake lurking to punish shots leaked to the right, adjacent to the green. Undoubtedly, the signature hole for these 9 holes is the 8th, where the drive has to clear the lake, which then continues along the left side of the landing area, leaving only a narrow strip of fairway to aim for.
TIBERIUS LOOP
The 2nd hole on this loop is once again a par 5 of almost 600 yards with a double dogleg. Aptly named “Corridor” anything other than an arrow aimed blow will leave the golfer playing the next shot from within the trees. Another par 5, the 5th, is one of only two holes on this loop to feature water which waits to catch second shots pushed to the right near to the green. Surprisingly, the signature hole of the Tiberius loop is neither long nor particularly taxing, but the par 4, 7th hole leaves the golfer in a slight quandary. Does he choose the conventional route with a drive uphill to the fairway leaving a routine pitch down to the green which doglegs to the right? This way the hole measures 336 yards. Or does he try the considerably shorter route to the right, albeit with a considerable carry over rough and bunkers to possibly reach the green? This is a masterpiece of design genius. The architect toying with the golfer’s mind, no wonder they designated the hole “Faldo’s Choice” No such dilemma on the 8th hole, anything other than long and straight down the fairway will see the golfer either playing out of the trees down the right or dropping out of the lake that accompanies the hole along the left for much of its length. A short or miss-hit tee shot will invariably result in the second shot having to be played across the lake as the fairway turns to the left to a severely undulating green.
GAIUS LOOP
Once again the opening hole is generous, but not so the par 4, 2nd. At 438 yards the tee shot is played to the fairway (hopefully) which elbows to the left, with a large lake as the golfer’s companion for any misplaced second shot leaked out to the right, the sloping green being only a few yards from the water. Water once again has to be negotiated from the tee of the par 5, 5th hole. But this is not the holes only defence! A sand waste area dissects the fairway approximately 150 yards from the green forcing the golfer to decide whether to gamble, to leave an easier approach to a brutally contoured putting surface or to lay up short and face a testing third shot. The par 4, 6th hole is named “Aquarius” the water carrier, and yes water needs to be carried from the tee! Just how much will depend on the golfer’s courage and conviction for, yet again, there is a choice of two options. The safer tee shot is to the right of the sentinel pine tree thus making the hole a dogleg to the left, but this brings the lake, which curves along the left and around the rear of the green, more into play. Whereas, if the golfer draws a deep breath and follows the tiger line to the left of the tree, the hole is considerably shortened leaving only a lob shot to a green where two putts is by no means a formality. These two holes are again testament to Faldo’s appreciation of tactical decision and shot making ability. The 6th hole would normally have been the signature hole of the Gaius loop were it not for the nerve-wracking 9th hole as described earlier.
For doyens of golf course architecture, the Cornelia Golf Club presents a fascinating insight in Nick Faldo’s golfing philosophy. For those who just wish to enjoy a pleasurable round of golf in idyllic conditions, you have come to the right place! Either way enjoy the Cornelia…
FALDO’S 7TH MAJOR TRIUMPH!
Cornelia Course
Course Facts-
• Opened- November 2006
• Architect- Nick Faldo
• Length- Sempronia Loop
• Championship Tees 3553 Yards.
• Medal Tees 3346 Yards.
• Ladies Tees 2814 Yards.
• Par- 36
• Soft-Spikes Required
• Opened- November 2006
• Length- Tiberius Loop
• Championship Tees 3457 Yards.
• Medal Tees 3220 Yards.
• Ladies Tees 2608 Yards.
• Par- 36
• Opened- July 2007
• Length- Gaius Loop
• Championship Tees 3499 Yards.
• Medal Tees 3284 Yards.
• Ladies Tees 2786 Yards.
• Par- 36
Kings Course-Tiberious + Sempronia
• Length- Championship Tees 7010 Yards.
• Medal Tees 6566 Yards.
• Ladies Tees 5422 Yards.
• Par- 72
Queens Course- Gaius + Sempronia
• Length- Championship Tees 7052 Yards.
• Medal Tees 6630 Yards.
• Ladies Tees 5600 Yards.
• Par- 72
Princes Course- Gaius + Tiberius
• Length- Championship Tees 6956 Yards.
• Medal Tees 6503 Yards.
• Ladies Tees 5394 Yards.
• Par- 72
• Buggies, Powered Carts, Club Hire (not pre-bookable)
• Soft Spikes Required
