GOLF
In recent years, as golf courses with international standards have opened up, Turkey has become an elite golfing centre where players from around the world can meet in an environment of quality and prestige. Especially the area of Belek, 30km east of Antalya, there is a potential for golf tourism with the unique bonus of the cultural, historical and natural sightseeing of the region. Top-class courses are also being planned for Istanbul, Ankara and Mugla.
In Turkey, most courses are in the vicinity of tourist resorts, around the coastal regions which have the necessary facilities like accommodation, restaurants and entertainment. The Ministry of Tourism plans to establish another 11 golf courses in these tourist areas. stage. By Stacie Leone
 Home to six of the country's nine championship golf courses, Belek has become synonymous with golf in Turkey. A short 30 km drive east from the center of Antalya, Belek's golf courses are situated amidst magnificent pine forests along the Mediterranean coast. Commended by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and awarded the international "Blue Flag Environment Award," what differentiates Belek from the rest of the Antalya region are the township's intense efforts to carefully plan around and protect the region's rich flora and fauna. Twenty-nine of the 574 different plants in the region are endemic and Belek is also a bird paradise where over 100 different bird species, including the camouflage owl and Tyto Alba, live.
Courses including the Gloria Golf Championship Golf Course, Nobilis Golf Resort and Tat Golf Belek International Golf Club also provide five-star luxury hotel and holiday-villa accommodations. In total there are over 30 four- and five-star hotels spread out along Belek's white sandy beaches and no matter where you stay, you can enjoy all of the courses without signing up for a membership. Geared towards golfing families and corporate groups, most of Belek's seaside resorts are in the five star category and offer -- in addition to golf -- tennis courts, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a plethora of other sports and many activities for children. All courses welcome beginners as well as professionals, provided they meet the standard handicap requirements. Each club offers a training academy staffed by qualified golf pros who are available for individual or group lessons, playing lessons and junior training.
"If you truly want to know someone, play a round of golf with them. On the golf course you cannot hide your complexes or nervousness from opponents. That is why many business people play golf together; because it is a game of decision and judgment and you can understand those aspects of someone's personality right away," says Mr. Kurtulus Gulsen, General Manager of National Golf Club.
 With ideal golfing temperatures, ranging from 28 C° in October to15 C° in January and 300 days of sunshine, Belek's golf courses -- all of which have Bermuda grass and have been designed with the European golfer in mind -- are ideal for playing throughout the year. In fact, Belek is at approximately the same latitude as the state of Georgia in America, one of the world's most popular golfing destinations, while most of Europe's courses are covered by snow during winter months. So, with most flights just over three hours from major European cities, Belek attracts about 90 percent of its visitors from outside Turkey. Since Germany raised its handicap to 56, from the international standards of 28 for men and 36 for women, the majority of golfers coming to Belek are Germans looking for a more challenging game. The Antalya Golf Club's courses, The Sultan and The Pasha, were designed by architects of European Golf Design, together with design consultant and Senior Tour professional, David Jones. Tricky dog-legs, cleverly placed bunkers and undulating greens ensure that more experienced golfer must think over each shot carefully, while the course's shorter length coupled with generous fairways will not unfairly punish the higher handicapper for any wayward shots. The Sultan, opened last fall, beckons the heartiest of golfers as its designers spared nothing to maintain the competitive level of the course, while blending it seamlessly into the forest environment. The Sultan delivers a stern but rewarding test of golfing ability that any keen player will relish. Gloria Golf Championship Golf Course and Resort opened in 1997, and with its par 72, 6296 meter course and a total of 63 bunkers and seven membrane lakes provides a good challenge for both low and high handicap players. Gloria hosted the Beko European Seniors Golf Tournament for several seasons as well as the Mid Amateur European Championship in 2001. Located right next to the golf course is the Gloria Golf Resort situated amidst a 50.000 m? pine forest and within walking distance of the beach. The Gloria Golf Resort is a five star hotel complex with private villas and a hotel with 420 rooms, each of which has a balcony or terrace. To keep the kids entertained, Gloria Golf Resort offers golf and tennis lessons and a large number of activities for children at its "Golfy Kids Club." National Golf Club, Belek's oldest course, opened in November 1994, and was designed by Ryder Cup player, David Feherty. It has an 18-hole championship course, a nine-hole academy course and a 40 bay driving range and putting/chipping practice areas. With a total of 76 sand traps and four wide natural lakes throughout the 9020 square meter course, it is known as one of Belek's most challenging. National hosted the first international professional golf tournament held in Turkey, the PGA European Turkish Seniors Open Championship, and is internationally recognized, along with Gloria, as one of the top 10 best golf courses in the world. While membership is not necessary to play at National, it is available and can be beneficial for golfers who live in Turkey or international golfers who visit often. Members are privy to a number of golf tournaments, held throughout the year, as well as priority tee-times and special discounts. Its most attractive membership is offered to residents of Antalya who pay just $500 USD per year. National currently has 118 members, seventy percent of which are international. "We get some of the most serious golfers at National, those looking for a highly challenging game and a true club atmosphere, as opposed to a holiday village," says Gulsen. "Although, most golfers who come to Belek play all six courses during their stay," he says.  By far the most luxurious accommodation not just in Belek but perhaps in all of Turkey is the brand new special-class Rixos Premium Resort which boasts over 200 rooms, several swimming pools and many other activities as well as, of course golf. The Nobilis Golf Resort, created by Dave Thomas, a world renowned architect, is located within the natural pine forest which borders the Ac?su River. The result is a championship golf course with creeping bent grass greens, tees and Bermuda fairways that provide some of the finest playing surfaces. Nobilis' accommodations consist of one and two bedroom villas with balconies and private jacuzzis which overlook the lakes that border the 8th and 9th holes and surround a swimming pool and clubhouse restaurant. The Nobilis Golf Hotel and Holiday Village is currently under construction, and once completed, will offer all of the amenities of a large hotel complex, including various shopping and entertainment centers. One of the newest addition to Belek's golf paradise is the Tat Golf Belek International Golf Club with a 27-hole course created by Hawtree of England architects. With its fairways running directly beside the beach, it has a spectacular view of the Mediterranean. The Tatbeach Golf Hotel, located on the beach, is another large, self-contained vacation and entertainment complex, accessible from the golf course via private shuttle service. "Golf is a mental game, not a reactive game. It is a sort of therapy for getting out all your stress on the weekend and keeping your head on the positive aspects of life," says Gulsen. "It is sixty percent social and forty percent a game. So, it's great for getting to know people you might not meet anywhere else," he adds. For the passionate golfer, Belek provides a distinctly European atmosphere amidst the natural splendor of the region. With its towering umbrella pines, crystal clear lakes, white sandy beaches, and the snow capped Taurus Mountains as a backdrop to the course, just try keeping your eye on the ball!
Where Can You Play Golf?
Golf Facilities acting with the Administration Certificate of Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
There are 5 facilities having Administration Certificate of Ministry of Culture and Tourism:
Gloria Golf Resort
Nobilis Golf Otel
Klassis Golf and Counrty
Kemer Golf Country Club
Nasional Golf Club
Tat Golf
Gloria Golf Resort
Arrival:
Distance to Airport: 42 km.
Duration of Transferring: 30 minutes
Distance to Centre: 50 km
Climate : Because of the excellent climate of the Belek region, it is possible to play golf throughout the year.
Properties of the Course: Length of the field, 6288 metres;18 holes, 842 beds, Par 72
This course was designed by French golf architect Michel Gayon, and situated by pine forests at the foot of the Toros Mountain. It is considered a Gayon classic, with deep bunkers, and an average 670 m2 green areas and seven ponds of 30,000 m2. The handicap obligations is 28 for men and 36 for women. The tee's are white, yellow , blue and red. There are 63 bunkers, which are 16,000 m2.
The driving range is formed by a pond containing the target greens, and at this location in order to pass the pond with practice shots, a harsh and high shot of 203 meters is necessary. The driving range shot platform has 48 sections and two floors.
Nobilis Golf Otel
Arrival:
Distance to Airport - 42 km
Duration of Transfer: 40 min
Distance to Centre: 50 km
Climate : Because of the excellent climate of the Belek region, it is possible to play golf throughout the year.
Properties of the course: Length of the field 5877 metres, 18 holes, 68 beds. Par: 72
Designed by internationally renowned architect Dave Thomas, this course is next to a natural pine forest around Belek Acisu river, and has been operating since 1998. It covers an area of 729,000 m2, with 18 holes. The driving range holds 60 people. The length of the field is 5877m for men and 5103m for women, and grass is watered by a computer-controlled system.
Klassis Golf and Country
Properties of the Course: Length of the field - 5850 meters, 18+9 holes, 990 beds. Par 72
The course was designed by one of the world’s best golf players, Tony Jacklin, and has hosted the European Challenge Tour in 1997 and 1998, and the BEKO Seniors PGA Tour in 1999. The 9th hole with three parks reveals a 171m lake. Instead of a fairway at the 12th hole, there is a 50-metre deep valley. The altitude at the ground varies between 0 - 60 meters at the ground.
The driving range is 230m long, and there is also a putting green. The championship field is composed of pits at which the player should pass the lake to reach the green. The course has four holes at par 3, four at par 5 and 10 at par 4.
In addition to the championship course, there is also a beginner’ course of 9 holes, for new players starting out.
Kemer Golf Country Club
Properties of the Course: 1455 Beds, 18 holes.
Course facilities: Training course, golf club facilities, (a restaurant for 65 people, three cafe/bars, sports hall, cinema, open-air swimming pool), artificial lake, stables, mountain bike and recreation club (Dining hall for 120 people), eight tennis courts, mini football field, playground, administrative staff house.
Golf and country club (kindergarten, casino for 180 people), Japanese restaurant, Italian restaurant, French restaurant, dining terrace, chess and billiard hall, bar, gymnasium, squash courts, sauna, Jacuzzi, winter garden, indoor swimming pool, tennis courts.
National Golf Club
Climate: Because of the excellent climate of the Belek region, it is possible to play golf throughout the year.
Properties of the course: Length of the field - 6172 meters, 18 holes, Par 72
The course was planned by Ryder Cup player David Feherty. The driving range has 40 sections. The handicap requirements are 28 for men and 36 for women.
Tat Golf
Arrival:
Distance to airport: 35 km
Distance to City Centre: 45 km
Climate: Because of the excellent climate of the Belek region, it is possible to play golf throughout the year.
Properties of the course: Length of the field: 18 holes, 9 hole academic course, training field, bar, units, open-air swimming pool, maintenance facilities, 650 beds, international telephone and satellite.
The course is built on an area of 5252 hectares (13 acre) by Hawtree of England, Golf Course Architects. It is in the vicinity of the ancient cities of Perge, Side, Aspendos, Termessos, Olympos, Chimera, Kekova, Myra.
The Facilities having Investment Certificates of the Ministry
Kaya Belek
Belek Tourism Center ANTALYA
18 hole golf field, 649 beds
Akdeniz Golf Club
Serik, Belek, ANTALYA
36 hole
Koprucay Golf
Koprucay Dolusu Mevkii, Serik, ANTALYA
16 holes, 400 beds
The Scala Nova Golf and Country
Soke, AYDIN
18 holes, 569 beds
Kemerburgaz Golf
Gokturk Koyu, Kemerburgaz, ISTANBUL
27 holes, 1455 beds
MIR Club Country
S?g?revrek Devlet Orman?, Pendik, ISTANBUL
18 holes
Pine Bay Sar?germe Golf Resort
Sar?germe mevkii, MUGLA
18 holes, 44 beds
K?z?lcahamam Golf Tesisi
Merkez koyu mevkii, K?z?lcahamam, ANKARA
18+9+27 holes, 130 beds,
World of Wonders White House
Ozlu koyu, Kocacam mevkii, Aksu, ANTALYA
18 holes, 200 beds |
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