Top 10 Golf Courses in Turkey
Turkey is not a country most golfers first think of when planning a trip, but the Antalya region on the Mediterranean coast has quietly assembled one of Europe's most impressive concentrations of resort golf. Belek, a purpose-built golf destination roughly thirty kilometres east of Antalya city, hosts more than a dozen championship layouts within a few square kilometres of pine forest and Mediterranean scrub. The combination of mild winters, excellent infrastructure, and well-conditioned courses draws hundreds of thousands of rounds each year from northern European visitors, and a growing number of Turkish golfers are discovering the game at home. Open the map to explore all courses across Turkey.
1. Montgomerie Maxx Royal, Belek
Redesigned by Colin Montgomerie himself and opened in its current form in the mid-2000s, the Montgomerie Maxx Royal is consistently ranked among Turkey's finest tests. The parkland layout stretches around 7,100 yards from the tips and is routed through mature Calabrian pines with generous fairways giving way to demanding green complexes. Water comes into play on nearly half the holes. The course is attached to the Maxx Royal Belek resort, and access is primarily for resort guests, though tee times for non-residents are sometimes available. Peak season runs October through May.
2. Carya Golf Club, Belek
Designed by Kyle Phillips and opened in 2011, Carya has quickly established a reputation as one of the most demanding and best-conditioned courses in Turkey. Phillips gave the layout a firm, fast character with generous fairways but punishing rough and green surrounds that demand precision. The par-four 13th, playing over 450 yards through a corridor of umbrella pines, is the stroke index one hole. Carya operates as a private members club but accepts visitor tee times, and international visitors should expect green fees in the upper bracket. Buggy hire is compulsory.
3. National Golf Club, Belek
National Golf Club at Belek was one of the first championship venues in the region when it opened in 1994, and its two eighteen-hole layouts — National Course and Pasha Course — have hosted multiple European Tour qualifying events and professional tournaments. The National Course, designed by David Feherty and Dave Thomas, plays from around 6,800 yards and routes through mature pine stands with several holes playing alongside a reed-lined lake. The Pasha Course offers a slightly more forgiving experience while still challenging mid-handicap players. Both courses are open to visitors with advance booking.
4. Lykia Links, Döger
Lykia Links is Turkey's most ambitious attempt at a genuine links course, routed across open duneland near the village of Döger on the Aegean coast rather than in the Belek complex. Designed by Perry Dye and opened in 2012, the layout features genuine dune ridges, fescue rough, and unobstructed sea views over the Gulf of Fethiye. The design philosophy deliberately evokes Scottish and Irish links golf: pot bunkers, blind approaches, and greens that can be run along the ground. Green fees are moderate by comparison to the Belek resorts, and the course is open to all visitors without a hotel requirement.
5. Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort, Belek
The Cornelia Diamond, home to the Turkish Airlines Open on the DP World Tour for several years, plays to around 7,200 yards from the tournament tees and is one of the most demanding resort tests in the region. The parkland design incorporates extensive water features — lakes border or bisect the majority of back nine holes — and the tournament-quality greens are consistently among the fastest in Turkey. The par-three 17th, playing 230 yards over water, is the most photographed hole on the property. Non-resort guests can book tee times through the golf academy, and twilight rates are available in shoulder season.
6. Marmara Golf, Istanbul
For golfers based in Istanbul, Marmara Golf at Büyükçekmece provides the best quality parkland experience within easy reach of the European side of the city. The layout is routed across rolling countryside on the western approaches to Istanbul, with views over the reservoir, and the tree-lined fairways recall a traditional European parkland design. At around 6,400 yards from the back tees, the course suits a wide range of handicaps. Marmara Golf accepts visitor tee times throughout the year, and the mild climate around Istanbul allows year-round play, though December and January can be wet.
7. Polonezkoy Country Club, Istanbul
Polonezkoy Golf, set within the forested hills of Büyük Dere valley on Istanbul's Asian side, is a compact parkland course that has served the city's golfing community for decades. The layout blends elevation changes with tree-lined corridors and well-maintained bentgrass greens. At roughly 5,900 yards from the medal tees, it is not designed to challenge professional golfers, but the tight fairways and sloping lies test course management. The club atmosphere is welcoming, and the course is accessible to visitors at reasonable green fees. Best played in spring and autumn when the surrounding forest is at its most vivid.
8. Kusadasi Golf & Country Club, Kusadasi
Kusadasi Golf & Country Club, occupying a hillside site above the Aegean resort town of the same name, provides a satisfying parkland challenge for golfers combining golf with a holiday on Turkey's western coast. The course plays around 6,100 yards and features pronounced elevation changes, with several uphill par fours that play considerably longer than their card yardage. Sea views are a constant companion on the higher holes. The club accepts visitors and operates all year, with peak demand during the summer resort season. Green fees are among the most affordable at a recognised Turkish golf facility.
9. Ataşehir Golf Club, Istanbul
Ataşehir Golf Club is a well-maintained facility on Istanbul's Asian side that operates as a practice and playing venue for urban golfers. The course is compact by championship standards but presents a genuine test of precision, particularly through its tree-framed approaches and multi-tiered greens. The club has a strong academy presence and is a natural starting point for beginners taking up the game in Istanbul. Regular society days and open competitions give the facility an active club atmosphere that is harder to find at Turkey's larger resort operations.
10. Çayra Golf Club, Antalya Region
Çayra Golf Club, set in the hills inland from Antalya, is a newer addition to the regional offering and brings a different character from the flat pine parkland of Belek. The course plays through natural terrain with wider views over the Taurus foothills, and the more open design rewards golfers who want to work the ball rather than simply hitting straight through tree corridors. Green fees are competitive, and the club actively courts visitors looking for an alternative to the main resort complex. Access requires a hire car from Antalya, but the drive through the foothills adds to the experience.
Planning a Golf Trip to Turkey
The Belek resort complex is the natural hub for a Turkish golf trip, and most visitors fly into Antalya International Airport, which receives direct flights from across Europe year-round. The optimum playing season is October through May; July and August bring extreme heat that makes midday play inadvisable. Green fees at the major Belek resorts typically fall in the €60 to €150 range depending on course and season, with resort guests often receiving discounted or inclusive rates. Hiring a local buggy and a caddying guide service through your hotel concierge is the simplest way to access multiple courses in a short stay. Open the map to plan your itinerary across Turkey's courses before you book.