Turkey Golf Guide 2014

The Great Golf Guide 2014

THE LOWDOWN ON GOLF IN

TURKEY Our comprehensive supplement on the best places to play and stay in Belek

Inside the guide: 3 Why Turkey is a golf mecca 4 When Tiger came to tee off 6 Faldo’s Cornelia resort 8 All about Gloria’s 54 holes 10 Sueno’s classic course 12 Classy Kaya 14 Sirene and Kempinski www.nationalclubgolfer.com | APRIL 2014 1

Saving golfers time and money

experience golf in turkey from just £359

cornelia diamond golf resort and spa 5★ Play at: Cornelia GC. 1 in 8 free. includes all transfers

sirene belek hotel 5★ Play at: Antalya GC - PGA Sultan and Pasha courses.

1 in 8 free. includes all transfers

7 nights’ all inclusive & 3 rounds

hotel riu kaya belek 5★

from £509

from £395

7 nights’ all inclusive & 3 rounds

kempinski hotel the dome 5★

7 nights’ all inclusive & 3 rounds

from £439

Play at: Antalya GC - PGA Sultan and Pasha courses.

1 in 8 free. includes all transfers

Don’t forget to ask us about flight-inclusive packages with Thomas Cook from Manchester and Gatwick

Call us on 0845 543 6674

Monday-Friday 8am-9pm, Saturday-Sunday 9am-3pm

Or visit

7 nights’ all inclusive & 3 rounds

Play at: Kaya Eagles and Sueno - Pines or Dunes.

1 in 8 free. includes all transfers

from £679

The Great Golf Guide | Turkey

PGA Sultan One of Belek’s ‘Top 100’ venues.

Welcome

Belek is Europe’s hottest new destination – and we can provide the perfect break...

G

reat golf, great weather, great hotels and the very best levels of service and hospitality. What more could you wish for from a golf holiday?

Nowhere is that better expressed than in the golf courses and luxurious hotels of Belek, where the game has really taken root since the first course was built in 1994. Its appeal is no great mystery. The courses are excellent and very accessible, while the landscape – pine forests and sandy ground – is perfect golfing territory, enabling world-class designers like Sir Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Peter Thomson, Martin Hawtree and Dave Thomas to create

glorious layouts that rival anything in Europe.

Belek is also now firmly established on the professional tournament scene having already welcomed the likes of Tiger Woods and Justin Rose for the inaugural Turkish Airlines World Final at Antalya Golf Club.

That has since been followed up with the $7million Turkish Airlines Open at Montgomerie Maxx Royal that was the penultimate event in the 2013 Race to Dubai and is now one of the flagship events of the European Tour schedule.

For us mere mortals, Belek

Why trust GOLFBREAKS.com with your GOLF trip TO BELEK? Guaranteed Tee Times We have secured prime tee-times for the forthcoming year as well as Spring 2015 ensuring you get the slot you want Group Discounts All package offers excellent discounts for groups as well as extras ranging from free upgrades to free buggies Trusted Ground Agents Our partner on the ground is Millennium Golf, who have been operating in

the region for 18 years and provide personal service and a reliable point of contact throughout your stay.

Flights We can offer flight-inclusive packages, making us a one-stop shop.

All Inclusive Hotels All of our hotels in Belek are five-star, all-inclusive venues – meaning all your food and drink is covered, giving you complete control over your budget.

is a year-round destination although October to May is the ideal time to visit, taking advantage of the perfect climate for golf. And with a flight time of four hours followed by a simple 45-minute transfer, reaching Belek couldn’t be easier.

If you’ve never been to Belek, you’re in for a real treat.

Our experienced and dedicated sales team is waiting to help you secure the very best deal, so why not give us a call on 0845 543 664?

Andrew Stanley, CEO

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | APRIL 2014 1

The Great Golf Guide | Turkey | Turkish Open flight included Golfbreaks.com can save you time and money with flight-inclusive deals.

We work with Thomas Cook, EasyJet, Monarch and Thomson airlines to offer direct flights from airports across the UK into Antalya.

Flight time is just over four hours, with a 40-minute transfer. On the ground, Millennium Golf will ensure you have a comfortable onward journey and provide your daily golf transfers.

All flight-inclusive packages offer great value. There are no hidden costs – baggage and golf-club carriage are included as well as airport and golf transfers.

Two of the best flightinclusive deals are below – call us for more options: Hotel Riu Kaya Belek 7 nights’ all inclusive 3 rounds (Kaya Eagles & Sueno Pines or Dunes).

Thomas Cook flight including 1 hold bag & clubs (Gatwick or Manchester) All Transfers

£725

Cornelia De Luxe 7 nights’ all inclusive 3 rounds (Cornelia GC – Faldo course).

Thomas Cook flight including 1 hold bag & clubs (Gatwick or Manchester) All Transfers

£759

2 APRIL 2014 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

Many more great value breaks available online at

The week Turkey Became a golfing

Superpower How the Turkish Open led to Antalya making its mark on the golfing world

A

Maxx Royal Belek 5c Golf & Spa Play at: Montgomerie Maxx Royal GC & Sueno. Winter Sun 7 nights’ all inclusive and 3 rounds • 1 in 8 FREE From Includes all transfers

£635

or call us on 0845

Voyage Belek

5c

Play at: Montgomerie Maxx Royal GC & Sueno Winter Sun 7 nights’ all inclusive and • 1 in 8 FREE 3 rounds From Includes all transfers

£399

lthough it may have seemed unthinkable 10 years ago, Tiger Woods has played more golf in Turkey than in either England or Scotland during the last two years.

First, Woods played in the elite knockout event following the Ryder Cup in 2012, competing in a field which included McIlroy, Westwood and Rose. Then it was announced the World No 1 would play in the 2013 Turkish Open, a lucrative new addition to the European Tour schedule.

It confirmed what many seasoned golf travellers already knew – Turkey is a serious player on golf’s world stage.

Woods may have been an expensive acquisition for the tournament organisers, but his appearance at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal consolidated a wonderful week for the country.

Combining tournaments

543 664 – we’re open 7 days a week

with tourism is never easy, but the level of support and calibre of the field at Turkey’s first European Tour venture showed that organisers got it right.

Compare images of the Turkish Open to many other European Tour events, including

the recent Desert Swing events, and you see a great deal more people in the crowd.

There are now even whispers that Turkey may bid to host its own Ryder Cup in 2022 on the back of these successes.

Few would now dismiss its credentials as a host nation.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | APRIL 2014 3

C

ornelia RESORT boasts one of Europe’s finest courses and two five-star hotels.

The De Luxe resort has accommodation ranging from standard rooms to luxury suites complete with private jacuzzis and terraces, while the Diamond resort boasts suites specifically designed for golfers – with space for up to five people.

Both also lie less than five

minutes from one of Continental Europe’s Top 100 courses.

Designed by six-time Major champion Nick Faldo, the layout at Cornelia opened in 2006... just nine months after construction work began.

The course comprises All airport and golf transfers included Don’t forget to ask us about flight-inclusive packages

three loops of nine – Tiberius, Sempronia and Gaius – all of which feature rippling lakes and a collection of tricky doglegs.

Away from the course, Cornelia is especially well served; it has an open-plan clubhouse as well as bar and restaurant facilities.

Finally, a team of David Leadbetter-trained instructors also operates on-site to help golfers ensure they get the most out of their stay.

The Great Golf Guide | Turkey | Cornelia Resort

Off the course...

Windsurfing, tennis and waterskiing are all available on-site.

But if you do wish to explore, then the wellpreserved Aspendos Coliseum is well worth a visit.

The Troy Aqua and Dolphinarium also lies close by. Featuring water slides, a dolphin show and a surfing simulator, the park is perfect for children, families and golfers seeking a break!

Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort & Spa 5c

Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort & Spa 5c

Cornelia De Luxe

Play at: Cornelia GC

Play at: Cornelia GC

Play at: Cornelia GC

Winter Sun 7 nights’ • 1 in 8 FREE all inclusive and 3 rounds From

Autumn 7 nights’ all inclusive and 3 rounds

Autumn 7 nights’ all inclusive and 3 rounds Includes all transfers

• 1 in 8 FREE From

£819

2 APRIL 2014 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

Includes all transfers

£509

Includes all transfers

5c

Cornelia De Luxe

5c

Play at: Cornelia GC

• 1 in 8 FREE From

£725

Many more great value breaks available online at

Winter Sun 7 nights’ • 1 in 8 FREE all inclusive and 3 rounds From Includes all transfers

£435

Cornelia RESORT

Two five-star hotels plus a course designed by Sir Nick Faldo or call us on 0845

543 664 – we’re open 7 days a week

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | APRIL 2014 3

The Great Golf Guide | Turkey | Gloria Resort

Gloria Golf RESORT

An incredible number of holes complimented by three luxury hotels

T

HE Gloria Resort is immense, boasting a bewildering array of golf holes in addition to a complex of three hotels at the foot of the Taurus Mountains.

Gloria has three courses with the Old regarded as the pick.

Designed by French architect Michael Gayon, the 6,759-yard parkland opened in 1997, so is one of the oldest courses in Belek... and one of the best. Seven lakes and over 60 bunkers make for memorable and challenging holes.

‘Gloria has three courses, with the Old the pick’ Water impacts heavily on the course’s signature; while by no means the longest hole at only 306 yards, the 16th features a large lake to the left of the fairway as well as an out-ofbounds stretch to the right. To make matters trickier, the green is heavily bunkered.

The club added a second 18hole layout in 2005. Already the

2 APRIL 2014 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

host of top-class tournaments, the 6,823-yard New Course features undulating, treelined fairways and poses an altogether different challenge.

The 3rd hole is especially good. Known as ‘Quarry’, you have to clear a cluster of rocks to reach the short green at this 165-yard par 3.

Those who develop a fear of water on the Old course will find no solace on the New. The course features four large lakes, a fact that becomes evident on the ominously titled 9th hole – ‘Watery Grave’.

Many more great value breaks available online at

Golfbreaks.com offers Gloria Verde Resort

5c

Play at: Gloria GC - Old & New Course. Autumn 7 nights’ all inclusive and 3 rounds • 1 in 8 FREE From Includes all transfers

Gloria Verde Resort

£729

5c

Play at: Gloria GC - Old & New Course. Winter Sun 7 nights’ all inclusive and 3 rounds • 1 in 8 FREE From Includes all transfers

£499

Gloria Golf Resort

5c

Play at: Gloria GC - Old & New Course

Autumn 7 nights’ all inclusive and 3 rounds Includes all transfers

• 1 in 8 FREE From

£779

Gloria Golf Resort

5c

Play at: Gloria GC - Old & New Course

Winter Sun 7 nights’ • 1 in 8 FREE all inclusive and 3 rounds From Includes all transfers

£535

Gloria Serenity Resort

5c

Play at: Gloria GC - Old & New Course

You also find yourself flirting with the wet stuff at the fabulous, signature 17th.

Modelled on the 17th at Sawgrass, you could find your score in tatters if you miss the island green at this memorable 147-yard short hole.

For those travelling with nongolfers, the club’s 9-hole layout is the perfect place to spend a sunny afternoon.

Measuring just shy of 3,200 yards, the Verde course is open to players without handicaps.

However, two large lakes and 28 bunkers mean it offers more than enough to keep the serious golfer interested too.

Those who simply wish to relax can make use of the private beach and poolside bar, or just sit back and take advantage of the 24-hour room service.

or call us on 0845

All in all, a comprehensive leisure resort. Standard rooms feature Wi-Fi and satellite TV as well as a minibar, while the resort’s executive villas provide kitchens, sitting rooms and en-suite bedrooms. Guests also enjoy access to the resort’s spa and dining facilities, which can cater for all tastes. The Turkuaz restaurant is perfect for sampling local delicacies, while the Harem A La Carte and L’Ancora A La Carte restaurants offer a range of options for the less adventurous palate.

off-course attractions...

Given that everything else about the Gloria Resort can be safely described as comprehensive, you won’t be surprised to learn that away from the golf, Gloria boasts lots of non-golf activities.

There is a fitness centre which incorporates a team of personal trainers while all three resorts also offer a range of floodlit clay and all-weather tennis courts, as well as a pair of full-length football pitches. Guests can also make use of the on-site water sport facilities; surfing, waterskiing and scuba diving.

543 664 – we’re open 7 days a week

All airport and golf transfers included Don’t forget to ask us about flight-inclusive packages

Autumn 7 nights’ all inclusive and 3 rounds Includes all transfers

• 1 in 8 FREE From

£885

Gloria Serenity Resort

5c

Play at: Gloria GC - Old & New Course

Winter Sun 7 nights’ • 1 in 8 FREE all inclusive and 3 rounds From Includes all transfers

£609

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | APRIL 2014 3

A

PRIVATE beach and two full-size courses right next to the hotel make Sueno resort one of the most attractive in Belek.

The 1st tees of both the 18hole Pines and the Dunes are right in front of the hotel so there is no need for a transfer.

Both courses are highly regarded but it is the Pines that we believe to be the premier layout here; at over 7,100 yards it is a real championship test which weaves its way through an abundance of pine trees and between bunkers and water hazards.

As it is located close to the coast, the turf has a wonderful sandy texture.

The stand-out hole is arguably the par-4 18th, named ‘mirage’ owing to the drive playing out to what appears an impossible dogleg while two bunkers cut in to the fairway and a lake appears to be directly behind. This optical illusion from the tee makes it seem a really exacting drive but in fact there is a good amount of fairway separating the bunkers from the lake and therefore there is actually a decent landing area.

The Dunes is a bit shorter with more room for error, so is an ideal complement to the Pines.

Opened in 2007, Sueno’s hotel has two large swimming pools, three distinctive restaurants offering a variety of international cuisine, eight bars, a range of leisure activities, a fully equipped spa and 174 fivestar bedrooms (each with air conditioning, plasma satellite TV and a balcony).

The rooms at this luxury resort offer views over either the courses or the sea.

All airport and golf transfers included Don’t forget to ask us about flight-inclusive packages

2 APRIL 2014 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

The Great Golf Guide | Turkey | Sueno Resort

Sueno RESORT

Offering 36 holes... all on site and waiting for you

Many more great value breaks available online at

THE CLUBHOUSE

THE COURSE

THE POOL

Sueno Hotels Golf Resort

5c

Play at: Sueno - Pines and Dunes

Autumn 7 nights’ all inclusive and unlimited golf Includes all transfers

• 1 in 8 FREE From

£629

Sueno Hotels Golf Resort

5c

Play at: Sueno - Pines and Dunes

Winter Sun 7 nights’ • 1 in 8 FREE all inclusive and unlimited golf From Includes all transfers

or call us on 0845

543 664 – we’re open 7 days a week

£595

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | APRIL 2014 3

The Great Golf Guide | Turkey | Kaya Hotels

All airport and golf transfers included Don’t forget to ask us about flight-inclusive packages

2 APRIL 2014 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

Many more great value breaks available online at

Kaya Hotel

Play Kaya Eagles, stay at Riu Kaya or Palazzo

K

Hotel Riu Kaya Belek

5c

Play at: Kaya Eagles and Sueno Pines or Dunes

Autumn 7 nights’ all inclusive and 3 rounds Includes all transfers

• 1 in 8 FREE From

£599

or call us on 0845

AYA EAGLES is one of the most underrated courses in Belek. Set on the edge of the Mediterranean among mature pines, this may not be one of Belek’s bestknown courses but it is one of the most charming.

There are eight lakes to avoid and, being set among pine trees, accuracy off the tee is required to have clear shots into greens. Once on the putting surface, the greens have subtle contours to bewilder you.

The backdrop of the Taurus mountains make it a serene, scenic place to play.

If playing Kaya Eagles appeals to you, there are excellent accommodation options on site, in the form of the Riu Kaya or Kaya Palazzo hotels. The former is a five-star venue with 518 rooms which is equally good at satisfying the needs of golfers and families.

Situated just yards from the beach, it has two pools, an extensive range of children’s

activities, as well as two fresh water swimming pools, an indoor pool, a sauna, Jacuzzi, Turkish bath and a Spa with a myriad different treatments and massages to soothe, pamper and revitalise.The hotel offers marvellous views of the ocean and the magnificent garden while the restaurants can satisfy any palate. Table tennis, mini golf, volleyball, football, aerobics, bowls, canoe and other aquatic activities are on site while there is an exclusive programme for children.

The Kaya Palazzo is the shining new star of Belek.

It opened in June 2013 to widespread acclaim.

Covering 3,500sq metres, the spa offers every treatment imaginable and is backed up by everything from a kids’ club and conference centre to a staggering range of restaurants serving, among others, Turkish, Italian, Asian and Lebanese food. There are also an amazing 10 bars – from an Irish bar to a Vitamin one.

Riu Kaya Palazzo Golf Resort 5c

Riu Kaya Palazzo Golf Resort 5c

Play at: Kaya Eagles and Sueno Pines or Dunes

Play at: Kaya Eagles and Sueno Pines or Dunes

Play at: Kaya Eagles and Sueno Pines or Dunes

Winter Sun 7 nights’ • 1 in 8 FREE all inclusive and 3 rounds From

Autumn 7 nights’ all inclusive and 3 rounds

Hotel Riu Kaya Belek

Includes all transfers

5c

£395

Includes all transfers

543 664 – we’re open 7 days a week

• 1 in 8 FREE From

£949

Winter Sun 7 nights’ • 1 in 8 FREE all inclusive and 3 rounds From Includes all transfers

£565

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | APRIL 2014 3

The Great Golf Guide | Turkey | Sirene Hotel & Kempinski Hotel

Sirene Belek Hotel

5c

Play at: Antalya GC - PGA Sultan and Pasha Courses

Sirene Hotel

Your ideal accommodation from which to play Antalya’s 36 holes

T

HE Sirene Hotel is a five-star resort conveniently located at the heart of the world-famous Antalya Golf Club.

It is just a few yards from the 1st tees of both the PGA Sultan and the Pasha courses – the former being the host of the star-studded Turkish Airlines World Golf Finals knockout event in 2012.

Its other key advantage is that it is located right next to Belek’s sandy beaches and the Mediterranean sea.

The hotel is spread out in two parts: a main building – which contains a large proportion of the rooms and suites – and the village, with 209 villa rooms set among the hotel gardens.

Sirene also boasts five restaurants, a health and fitness centre, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts and a comprehensive spa.

The all-inclusive hotel has seven bars, and is thus able to offer famous cocktails and any drink you fancy!

As well as Antalya’s two courses, the Sirene is a good

2 APRIL 2014 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

base for Belek’s other golf attractions, its central location meaning it is close to Gloria, Cornelia, the Montgomerie Maxx and so on.

The bustling and vibrant city of Antalya is just 30 minutes away and offers a taste of modern and historic Turkey, boasting shops, historic sites and visitor attractions.

However, the quality of the facilities at Sirene means that you may well not venture any further than the pool, beach or the fairways of the PGA Sultan and Pasha courses.

Many more great value breaks available online at

Autumn 7 nights’ all inclusive and 3 rounds Includes all transfers

Sirene Belek Hotel

• 1 in 8 FREE From

£765 5c

Play at: Antalya GC - PGA Sultan and Pasha Courses

Winter Sun 7 nights’ • 1 in 8 FREE all inclusive and 3 rounds From Includes all transfers

£439

Kempinski Hotel The Dome 5c Play at: Antalya GC - PGA Sultan and Pasha Courses

kempinski hotel

The Dome is magnificent and overlooks Antalya Golf Club

A

T Kempinski Hotel The Dome you can enjoy real luxury.

The rooms here blend modern technology with tasteful furnishings inspired by Seljuk architecture.

After a day’s golf, why not repair to the Sanitas Spa, a true oasis of peace and relaxation and one of the biggest spas and beauty centres in Turkey.

The Dome’s highly rated restaurants offer exceptional cuisine and an extensive selection of wines. Three stylish bars provide the perfect venue

or call us on 0845

for relaxing while looking out to the Mediterranean or the fairways of Antalya, one of the clubs in Belek with the most pedigree.

The PGA Sultan – host of the inaugural World Golf Final – is backed up by the Pasha and they enjoy an outstanding location in the middle of Belek.

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods were among those who competed in the 2012 Turkish Airlines World Golf Finals on the PGA Sultan! ­Both courses were designed

by European Golf Design, also

Autumn 7 nights’ all inclusive and 3 rounds

responsible for creating the Twenty Ten at Celtic Manor.

The PGA Sultan opened in 2003 and is a muscular course of 7,100 yards featuring mature trees, deep bunkers and water hazards.

The Pasha offers more gentle holiday golf at 6,350 yards and is immaculately manicured.

543 664 – we’re open 7 days a week

All airport and golf transfers included Don’t forget to ask us about flight-inclusive packages

Includes all transfers

• 1 in 8 FREE From

£895

Kempinski Hotel The Dome 5c Play at: Antalya GC - PGA Sultan and Pasha Courses

Winter Sun 7 nights’ • 1 in 8 FREE all inclusive and 3 rounds From Includes all transfers

£679

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | APRIL 2014 3

The Great Golf Guide 2014

Call free on 0845 543 6674 Monday – Friday 8am – 9pm, Sunday 9am – 3pm Email sales@golfbreaks.com Or visit Golfbreaks.com facebook.com/ Golfbreakscom @golfbreaks www.nationalclubgolfer.com | APRIL 2014 1