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National
Architects: D. Feherty & D. Jones (1994). 18 holes: 6,279m: par 72.
Can a 15 year old course be a classic? If so, this is it. The oldest course in Belek and one that has tradition written across its fairways. Established forest has been delicately carved by Messrs. Feherty and Jones into a little piece of golf heaven. Not easy by any means (as you'll realise gazing across the still waters of the Second to the distant island Green) but the sort of course where you will enjoy the test put to you by the designers - even if you do fail a few of their trickier questions!
Carya Architect: P. Thomson (2007). 18 holes: 6,147m: par 72.
Peter Thompson has managed to conjure up something a little different at Carya and a little bit special. Ragged white sand bunkers hit you right between the eyes the moment you set foot on the first Tee and continue to entertain you all the way around. The course is billed as the first Heathland course in Turkey, due to the acreage of heather that has been planted across the sandy soil and atop the bunkers. We hope it takes in the very un-Scottish climate, however we're assured that it is a variety that grows in the local mountains; so fingers are crossed as it adds a unique look to the wonderful Carya course. One of the best in Belek.
Montgomerie
Architect: C. Montgomerie (2008). 18 holes: 5,862m: par 72.
Colin Montgomerie's first European design and very good it is too. Quite a spacious feel to the course as much of the original pine forest has been cleared to give a width of fairway that will be appreciated by most. Monty's little twist however is the extensive use of "waste areas" to add shape and an extra golfing dimension to each hole. This is a course where a little thought on the Tee can pay big dividends. Very playable and very enjoyable. Airport sized Clubhouse where you will be very well catered for.
Lykia Links
Architect: P. Dye (2008). 6,316m: par 72.
A huge contrast to anything else that you will find in Belek. Lykia is a true links course that runs in and out of the dunes in full view of the Mediterranean. Perry Dye is renowned for his fantastic designs and Lykia Links is right up there with the best of them. Huge swirling bunkers faced with railway sleepers will be your overriding souvenir of this course. And the ever present sea-breezes will bring most of them into play! The course is a short journey from Belek, about 20 minutes by road (or there is a speedboat option, ask us) but worth every single minute of the journey to get here.
Luxury hotel on-site too if you would like to stay and get your fill of sea air.
Cornelia (Faldo) Architect: N. Faldo (2008). 18 holes:
5,969m: par 72.
Three loops of nine holes that are composed of some tight holes and some very tight holes.
Mr. Faldo was renowned for asking a lot of himself as a player; he now makes the same demands of anyone wishing to play his Turkish course. The views from the Tees can be quite daunting and force you into playing safe: often there is no other option. Single figure golfers and Professionals will enjoy the unremitting challenge of Cornelia: mere mortals may well be demoralised (and out of ammo) by the turn. We would suggest leaving the Driver in the car and playing from the forward Tees.
Sueno - Pines
Architect: PGA Design (2007). 18 holes: 6,413m: par 72.
Rippling fairways running through rustling pines are the the overwhelming features of the very enjoyable Sueno Pines and its sister course the Dunes. Both courses will ask questions of your ability to play from sloping lies. Holes are reasonably generous in terms of width and size of Greens, making this an honest course where if you play and think well you should come home with a decent score: the Second being a prime example with water to cross twice.
Sueno - Dunes
Architect: PGA Design (2007). 18 holes: 5,643m: par 69.
A similar course to the Dunes albeit it shorter and slightly hillier; hence the title Dunes although we are a little inland here. If anything this is a slightly more testing course than the Pines, with a fair number of dog-legs and water demanding some careful club selection from the Tee; the 8th in particular needs some careful thought. The closing hole is a bit special and will jangle anybody's nerves, finishing as it does on a island in front of the Clubhouse decking.
Antalya - PGA Sultan Architect: European Golf Design (2003). 18 holes: 6,477m: par 71.
The courses at Antalya present both an interesting and testing day's golf. The Sultan is a great course that plays predominantly through old established forest with a more open section around the Clubhouse where more than a little water comes into play. The course is on level terrain so easily walked (aside form the Summer heat). From the back Tees it is a stern test of anybody's golf and has been designed with Pro-tournament golf in mind (the Club is the chosen home of the Turkish PGA). All manner of golfing tests await you here amidst the lush vegetation.
Antalya - Pasha Architect: European Golf Design (2003). 18 holes: 5,731m: par 72.
More compact than its big brother, the Pasha offers some light relief from the golfing trials of the exacting PGA Sultan course. However it is not to be dismissed as a walkover, there are plenty of hazards to negotiate not least several sizeable water hazards and varying degrees of dog-legs. A good course to start your week in Turkey and tune your golfing skills for the tougher challenges you may have chosen.
Gloria - Old Architect: M. Gayon (1997). 18 holes: 6,181m: par 72.
If you had to select one golf course that typified the region then Gloria Old would probably be the one you would choose. Not the toughest on offer, but by no mean the easiest either. A fine mixture of parasol pines, water and sand that will test and entertain you all the way round. Away from the main road too so it is a peaceful place, albeit a busy one with many golfers choosing to stay at the three Gloria resorts and quite a bustle at reception when the hotel shuttle buses unload.
Gloria - New Architect: M. Gayon (2005). 18 holes: 6,239m: par 72.
Just a few years younger than its sibling course and has a more open feel about it as the woodland is less dense in many places. The closing holes are very memorable as the water really comes into play. An interesting combination of five par-fives and five par-threes that will have you using every club in the bag. The par three in particular are very attractive with some elevated Tees providing very inviting Tee shots.
Open plan Clubhouse has an outdoor dining area reaching out over the pond - possibly a bit small, but they seem to cope!
Tat Architect: Hawtree & Co. 18 holes; 6,192m: par 72.
You would be forgiven for thinking that the job of Hawtree and Co. here was to choose the holes rather than create them as there appears to have been very little earthwork. Tat Golf Club has a beautifully simple appeal and charm about it. It feels like a local's club (although this is far from the case) with an unpretentious Clubhouse and honest course that runs alongside the river and down to the sea. There are three loops of nine holes: one set of which is almost links-like, the other two run through the pine forest inland. The 18-hole course played each day is on a continual rotation, however we shall try to ensure that you play the seaside nine and one of the forest nines (unless you prefer otherwise!).
Kaya Eagles Architect: D. Jones (2004). 18 holes: 5,896m: par 71.
A relaxing course that won't overstress your powers of golfing concentration yet will ask a few questions here and there. The course has quite a spacious feel due to the lack of established trees on some parts of the course (young saplings have ben planted so this will gradually change). Some large water hazards come into play but there is plenty of room to think your way around them. Greens are generally large so you should hit them, but you may have a serious putt or two to contend with.
Home of the Kaya Eagles Golf Club a German charity - so you may glimpse a German celebrity or two around the place.
Nobilis Architect: D. Thomas. 18 holes: 6,242m: par 72.
A Dave Thomas designed course on a fairly small stretch of land so the holes are quite close together. Some testing watery par threes, but generally narrow strips of pines separate one fairway from the next so errant shots are easily recoverable. The course is owned by the German travel giant Tui and is well frequented by their guests at the nearby club hotel.
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