the lowdown on golf in

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 [email protected]
Or visit Golfbreaks.com
facebook.com/
Golfbreakscom
@golfbreaks
www.nationalclubgolfer.com | APRIL 2014 1