Antalya Golf

Golf Tourism in Antalya

Speaking at the 2012 Turkey Tourism Summit, the head of the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD) Ümit Boyner emphasized once again an important aspect in tourism.

There was an increase in the number of tourists visiting Turkey in 2011, however, the number of high-income tourists has dropped, as well as average spending per person. In her speech, Boyner justifiably highlighted that the reason why the typical “high-income” tourist was not coming to Turkey must be well analyzed. 

When the high-income tourist is mentioned, it is golf tourism that comes to mind first. We know this very well: The tourist who comes to play golf spends five times more than a normal tourist.

If we take a look at those countries such as France, Italy and Spain that are major competitors for Turkey in the Mediterranean basin, we see that they are far ahead of us. For example, while France has 110 golf courses, Spain has 52, Portugal has 44 and Italy has 40. The number of golf courses in Turkey is only 19.

I had a chance to chat with the founder of National Golf Club, Bülent Göktuna, Ph.D. In 1994 he was able to found his course with incentives from the president of the time in the town of Belek’s Kadriye village, in the Mediterranean province of Antalya, where cotton fields used to exist.

Göktuna, who divides his time between London, Istanbul and Antalya is also the owner of the international investment consultancy firm Mineksi. He put the figures in front of me: A normal tourist arriving in Antalya spends 25 to 30 euros daily in winter months including accommodation. However a gold, “high income” tourist’s spending can be as high as 200 euros.

Göktuna said there were 14 golf courses in Antalya. The course at the National Golf Club is considered the most difficult course in Europe, and is also the country’s first international championship course. As a matter of fact, the club hosts one of Europe’s most prestigious tournaments, the Ladies European Tour (from May 10-13 this year).

126 professional female golfers come to Antalya. We broadcast to 80 countries from here. Some 8 million people watch the tournament, said Göktuna, who has been organizing the tournament since 2008.

However, his contribution to golf is not limited to this. For a while now he has been training local youngsters between the ages of 7 and 17, from surrounding villages and also from the Antalya Orphanage, as golfers of the future.

There are also little girls among students, and I had the opportunity to watch them while they were in training with their coaches. They are all so eager to climb to the top, and I was told these 80 students were also taking English and sports psychology classes at the club.

The 27 year old coach of the young golfers, Bekir Kara, is from the nearby Kadriye village. He was trained at the National Golf Club and is currently a graduate student at Birmingham University, in the U.K.

From a wider point of view, Bülent Göktuna has really brought a golf miracle to this corner of Antalya. Antalya, which has for years based its hope on the formula of sun/sea/sand and mass tourism that generates less revenue, is now heading toward golf and health tourism. Other golf courses that have seen us feel obliged to raise their standards, said Göktuna.

Belek was selected Europe’s best golf region in 2008. Turkey seems to have understood the value of the golfer who spends five times more than the normal tourist.

ANTALYA GOLF CLUB

The courses designed by leading architects European Golf Design, together with design consultant and Senior Tour Professional Davis Jones, provide not only a challenge to golfers of all abilities but also wonderful surroundings in which to enjoy your game.

Pasha Course 5731 metres 72 par 18 holes Designed by David Jones Architect Tim Lobb Opened in 2002 Handicap 36 / 28

PGA Sultan Course5731 metres 72 par 18 holes Designed by David Jones Architect Andrew Haggar Opened in 2003 Handicap 28 / 24

Belek Turizm Merkezi PK 33 07500 Belek ANTALYA
Phone : 0 242 7255970
Web : www.antalyagolfclub.com.tr
E-mail : agci@antalyagolfclub.com.tr

CARYA GOLF CLUB

This is the first classic, heathland style golf course to be built on Turkey's Mediterranean coast. Set on undulating sand hills, Carya is a championship golf course at the heart of Turkey's golf centre.

Championship Course 6571 metres 72 par 18 holes
Designed by Peter Thomson
Opened in 2008
Handicap 36 / 28

Taşlıburun Location, Dinler Bahçesi Yanı 07500 Belek ANTALYA
Phone: 0 242 7256320
Web : http://www.caryagolf.com/en


CORNELIA GOLF CLUB

This 27 hole Nick Faldo golf course winds its way through some of the most natural landscapes Turkey has to offer.

Tiberius 3143 metres 36 par Designed by Nick Faldo  Opened in 2006 Handicap 36 / 28

Sempronia3230 metres 36 par Designed by Nick Faldo  Opened in 2006 Handicap 28 / 24

Galius3181 metres 36 par Designed by Nick Faldo  Opened in 2006 Handicap 28 / 24

İleribaşı Location, Belek ANTALYA
Phone: 0 242 7101600
Web : http://www.corneliaresort.com 


GLORIA GOLF CLUB

As being the biggest golf course in Turkey, you have the chance to see world famous pros while they’re playing on these challenging courses.

Gloria “old” Şampiyona Course 6296 metres 72 par 18 holes Designed by Michel Gayon   Opened in 1997 Handicap 36 / 28

Gloria “new” Şampiyona Course 6239 metres 72 par 18 holes  Designed by Michel Gayon  Opened in 2005 Handicap 36 / 28

Gloria Verde Course 2926 metres 36 par 9 holes Designed by - Opened in 2001 Handicap -

Acısu Mevkii, Belek ANTALYA
Phone: 0 242 7100600
Web : http://www.gloria.com.tr/tr/Gloria-HoPhones-And-Resorts/Plus.aspx?activityId=47 
E-mail : info@gloriagolf.com 

KAYA EAGLES GOLF CLUB

Combines its force with the experience of Eagles Charity Golf Club, the number first choice of golf lovers in the world and the most prestigious golf club of Europe, established in a 750.000 m2 pine forest

Kaya Eagles Course
5887 metres 71 par 18 holes
Designed by David Jones
Opened in 2007
Handicap 36 / 28

Üçkum Tepesi Mevkii Belek ANTALYA
Phone: 0 242 7255928
Web: http://www.kayatourism.com.tr/tr/oPhoneler/kaya_golf_club/default.aspx?id=golfclub 

LYKIA LINKS GOLF ANTALYA

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.

Akdeniz Sahilinde “Links” Course 6850 metres 27 par 18 holes Designed by Perry Dye Opened in 2008 Handicap 36 / 28

Academy Course 1286 metres 27 par 9 holes Designed by Perry Dye Opened in 2008 Handicap 28 / 24

Denizkaya Köyü, Köprüçay Mevkii, ANTALYA
Phone: 0 242 754 43 43
Web : http://www.lykiaworldantalya.com/Cultures/tr-TR/LykiaLinksGolf.aspx

MONTGOMERIE PAPILLON GOLF CLUB

Colin Montgomerie grew up playing golf at Royal Troon, Scotland, one of the classic links courses on the rota of the British Open Championship. Not far from the Montgomerie home there were many other great links courses, on which Colin learned his golf as a child.

The Montgomerie Course
6400 metres - 72 par - 18 holes
Designed by Colin Montgomerie
Opened in 2008

İskele Mevkii, Turizm Cad. 07505 Belek ANTALYA
Phone: 0 242 7153400
Web : http://www.papillon.com.tr/beta1/montgomerie/index.html
E-mail : montgomerie@papillon.com.tr

NATIONAL GOLF CLUB

Since the opening of the National on 18 November 1994, the Club has become a popular tourist destination attracting golfers from all corners of the world and it has taken only six years to win international recognition in the year 2000 rankings of UK’s Golf World magazine as the number 42 and in the year 2001 rankings’ as the number 39 golf course in mainland Europe.

Championship Course 6172 metres 72 par 18 holes Designed by David Feherty / David Jones Opened in 1994 Handicap 36 / 28

Akademi Course 1547 metres 29 par 9 holes Designed by David Feherty / David Jones Opened in 1994 Handicap 28 / 24

Belek Turizm Merkezi, 07500 Serik ANTALYA
Phone: 0 242 7254620
Web : www.nationalturkey.com
E-mail : info@nationalturkey.com

NOBILIS ROBINSON GOLF CLUBS

This Golf course is set within the natural pine forest that borders the Acısu River and features a beautiful Roman style clubhouse.

Nobilis Course
6312 metres 72 par 18 holes
Designed by Dave Thomas
Opened in 1998
Handicap 36 / 28

Acısu Mevkii, Belek PK 56, Serik 07500 ANTALYA
Phone: 0 242 7100300
Web : http://www.robinson.com/clubs/winter/club-nobilis/sport-aktivitaeten/golf

SUENO GOLF HOPhone

The Sueno Golf Courses are 25 minutes drive from Antalya International Airport to the Tourism Area Belek, Taşlıburun area.

The Pines Course 6413metres 72 par 18 holes Designed by Andrew Crawen Opened in 2007 Handicap 36 / 28

The Dunes Course 5643 metres 69 par 18 holes Designed by Andrew Crawen Opened in 2007 Handicap 36 / 28

Taşlıburun Location, Kadriye – Belek ANTALYA
Phone: 0 242 7254470
Web : www.sueno.com.tr
E-mail : info@sueno.com.tr

TAT GOLF CLUB

For the setting of this course the designers tried to keep the natural character of the area with sand hills, rivers and lakes.

The Mediterrranean 6056 metres 72 par Designed by Hawtree   Opened in 2007 Handicap 36 / 28

The Forest 6072 metres 72 par Designed by Hawtree  Opened in 2007 Handicap 36 / 28

The River6192 metres 72 par Designed by Hawtree Opened in 2007 Handicap 36 / 28

Üçkum Tepesi Mevkii, Belek ANTALYA
Phone: 0 242 7255303
Web : www.tatgolf.com.tr
E-mail : info@tatgolf.com.tr

Turkish Golf Federation
http://www.tgf.org.tr/kbrosur_09.asp