A Perfect Golf Escape to Turkish Riviera
A growing number of Europe’s leisure golfers is discovering the merits of golfing in Belek, Türkiye with golf courses in the region not only welcoming club members, but also pay-and-play golfers with amazing Mediterranean views, forested fairways, and après-golf amenities.
With year-round average temperatures of 20°C and 300 days of sunshine, as well as pristinely manicured golf courses hosting solid play, a mere 35-minutes from the Antalya airport, good reasons abound for adding golfing in Belek to your wish list this year. Many of Belek’s golf courses offer an amazing natural setting between picturesque mountains and the sea, providing fantastic views, abundant wildlife, particularly birds, in their natural habitats, and a true Mediterranean experience.
An amazing collection of destination-worthy courses in close proximity to one another, and adjacent to sprawling 5-star resorts, makes it very easy for enthusiasts to combine their rounds of golf with plenty of water sports, dining, and fun-filled activities, a must if you are travelling with non-golfers from your family or circle of friends. With the inclusion of state-of-the-art practice facilities and lessons with PGA-certified instructors, golf courses in Belek are the perfect choice for beginners, experts, and everyone in between.
Furthermore, some of Türkiye’s most impressive luxury resorts are clustered here, welcoming guests with kilometres of golden sandy beaches, as well as an exclusive array of rooms, suites, and villas adjoining the lush fairways. The choices are plenty as to how to crown your golfing rounds with relaxation, whether on the beach, in the spa, or poolside with a sunset cocktail, before retreating to the tranquillity of your room all in the most opulent of settings.
Belek’s popularity as a golfing destination has been steadily growing since the opening of the National Golf Club in 1994 as the first such facility in the region, set in a forest of eucalyptus and pine trees dotted with natural lakes sprawling some 100 plus hectares. Designed by David Feherty and David Jones, two former professionals on the European and PGA Tours, this course was also the first to host an international professional tournament in Türkiye. It was certainly not the last, however, as it was later joined by several other world-class golf courses with, many of which were developed by renowned golfers /designers, including PGA champions Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomery, to name a few.
Part of the fun of the game is experiencing an assortment of new challenging courses wherever you go, and Belek provides more than enough variety in this respect with its numerous golf clubs both independent and as part of 5-star golf resorts. Here, you can put your skills to test on seaside links, the beauty of which conjures Old St Andrews or Pebble Beach, or you can indulge in golf at night at the first fully-lighted golf course in Europe. Indeed, the Turkish Airlines Open in 2019 was the first international championship featuring competition under floodlights, providing season-ending highlights on the European Tour.
Belek has hosted several other televised international events, attracting legendary players from the world of golf. The Turkish Airlines Open 2013 was perhaps the most memorable with Tiger Woods hitting the first-ever golf shot from Asia to Europe on the Bosphorus Bridge, before flying down to Belek to headline Türkiye’s first-ever European Tour event, joining other champions including Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Rory Mcllroy, Hunter Mahan, Justin Rose, and Webb Simpson.
In recent years, the sport of golf has surged as the recreational activity of choice for many looking to get outdoors and enjoy the fresh air and scenery all while still maintaining social distance. For those planning to catch the spirit of our times with a golf escape to the Turkish Riviera, and maybe shave a few strokes off their scorecards, there’s no better choice than the spectacular courses of Belek.
Merge Golf with Leisure
Antalya boasts more than just exceptional golfing. Here are a few ideas to elevate your golf vacation experience.
If you are with the family, you can be sure that pristine sandy beaches are the norm in all 5-star resorts of Belek, many also featuring well-managed kids clubs, as well as youth golf academies.
For history buffs, Kaleiçi (Old Fortified City) in Antalya is like a living museum with landmarks including Hadrian Gate, and old wood and brick Antalya houses with their amazing courtyards ornamented with the region’s trademark pebble mosaics. To see the precious artefacts found in ancient cities like Side, Aspendos, and Perge, head to Antalya Archaeology Museum outside the old city walls.
Book a ticket for a concert or show at the ancient theatre of Aspendos, during the annual Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival held in August and September. Take an exhilarating jeep safari or river rafting in Köprülü Canyon for a day of adventure.
Trek along the trails connecting the ancient cities of Lycia and Pisidia regions, or discover the rich flora of the Antalya region with botanic tours encompassing Tahtalı Mountain, Kemer, Çıralı, and Kaş in spring and autumn.