Discover Belek on & off the course: A golf holiday review

Offering an incredible array of all-inclusive resorts, world-class courses, delicious cuisine, beautiful scenery & welcoming atmosphere, Belek (Turkey) is one of Europe’s best golf holiday destinations!

I spent four days exploring Turkey and all it has to offer groups/couples looking to book their next golf holiday abroad. Read on to see the highlights from my time there and what you can look forward to when visiting Europe’s home of all-inclusive golf.

The trip began with a short 4hr morning flight from London Gatwick to Antalya Airport which is the closest airport to Belek. My travel was made easier thanks to Turkish Airlines generous baggage allowance that includes free club carriage (1st set), 23kg of checked in luggage, hand luggage & a personal bag.

Upon arrival I was greeted by the transfer (transfers are included with all golf holidays to Turkey when you book with Golfbreaks), who drove us a short 30-minutes to the resort town of Belek, home to Turkey’s best golf courses and the hub of all-inclusive golf in Europe.

During my trip I stayed at the five-star Maxx Royal Belek Golf Resort, offering golfers an assortment of luxury rooms, villas and all the facilities you could need. This also includes eight a la carte restaurants, 14 bars, a variety of pools, and a spa. I can recommend the on-site Azure Turkish restaurant which served up some wonderful local cuisine, and the Royal Horse Lounge that offers an incredible mix of drinks, cocktails & bar food, plus daily live music performances!

My second day began with breakfast in the Maxx Royal’s incredible breakfast hall. With a variety of food from around the world, the choice was outstanding and there was something for everyone to enjoy – it took me no less than five minutes to walk around the entirety of the breakfast hall!

After breakfast I was transferred to Cornelia Golf Club – Faldo Course, an excellent facility offering 27-holes, perfect for mixing up your experience each time you play. I played 9-holes on the Princes loop and although the course was tree-lined with plenty of water, the course remained remarkably playable for all levels and is regarded as one of the best golf courses in Belek.

Following golf, I was transferred to Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort for lunch. The resort struck me as an excellent five-star facility which is perfect for both groups and couples alike, offering a selection of rooms, spas, leisure facilities and more. The lunch buffet was comprehensive with a whole range of options to suit all… delicious!

After lunch at Cornelia Diamond, I was transferred to the Montgomerie Maxx Royal Golf Course, where I played 9 holes of daytime golf, followed by 9 holes of night golf. This was the first time I had played night golf, and it was truly a special experience which I thoroughly recommend to any golf group looking to enjoy something a bit different during their golf holiday.

The floodlights are powerful enough to light up the fairways so you can easily walk up to your ball, although be sure to keep an eye on the flight as it can be easy to lose where the ball is going once it goes above the lights.

The third day in Turkey began with an early start and transfer to Antalya Golf Club, home of the PGA Sultan, recognised as one of the best in the Belek area. The stand-out for me during the show-round was the immaculate practice area and putting green, while the pro shop was nice and the bar was well-stocked.

Following a brief warm-up I played 9 holes on the PGA Sultan, one of my highlights during the entire trip! With intricate design features, excellent use of water, and freshly cut greens and fairways, the course was an excellent challenge. The course went down as one of my favourites for its great use of risk/reward holes and the numerous ways you can tackle each hole – a must-play when in Belek.

After golf I got to see the nearby Kempinski Hotel The Dome, an excellent boutique hotel offering 157 rooms & 18 private villas with even more to come – it’s an ideal venue for couples in particular! Its outstanding sea views, on-site restaurants, and excellent leisure facilities right next door to Antalya Golf Club make it perfect for those not wanting to lift a finger during their holiday.

We were then shown round the nearby Sirene Belek Hotel, much larger than the Kempinski but still a luxury resort, nonetheless. The hotel features five restaurants across the complex, and six different bars including a disco/nightclub bar for those who fancy a night out without leaving the hotel. I loved my time looking around Sirene, the resort seems to be well equipped for groups wanting to enjoy both the best golf courses Turkey has to offer while experiencing a luxury hassle-free stay.

After our show-rounds of both Kempinski & Sirene, we were then transferred onto Regnum Carya where we played 9 holes on the Carya Course, multiple time host of the DP World Tour’s Turkish Airlines Open. The course was setup beautifully with the general playing area being impeccable, and the greens very quick. Similarly, to the Faldo Course, the Carya was tree-lined yet maintained a level of playability - even if you went offline you would often be able to find your ball and keep play moving!

The final day began with a comfortable start and breakfast at the Maxx Royal, followed by a transfer to Gloria Golf Club where I played the challenging 9-hole Verde, one of three on-site courses at Gloria. Gloria has excellent practice facilities that I got to experience, including a two-story driving range that has Trackman technology, which offers a holistic view when you’re warming up for your round.

The Verde Course was an excellent challenge and although it’s not as well-known as the Old Course or the New Course, it shouldn’t be ignored when you’re at Gloria. It provides something a bit different to the other two courses and it incorporates design features from the other two layouts, with pine tree-lined fairways and plenty of water to avoid throughout the round.

Following golf at Gloria I was transferred to Gloria Serenity Resort which was my personal favourite of the hotels we saw during the trip. Set in idyllic surroundings, the hotel offers top-level VIP service to all its guests, and with so many amazing facilities available there’s never a dull moment to be had.

I was impressed by the size of the resort and the quality of rooms available, along with the excellent facilities and restaurant selection with cuisine ranging from French, Asian, Italian and Turkish.

My final afternoon/evening was spent looking at the ancient city of Perge and enjoying a meal at the Arma Restaurant. Perge was dated 1-2nd Century and many of the city’s ruins still exist to this day including an incredible amphitheatre and chariot racing track.

Arma Restaurant overlooks the beautiful, historical old port of Antalya. Although it is a bit of a drive from Belek, it is well worth the trip just for the views of the Mediterranean and the food was fantastic. We received five courses of excellent Turkish cuisine, which was a great way to spend our final evening while enjoying the sunset over the Med.