Stunning architecture, fascinating history, rich cultural diversity, great food, warm people—the reasons for choosing Turkey as your next vacation destination are endless.
And if you are as passionate about the sport of golf as you are about exploring a new place, you will love a relaxing golf holiday in Turkey.
Belek in Antalya lies near the Mediterranean Sea and it is here that golf tourism has developed at breakneck speed.
Belek has both professionally designed golf courses, and luxurious golf resorts to make your golf break a truly memorable one.
Best Golf courses in Turkey
Belek has hosted many international golf tournaments. Predictably, it boasts of some of the best golf courses in Europe, designed by European Tour winners like David Feherty, Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie.
1. Lykia Links Golf Course
Around twenty miles from Belek is the most popular Turkish golf course, the Lykia Links.
It was the first links course of Turkey and is built beside a river that goes on into the Mediterranean Sea.
This 18-hole golf course has sand dunes, bunkers, and lakes. However, the Lykia Links Golf course is not for the occasional golfer.
Its challenges require professional precision and you need a handicap certificate to play at the Lykia Links.
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2. PGA Sultan Golf Course
The Antalya Golf Club offers two courses—the PGA Sultan Golf course and the Pasha Golf course. Water hazards are a prominent feature in both these courses, with beautiful woods and sandy banks adding to the overall charm of the place.
It is adjacent to the Sirene Belek Golf Hotel, which offers a range of all inclusive golf packages. The holes at these courses have curious names, like The Choice, The Keyhole and Looking Back etc.
3. Carya Golf Club Course
Australian golf hero Peter Thomson was the brain behind the Carya Golf Club course. The main attraction of this Golf course is the happy marriage between British and Turkish sensibilities.
Heathlands (a type of vegetation) are not a common sight in Turkey, yet the Carya Golf Club abounds in exactly that, giving a typically British feel to your golfing experience.
The last nine holes have floodlights, so you can also enjoy night golf at this course.
4. Cornelia Golf Resort’s Course
Designed by Nick Faldo, the Cornelia Golf Resort was built in record time, though it does not compromise on quality.
The nines on Cornelia Golf Resort’s course are named after a Roman theme, with titles like Tiberius and Sempronia and Gaius.
The Gaius and Tiberius nines together create a formidable 18-hole course, bound to please even the golf snobs.
5. Sueno Pines Golf Course
The Sueno Hotel and Golf Club is one of the newer entrants to golf tourism in Turkey. It lies 35 Kilometers east of Antalya and has two golf courses.
With tight tree-lines, long slopes, sandy terrain and an amazing canopy of pine trees, the Sueno Pines Golf course is the more favored of the two.
6. Montgomerie Maxx Royal Golf Course
Montgomerie Maxx Royal Golf course is designed by Scottish golfing legend Colin Montgomerie.
The sprawling course also has an internationally acclaimed golf academy and a luxurious hotel.
It is the first golf course in Turkey to host a European Tour organization not just once, but three years in a row.
Best Golf resorts in Turkey
Turkey doesn’t disappoint travelers with a passion for Golf. The Belek Antalya region of Turkey is home to some of the best Golf resorts in Turkey.
Here is our list of the top four Golf resorts in Turkey –
1. Sirene Belek Hotel
The Sirene Belek Hotel is attached to the Antalya Golf Club and offers guests two world-class golf courses—the Pasha and the PGA Sultan.
It also facilitates golf rounds at two other courses, the Carya and the National.
The hotel offers customizable golf packages for all types of travelers, solo to groups.
For prices starting at around 600 Euro, one can book one round of golf at each of the four courses. Discounts are provided for groups.
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2. Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort and Spa
The Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort and Spa offers decadent luxury and challenging golf to its guests.
The hotel has three courses designed by Nick Faldo, the King Course, the Queen Course and the Prince Course.
It also houses the Leadbetter Golf Academy, should you wish to hone your skills while on a golf vacation in Turkey.
3. Gloria Golf Resort
The Gloria Golf Resort beside being a glorious hotel also grants access to the only 45 hole golf course in Turkey.
There are three courses attached to the resort. These are the Old Course, the New Course, and the Verde Select Course.
These golf courses have hosted PGA Championships as well as International Professional and Amateur golf championships.
The courses laden with pine trees and lakes are in places a professional’s delight, while some stretches are good for the not so professionals.
4. Regnum Carya Golf and Spa Resort
The Regnum Carya Golf and Spa Resort is for the golfer with a taste for luxury.
The resort offers all-inclusive golf packages that include staying at the beautifully appointed rooms plus a round of golf at the Carya Golf Club or the National Golf Club.
The 18 hole Carya Golf Club can also host night golf.
The 27-hole National Golf Club has a special place in the history of golf in Turkey.
It was the first golf club built in Belek.
Best time for Golf holiday in Turkey
The five months from May to September are the best time to plan your golf break in Turkey.
The weather might be on the hotter side for Northern Europeans, but it is not uncomfortable.
The winter is best avoided, because of chilly weather and rainfall.
Though most of the clubs provide year-round golf, it is better to book your golf holiday in the more pleasant months.
May and June especially are when the weather is at its best, perfect for spending a few hours outdoors.
Be sure to book your golf packages in advance, as most golf clubs require prior booking.
Green fees in Turkish Golf courses
Montgomerie Golf Course is one of the most expensive golf courses in Turkey. Here the green fees are around 130 Euros.
The second most expensive golf course is the PGA Sultan, where green fees are around 80 Euro.
These courses offer international standard golf, hence the high green fees are quite justified.
From 30 Euro to 80 Euro you can access the other notable golf courses, namely the Antalya Pasha, the Lykia Links, the Carya Golf Club, the Gloria Old and the Gloria New.
It is advisable to look up other criteria before planning your golf holiday, like handicap requirements etc.
Sources
# Yourgolftravel.com
# Golfholidaysdirect.com
# Bilyanagolf.com
# Golfturkey.com
The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable and trustworthy.
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