Carya Golf Club
Carya in Antalya's Belek region is the first classic, heathland style golf course to be built on Turkey's Mediterranean coast. Designed by Thomson Perrett & Lobb, the international golf course architecture practice founded by five times Open Champion Peter Thomson, it is a championship golf course set on undulating sand hills and cutting through mature pine and eucalyptus forest, at the heart of Turkey's golf coast.
It has recently undergone extensive work on the greens, which are now Bermuda Tifeagle. The entire course was closed for the summer of 2011 in order to ensure top quality was maintained following a couple of busy seasons with many golfers on the course.
Peter Thomson, said: "This is an exceptional piece of land on which to build a golf course. It is reminiscent of the famous Surrey heathland courses near London that I rate among the world's best and which I was fortunate to enjoy much success on in my playing days. I am very excited about the prospect of TPL creating a classic, traditional style course in Turkey."
Thomson Perrett & Lobb has created a classic course, unique to the region, and featuring naturally cultivated heather. Grown in an extensive nursery on site, Carya's heather shapes define the course into a truly magnificent spectacle.
The 6571 metre, par 72 course, is a demanding test of golfing strategy with free flowing holes that run between pine and eucalyptus trees and across a dramatic sand ridge. Carya also boasts a spectacular new clubhouse and state-of-the-art driving range.
Cornelia Faldo Golf Club
A very popular course, the 27 Hole Nick Faldo Championship Golf Course in Belek was opened in November 2006.
It has recently undergone extensive work on the greens, which are now Bermuda Tifeagle. The entire course was closed for the summer of 2011 in order to ensure top quality was maintained following a couple of busy seasons with many golfers on the course.
Cornelia Faldo has already established itself as one of the must play courses in the area. The emphasis on course upkeep and management is obvious. The Faldo course is always in very good condition even in high season, and as it has 27 holes at least 18 are always playable.
The clubhouse features a David Leadbetter Academy with a driving range (both sides use), 3 putting greens, 2 chipping and pitching greens, and separate practice areas for groups. Golfers playing at the Cornelia Golf Club Nick Faldo course also receive one free range token each.
Gloria Old & New
Gloria Golf Club was the first resort in Turkey featuring its own on-site golf course. All 45 holes of the Gloria Golf courses have been carefully designed by the French golf course designer Michel Gayon and the Belgian golf project management company J.N.C International, with the cooperation of Turkish Consultants, to suit the Mediterranean climate and impress even the most demanding golfer. The Gloria courses are situated amidst the pine forest of Belek, at the foot of Taurus mountains.
Each hole is an exciting challenge on the Gloria Old Course. Opened in September 1997, Michel Gayon's specialty, the "deep" bunker, the 600 square meter greens and 7 lakes of which the largest is 30,000 square meters, are some of the features of the magnificent Gloria Old course. The Old course immediately became a favourite amongst golfers to Turkey, and indeed remains so.
The Gloria New golf course, officially opened in November 2005, consists of three rolling lines and features 4 big lakes and 67 bunkers. The Gloria New course is a superb test for every golfer, and was host to the European Senior Tours Classic in 2007. The lake lined 18th hole promises a memorable finish.
The 9 hole Gloria Verde academy course is one of the best 9 hole academy courses in Europe, and open to players of all handicaps at selected times. It is possible to combine 9 holes on Verde with 9 holes on another Gloria course for a different 18 hole combination, and this is often done in high season when the course is busy. Gloria's great practice facilities and 45 holes make it ideal for teaching groups. Gloria's Club House is tastefully decorated and features a restaurant, bar and pro-shop.
Currently there is a plan for a slight redesign of the Gloria Golf Club courses to carry the Greg Norman signature, which promises to be an exciting revamp of two already very popular courses.
Lykia Links
Lykia Links Antalya is a stunning golf complex on the shores of the Mediterrean.
A first for Turkey, and the southern Mediterranean, the links course is set to become one of the finest and a must visit for dedicated golf enthusiasts.
The centrepiece is an 18 hole championship links course set in the sand dunes by the sea and designed by celebrated golf architect Perry Dye.
All 18 holes on the Par 72 course have commanding views of the Mediterranean Sea and the surrounding mountain peaks, where the prevailing winds will challenge golfers on the four holes on the coastline.
The course is a challenge for the accomplished golfer, requiring Scottish-style 'punch and run' shots. Quilted fairways have a sense of famous courses in Scotland and an assortment of pot bunkers guard the greens and require placement in the fairway. The course covers 603,000 square metres of the golf complex and opened in November, 2008.
Montgomerie
The Montgomerie Maxx Royal golf course, Belek is one of the most exciting new additions to golf in Europe, and has already been described as one of the finest courses in the world. Having opened in September 2008, it has a natural wild feel, and is home to perhaps the best club house in Belek with a large terrace and a mouthwatering selection of cuisine on offer. Complementing the 18 hole Montgomerie Course is a golf academy and fantastic, top of the range 'Golden Swing' training facilities.
Set within 104 hectares of pine forest and ridges, the feel of the naturally sandy ground is maintained in order to develop this particular feature. It is Colin Montgomerie's first Mediterranean design and he now rates this design as one of his finest. Challenging and undulating, featuring 8 lakes and approximately 7 hectares of bunkers, the Montgomerie Maxx Royal is one of the toughest courses in Belek. The Montgomerie course is also one of the only courses in Belek to feature Bent grass rather than Bermuda, so it is also faster compared to other courses in the area.
National Golf Club
The National Golf Course in Belek offers something special for all levels of golfer. Sculpted fairways, glistening white bunkers and velvet greens, the National Golf Club was the first international standard golf complex on the Turkish Mediterranean coast. It has been established to provide exclusive facilities for both members and visitors. The 18 hole Championship Course, designed by Ryder Cup Player David Feherty, has played host to the PGA European Turkish Seniors Open in 1996 and 1997 and the Ladies European Tour in 2008, 2010 and 2011.
The National is carved through eucalyptus trees and a pine forest. The 18th brings you to a grandstand spectator finish, with the green situated directly infront of the club house terrace. National also have a superb 9 hole Academy Course which suits any standard of golfer, with its wide tree lined holes and water coming into play on several of the tee shots. It can also be an excellent warm-up before a round on the Championship Course.
Antalya Golf Club
Antalya Golf Club, Belek, is one of the most popular golf clubs in Turkey, with two outstanding golf courses. Both the Pasha and PGA Sultan are regularly rated in the top 5 courses in Belek, with the PGA Sultan course often in the number one spot.
The Pasha: At an inviting 5731 meters par 72, it may be a surprise to hear that the Pasha is by no means a 'holiday' course. Far from easy, the Pasha course presents a combination of challenges to test the high and low handicapper. Tricky dog-legs, cleverly placed bunkers and undulating greens ensure that even the seasoned golfer must think over each shot carefully. However, it is a course which can be enjoyed whatever your handicap, as the shorter length and generous fairways are kind to any wayward shots. Towering umbrella pines, crystal clear lakes and the snow capped Taurus Mountains provide a spectacular backdrop to the course as it winds its way through the forests of Belek. Indeed these peaceful surroundings are interrupted only by the call of the emblem of Antalya Golf Club, the Hoopoe birds.
PGA Sultan: Opened on September 1st 2003, the PGA Sultan is designed for those golfers who enjoy a challenge. European Golf Design and David Jones spared nothing to maintain the competitive level of course, while at the same time blending it seamlessly into the forest environment. The layout is extremely well thought out, with tactical bunkers and water hazards strategically placed to deliver a real test of golfing ability. The PGA Sultan presents a difficult but ultimately very rewarding challenge. A true yardstick by which to gauge skill.
Sueno Golf Club
The two Sueno golf courses surround the Sueno Golf Hotel and are a unique combination in Belek - this is the only hotel where no shuttle is needed to the golf course. Both Sueno courses were designed by PGA Design Consulting and Bob Hunt and opened in 2007. Sueno Pines and Dunes golf courses are placed on a wonderful area of land with a total of 20 lakes and 128 bunkers between them. The combination of these two courses proves very popular with teaching groups, and Sueno also has excellent driving range and training areas to offer.
The tougher of the two courses, the Sueno Pines Course measures over 6,400 metres from the championship tees. Employing the wild shaping of the links courses and a natural bunker style, this course offers a rugged beauty as well as a tough but fair golfing test. Sueno Pines is regularly rated within the top 3 courses in Belek, with its challenging long and meandering fairways.
The easier of the two courses, the Sueno Dunes Course measure over 5,600 metres. However, Dunes will still punish poor play and delivers a good test to the lower handicappers. Still employing the wild shaping of the links used on the Pines course, the Dunes course utilizes a more conventional resort bunker style and parkland fairways. Therefore this course offers a more resort style challenge for the travelling golfer.
TAT Golf Club
Renovated and reopened at the end of Summer 2010, Tat Golf Club Belek has been specifically designed for the avid and demanding European golfer. Tat Golf Club offers a choice of three championship 9 hole layouts giving you a variety of 18 hole combinations.
Designed by Hawtree of England, Golf Course Architects, the intention was to keep the natural character of the area, and provide dunes, lakes and rivers as much as possible. The large and widespread area of 13 acres directly placed by the Mediterranean sea has been left as original as possible. Many tees are placed on the summits of the former dunes to give you the best look-out on the dunes, the Taurus range and the Mediterranean sea.
At Tat Golf Club, the greens are built as visible to make it possible to avoid blind shots. Fair and unusually good conditions are even found after extreme heavy rain falls. The sandy ground of the former dunes allows the water to flow off very quickly and ensures the course remains playable. Emphasis was put on giving every 9 Hole Championship Course (The River, The Mediterranean and The Forest) its own character and each hole has its own playing and landscape character to make this golf course unforgettable for you.
Robinson Nobilis Golf Course
Opened in 1998 and designed by the world famous architect Dave Thomas, Robinson Nobilis Golf Club offers a great golfing experience within the natural pine forest that borders the Acisu River in Belek on the south coast of Turkey.
Nobilis makes excellent use of the natural terrain, its winding style complimented with holes along the Acisu River, where water and greenside bunkers await anything other than an accurately hit shot. Despite being a fairly flat course, the layout still offers a challenge to normal holiday golf. The Nobilis course has 7 lakes, and its most striking feature is the river, whose progress the golfers follow during their round of golf.
The Nobilis course consists of tight, tree lined fairways and large greens. Strategically placed water hazards and bunkers, and a number of dog legs make this a test for even the most experienced player. The beautiful Roman style clubhouse awaits you a short pitch away from the 18th green.
Facebook
Twitter