Corfu’s 18-hole-72 par course was designed by the famous Swiss based architect David Harridine who managed to blend the natural beauty of the area with artificial hazards to make it a good but fair test to both the scratch player and the high handicapped golfer. There are three sets of tees, a large practice ground and a putting green providing facilities for all categories of player. Carts, clubs and trolleys can be hired and the club is open seven days a week and is within a 15 minute drive from Dassia. Tel: 26610 94220. There's a horse riding club here with daily treks through the surrounding countryside. Corfu Golf Club
Cricket was introduced to Corfu in 1823 during the British rule and is today a popular sport, recognised by the government as the national sport of Corfu. There is a local league and matches can be seen between local sides. Various teams from the UK and other countries annually visit the island to take part in competitions and occasionally matches are still played on The Liston in Corfu Town.
Corfu is a paradise for watersport lovers with water skiing, paragliding, windsurfing and deep sea fishing to name but a few. Most resorts have a multitude of facilities and expert tuition is available. Dassia is home to excellent watersports facilities and we would highly recommend the 2001 Ski Club in the centre of Dassia beach.
Corfu’s 200km of coastline offers all types of swimming conditions for beginners and strong swimmers. Dassia's gently sloping shoreline is fine for the kids. The sea is great for snorkeling with plenty of underwater plant life and a variety of species of sea creatures on the warmer east coast. The west coast has a good rocky coastline providing underwater rocks and caves for exploring. There are a few hazardous underwater currents, so do be careful and always take note if you see any kind of warning flag on the beaches.
Aqualand, Corfu's water park, is great fun for all ages. Situated in the Ropa Valley, just 20 minutes drive from Dassia, the park has a selection of slides and rides, a lazy river and a large pool with plenty of sunbathing facilities.
A great way of exploring Corfu’s countryside and treks and instructions are available for both beginners and the most experienced of riders. There are a few riding centres around the island including The Riders Club, just ten minutes from Dassia. British owner Sally and her staff offer morning and evening treks passing through olive groves and picturesque villages. A great day out for all ages and level of rider. TrailRiders website
Cycling is yet another way to explore Corfu and there are various places with bicycles for rent. There are also guided mountain bike tours available - The Corfu Mountain Bike Shop is situated in Dassia just across the road from Shakes and offers guided tours and bikes for hire.
Walking is yet another way of exploring the island and there are literally hundreds of tracks that criss-cross Corfu’s beautiful countryside. When walking through olive groves, please take care not to walk over olive nets and respect private property. There are a few excellent walking books available giving detailed routes to follow.
Corfu has a wide variety of birds living and visiting the island and many species from western Europe can be seen here as well as birds which only exist in eastern Mediterranean areas. The Andiniotti lagoon in the north and the Korrison in the south are perfect places to visit for a wide variety of species. The majestic golden eagle, which inhabits Albania, can be spotted flying around Mount Pantokrator and Ermones, while the Dalmatian pelican, with its long pouched bill, can be seen in the Andinioti, Korrison and Chalikiopoulos lagoons. A wide variety of owls also inhabit the island.
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