Golf in Antalya: Belek's Best Courses & How to Plan Your Trip

Why Belek Became Europe's Go-To Golf Destination

Belek sits within Antalya Province on Turkey's southern coast, roughly 30km east of Antalya city centre and 45km from Antalya Airport (AYT). What started as a planned tourism zone in the 1990s has evolved into one of the most concentrated collections of championship golf courses on the continent. The combination of factors is hard to replicate elsewhere: 300 sunny days per year, flat to gently rolling terrain ideal for course construction, proximity to a major international airport, and a hospitality infrastructure built specifically around golfers.

Unlike golf regions in Spain or Portugal where courses are scattered across large geographic areas, Belek compresses 15+ layouts into a zone roughly 15km long. That means you can play a different course every day for two weeks without repeating yourself or spending more than 20 minutes in a transfer. The Turkish Lira's exchange rate also makes Belek significantly more affordable than comparable courses in Western Europe, particularly for British, German, and Scandinavian visitors who make up the bulk of the golfing market here.

The Standout Courses: What Each One Actually Offers

Not every course in Belek deserves equal billing. Here is an honest breakdown of the ones that consistently separate themselves from the pack, with details that help you match the right course to your game and budget.

• Montgomerie Maxx Royal Par-72, 6,700 metres. The tour-standard layout. Wide fairways with deceptive undulation, water features on multiple holes, and immaculate conditioning. Visitor rating: 4.5/5. Best for: low-to-mid handicappers who want the full championship experience. Drawback: it books out quickly in peak season, and green fees reflect the prestige.
• Carya Golf Club Par-72, 6,480 metres. Europe's first course to offer night golf under floodlights, making it ideal in July and August when daytime heat peaks above 35°C. Wooded layout with tight fairways that demand accuracy over distance. Visitor rating: 4.5/5. The night golf option is genuinely unique and worth building an evening around.
• Antalya Golf Club (Pasha & Sultan) Two courses at one facility. The Sultan course (par-72, 6,600m) was designed by David Love III and represents Belek at its most polished. The Pasha course (par-71, 6,300m) is slightly more forgiving and better suited to higher handicappers. Both share excellent service standards and on-site dining.
• Lykia Links Turkey's only links-style course. Par-71, 6,300 metres. Built among coastal dunes with natural sandy waste areas, fescue rough, and wind exposure that changes the game entirely. This is not Scotland, but it is the closest thing in the Mediterranean. Higher handicappers may find it punishing; scratch players find it the most interesting test in the region.
• Gloria Golf Club (Old & New) Two parkland courses, each par-72 at 6,500 metres. Part of the Gloria Hotels resort complex. Consistent quality, reliable green conditioning, and easier booking logistics because they're integrated with a large hotel. Good choice for groups mixing golfers and non-golfers, since the resort has extensive beach and spa facilities.
• Cornelia Faldo Course 27-hole facility with a maximum handicap of 28 for men, 36 for women. More accessible than the pure championship tracks and designed with recreational golfers in mind. Currently offers early-booking discounts of around 10%; verify rates at the time of booking.
• The National Golf Club (Irmak & Tuna) Championship layout that flies under the radar compared to the Montgomerie or Carya. The Irmak and Tuna courses offer solid challenge and value for money, with fewer crowds than the marquee names.

Green Fees, Pricing Reality, and How to Book

Green fees in Belek follow a clear seasonal logic. Peak season (roughly April to June and September to October) commands the highest prices at top-tier courses. Midsummer (July to August) sees rates drop slightly at some courses as the midday heat discourages play, but demand for early-morning tee times remains strong. Winter (November to March) offers the lowest rates across the board, though you are accepting a real risk of rain, particularly in December and January.

As a general range, expect to pay anywhere from around 50 to 180 EUR per round depending on course prestige, season, and whether you're booking as part of a hotel package or as a walk-on visitor. Rates at the Montgomerie and Carya tend to sit at the upper end. Gloria and Cornelia offer more competitive pricing, especially when booked in advance. Always check the official club websites directly (nationalturkey.com for The National Golf Club, and individual club sites for others) and compare against specialist golf travel platforms like where2golf.com, which aggregate Belek tee times and sometimes offer negotiated rates.

• Book tee times at least 2-3 weeks ahead for peak season April, May, September, October.
• Ask about twilight rates, which some courses offer for afternoon rounds from 14:00 or 15:00 onward.
• Cart hire is usually not included in green fees; confirm when booking.
• Caddies are not standard at most Belek courses. GPS devices are widely available for hire.
• Many courses offer multi-round packages (3 rounds, 5 rounds) at a meaningful discount. Useful if you're staying a full week.
• The Turkish Lira's fluctuation means quoted EUR or USD rates are more reliable than TRY amounts listed well in advance.

Best Time to Play: Seasons, Weather, and Crowd Patterns

Belek's Mediterranean climate gives it a longer playable season than almost anywhere in Europe. The courses are theoretically open year-round, but the sweet spots are clear. April, May, and October deliver the best conditions: temperatures between 18-28°C, low humidity, minimal rain, and courses at their most lush after winter recovery. These months also align with European holiday patterns, so tee time availability is tighter than you might expect, particularly on weekends.

June is excellent before heat sets in fully. July and August bring temperatures above 35°C by midday. Morning tee times before 8:00 are the only comfortable option in these months for most golfers. This is when Carya's night golf format makes serious practical sense, not just novelty. September and early October are arguably the best overall combination of good weather, recovered course conditions after the summer stress, and slightly loosened weekend demand. November is underrated for budget-conscious golfers willing to accept some cloud cover.

Getting to Belek and Getting Around

Antalya Airport (AYT) is the gateway. Most major European carriers serve it directly, and flights to Antalya are available from dozens of cities year-round. From the airport, Belek is approximately 30-35km east on the D400 highway, roughly a 30-40 minute taxi or transfer ride depending on traffic. Taxis from the airport to Belek hotels run around 1000-1500 TRY at current rates, but confirm pricing before getting in. Private transfers booked in advance through your hotel or a transfer service are the most predictable option.

Within Belek itself, most golfers rely on hotel shuttles to reach courses. Many of the larger resort hotels have agreements with multiple clubs and run scheduled transfers daily. If you're staying outside the resort zone or want maximum flexibility, renting a car is the practical solution. Getting around Antalya Province by rental car is straightforward: roads between Belek, Antalya city, and nearby sites like Side or Perge are well-maintained. Fuel costs in Turkey are higher than in Western Europe, but daily rental rates are generally competitive.

If you're combining golf with time in Antalya city, Belek and Antalya's historic centre are genuinely worth experiencing on separate days. The ancient district of Kaleiçi with its Roman-era walls, Ottoman architecture, and harbour views is a half-day at minimum and a world away from fairways and resort pools.

Beyond the Fairway: What to Do When You're Not Playing

Belek is a self-contained resort zone, but Antalya Province offers genuine depth for non-golf days. The region around Belek contains some of the best-preserved ancient ruins in Turkey. Aspendos Theatre is one of the finest Roman amphitheatres still standing anywhere in the world, located roughly 20km from Belek. The ancient city of Perge is similarly close and offers two to three hours of exploration without the crowds of more famous sites.

Water-based options are strong too. The coast around Belek has clean beaches, and boat tours from Antalya run to caves, bays, and snorkelling spots that fill a rest day well. For families or groups where not everyone golfs, Land of Legends theme park near Belek is one of Turkey's largest and keeps non-golfers occupied for a full day. The waterfalls around Antalya including the Düden and Kursunlu falls are easy day trips that feel genuinely different from the resort environment.