Turkish golf is concentrated on one short strip of the Mediterranean. Belek, east of Antalya, holds the country’s championship courses within a few minutes of one another and well under an hour from the airport, so a week of golf needs one hotel and a shuttle rather than a road trip. The six courses covered here span three decades. The National opened in 1994 as Turkey’s first championship layout, Gloria followed in 1997 and now runs 45 holes, and Nick Faldo’s 27 holes at Cornelia arrived in 2006. Colin Montgomerie’s course, Carya’s nod to Surrey heathland and Perry Dye’s paspalum links at Lykia all date from 2008. Three of them have staged the Turkish Airlines Open. Clubs set their prices in euros rather than lira, and where you sleep can lower the fee. Expect to show a handicap certificate at every club and to ride in a buggy, because none of these six advertises caddies.
Three Faldo nines, so 18 holes stay open even while the greens are overseeded.
Destination imagery
Where to base yourself.
Kadriye, western Belek
The first part of Belek you reach from the airport, roughly half an hour by road. The National and Carya sit next door to each other here, and guests of Regnum Carya and Regnum The Crown get reduced green fees at both. Between Carya’s fully lit course and the National’s lit back nine, an afternoon start in summer still finishes comfortably. Antalya Golf Club and the Cullinan Links add more rounds in the same district.
Central Belek tourism road
Heading east, Cornelia’s Faldo nines, the Montgomerie Maxx Royal and Gloria’s three courses follow one another along the main hotel road, about 40 minutes from the terminal. Each has a resort beside it: the Cornelia Diamond, whose guests get special rates, the ultra all-inclusive Maxx Royal Belek and Gloria’s three hotels and villas. Check handicaps before choosing: men need 28 at Cornelia and the Maxx Royal, 36 at Gloria.
Boğazkent & Denizyaka
Lykia World Antalya stands on its own beside a long beach near the Köprüçay river mouth, a little under an hour from the airport and 15 to 25 minutes beyond the main Belek strip. Stay here for the dune holes and the sea wind of Lykia Links, the region’s one seaside layout. Tee times are requests that the resort confirms, so settle them before flying. Side and the theatre at Aspendos are both close.
Antalya city & Kaleiçi
For restaurants and evenings out rather than a beach resort, the walled old quarter of Kaleiçi has small boutique hotels, roughly 45 minutes to an hour from the courses. It suits a group playing three or four rounds and sightseeing in between: Perge’s Roman street lies near the airport and the Düden waterfalls fall into the sea on the city’s eastern side.
When to go.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
The clubs’ own rate cards show where demand sits. Prices peak from mid-February to the end of May and again through October and November, when days are warm without the summer glare. December to early February is mild and much cheaper: the National drops to €95 and Cornelia to €120. July and August are the hottest and least expensive weeks, which is when floodlit holes at Carya, the National and the Maxx Royal come into their own. September needs care, as greens are overseeded and courses close in turn; Carya shut from 15 to 30 September in 2026 and the National has fixed 10 to 24 September 2027. Cornelia works around this by treating one nine at a time.
Getting around.
Antalya Airport (AYT) is the gateway for every course here, with direct flights from much of Europe and onward links for long-haul travellers through Istanbul. Turkey drives on the right. Transfer times are short: around 30 minutes to Kadriye, about 40 to the Cornelia, Maxx Royal and Gloria stretch, and a little under an hour to Lykia World. Most Belek hotels and golf operators include the airport run and shuttle golfers between clubs, so many visitors never hire a car. The exception is a week split between Lykia Links and the pine courses, where a pre-booked transfer or a rental car saves waiting. Keep some Turkish lira for taxis, tips and shops, since golf itself is priced in euros.
Plan it well.
Only three clubs publish a rate card: the National, Carya and Cornelia. For Gloria, Lykia Links and the Maxx Royal, ask for a written quote and compare it with a package from your hotel or a Belek operator. Very little books instantly. The National and Gloria take online requests, the Maxx Royal works by phone and email, and Lykia confirms each time by reply. Handicap limits vary more than visitors expect, from 28 for men at Cornelia and the Maxx Royal to 40 for ladies at Gloria, so plan around the highest handicap in the group. Reserve buggies early: Carya and the National refuse same-day cancellation of a reserved one, and the National lets only over-18s drive.
Questions golfers ask.
Where is the best golf in Turkey?
In Belek, on the Antalya coast. The National, Carya and the Montgomerie Maxx Royal have all hosted the Turkish Airlines Open, Cornelia offers 27 Faldo holes and Gloria 45 holes over three courses. Lykia Links, just east of Belek, gives a seaside contrast in the dunes.
Do I need a handicap certificate to play golf in Turkey?
Yes, at every Belek club covered here. Carya and the National set 36 for men and women, Gloria 36 for men and 40 for ladies, and Cornelia and the Maxx Royal 28 for men and 36 for women. Lykia Links publishes no figure, so carry your certificate there too.
How much does a round of golf cost in Belek?
Published 18-hole rack rates run from €85 at the National in July and August 2027 to €190 at Cornelia in spring and autumn. Carya’s 2026 card ranged from €105 to €185. A buggy adds €50 to €60. Gloria, Lykia Links and the Maxx Royal quote on request.
When is the best time for a golf holiday in Turkey?
March to May and October to November give the most comfortable conditions, which is why green fees are highest then. Winter is mild and noticeably cheaper. Midsummer is very hot but suits floodlit evening golf. Avoid booking a September trip before checking each club’s overseeding dates.
Are green fees in Turkey paid in lira or euros?
The Belek clubs that publish prices list them in euros, and the National states its rates include taxes. The Turkish lira is the local currency, so it is worth having some for taxis, tips and shopping off the course. Confirm the payment method when you book.
