Golf in Bulgaria - Thracian Treasure

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, U.K. - July 2, 2013 - PRLog -- I know Bulgaria well, having spent a fair amount of time here in the past, and I can see the possibilities that it has to offer. Most countries have suffered in the economic downturn, but somehow Bulgaria seem to have managed to keep its head above water even as more established neighbours such as Greece have slowly sunk into the dark depths of economic meltdown.
         When I first visited back in 2006, this was a land of contradictions. Crumbling Soviet era construction mixed in with beautiful traditional Bulgarian buildings. The few cars that you did see on the roads were Ladas and Trabants. Now you are more likely to find 4x4’s, although there are still plenty of horse and carts to watch out for.
         Bulgaria is a cornucopia of differing landscapes and environments, from sweeping mountain ranges to wide open plains. The summers are long and hot and the winters are short and cold. One thing has always seemed certain to me; this is a land that is perfect for the development of golf courses to match and even exceed many of the more well known locations.

Thracian Cliffs Golf & Beach Resort

Designed by the legendary Gary Player, Thracian Cliffs Signature Course is truly inspirational. The way that it fits naturally into its surroundings is almost seamless. The course runs over two wide ridges set into the Black Sea cliffs with the front nine on the lower, then doubling back for the back nine on the higher ridge. You have the feeling that whatever hole you play, the sea is only a short distance away.
         The resort derives its name from the Thracian civilization that lived in an area stretching north from Istanbul, Turkey to the Bulgarian/Romanian border. They left their mark in gold and treasure that is being discovered to this day. Thracian troops are known to have accompanied neighbouring ruler Alexander the Great on his conquests.

Important year

I arrive on a warm evening in late September. Thracian Cliffs is located on the Black Sea Coast just 30 minutes north of Varna and close to the village of Kavarna. Nearby are two more courses, The Lighthouse and Black Sea Rama which make this corner of Bulgaria a one-stop golf location. 2013 is an important year for the resort as they have been chosen to host the Volvo Match Play Championships.
         I announce my arrival and check in to the apartment that has been reserved for me, and as I’m hungry after my journey, the next stop is the Geti Restaurant. To sit outside on the open terrace, looking out to sea with a glass of red wine and quite possibly the best food I have ever had in Bulgaria, is a real joy. Tomorrow I play some golf, but tonight I am content to sit back and soak up the atmosphere.

On the Course

The next day after breakfast I head out. The sun is shining and it looks to be a perfect day. On arrival at the first hole I find Jordan Borisov, the golf pro, chatting to two golfers preparing to tee off. This is a par-4 with a raised tee and quite limited views down the fairway, especially from the back tees. From what I can gather, Jordan is advising them to tee off from the white, but they seem to have other ideas and head for the black.
         We both watch as these two distinctly average players take aim. Both of their shots curve off to the right and disappear into the bushes at the top of the cliffs. As they head off to discover just exactly where they might have gone, Jordan leans over to me and whispers, “They may be some time.”
         We walk over to the front of the tee and watch in fascination as they rummage through the thick Bulgarian undergrowth in what seems to be a vain attempt to retrieve their balls. One thing I have already noticed about the course: with the front nine having the sea to the right, the chances for a lefty such as myself ending up in the water are much more limited. In some places I even have a cliff to bounce off – happy days!

Having a good day

I make no attempt at heroics and, being fully aware of my capabilities, tee off from the white. Thus, I am rewarded with a shot that lands on the left side of the green and slightly behind a large mound. By this time, the two golfers in front of me have moved on to the second hole. I hope that they have stocked up with golf balls if they are insistent on playing off the back tees.
         I now have a nice straightforward shot with a nine iron and am rewarded by landing on the green. Two shots later and I have a par on my scorecard. This course is being nice to me and I can see that today is going to be a good day.

To read the full article go to;  http://www.greatgolfmagazine.co.uk/articles/thracian-treasure.aspx

Good to Know

GETTING THERE

You can fly direct to Varna with Bulgaria Air from London Heathrow and Whizz Air from Luton. EasyJet flies to Sofia, where it is possible to catch a connecting flight to Varna which takes about 45 minutes.

www.easyjet.com

www.wizzair.com

www.air.bg/en/

CAR HIRE

Car hire is available through Avis at both Varna and Sofia airports.
 www.avis.co.uk

THRACIAN CLIFFS

Thracian Cliffs Golf & Beach Resort  
9656 Bouzhuretz Village,
Kavarna (next to Cape Kaliakra)  
Bulgaria
www.thraciancliffs.com