Belek’s Must Play Courses
A guide to some of our favourite courses to play in Belek, Turkey
Few golf destinations can match the concentration of quality found in Belek. Stretching along Turkey's Mediterranean coastline, this purpose-built golf resort has become one of Europe's leading golf destinations, attracting players from across the continent with its combination of championship courses, luxury All-Inclusive hotels and year-round playing conditions.
What makes Belek particularly appealing is the variety on offer. Within a short transfer, golfers can experience DP World Tour venues, classic pine-forest layouts, modern resort designs and even championship golf under floodlights. While every course in the region has its supporters, five layouts consistently stand out as the courses every visiting golfer should consider playing.
If one course has become synonymous with golf in Belek, it is Montgomerie Maxx Royal.
Designed by eight-time European No.1 Colin Montgomerie, the course has hosted the Turkish Airlines Open on multiple occasions and remains one of the destination's premier championship venues. Unlike many modern resort courses that rely heavily on water hazards, Montgomerie uses expansive sandy waste areas, rolling terrain and strategic bunkering to create interest throughout the round.
Built through mature pine forest, the layout offers a superb balance between challenge and playability. The fairways are generally generous enough to encourage aggressive driving, but the positioning of hazards means golfers are constantly faced with decisions about how much risk they are willing to take on. Better players can attack and attempt to gain an advantage, while more conservative golfers can still plot their way around successfully.
The course's routing features five par 5s, five par 3s and eight par 4s, creating a varied test that rarely feels repetitive. Several holes rank among the most memorable in Belek, particularly during the closing stretch where scoring opportunities sit alongside genuine danger.
Another unique feature is the floodlighting installed on the back nine, allowing play to continue after sunset and adding a different dimension to the experience.
For golfers looking to play a course with tournament pedigree, strategic design and a genuine sense of occasion, Montgomerie Maxx Royal remains one of the first tee times to secure.
Few courses in Europe look quite like Carya Golf Club.
While most Mediterranean resort courses draw inspiration from parkland or desert layouts, Carya was designed to replicate the character of the classic heathland courses found in England. Heather-lined fairways, sandy soils and natural-looking bunkering create an appearance that feels more Berkshire than Belek.
The result is one of the most visually distinctive courses in the region. Fairways flow naturally through pine and eucalyptus forests, with the course rewarding thoughtful positioning rather than simply favouring power. Players who find the correct angles into greens are consistently rewarded, while those who stray too far from the ideal line often face more demanding approaches.
Carya's reputation extends well beyond its architecture. The club became the first fully floodlit 18-hole championship golf course in Europe, making it possible to enjoy a full round long after sunset. Playing beneath the lights is a memorable experience and one of the most unique golfing attractions available anywhere on the continent.
The course has also welcomed the Turkish Airlines Open, further cementing its reputation among Europe's leading resort venues.
Combining distinctive design, championship pedigree and a genuinely unique playing experience, Carya is a course that deserves a place on every Belek itinerary.
For golfers seeking the sternest examination in Belek, the PGA Sultan Course is often the answer.
Purpose-built as a championship venue, the Sultan places a premium on precision from the opening tee shot to the final green. Routed through dense pine forest, the course demands concentration throughout and offers very few opportunities to relax.
Unlike some modern championship courses that rely primarily on length, Sultan's challenge comes from positioning. Fairways are framed by towering trees, bunkers protect key landing areas and water hazards are introduced thoughtfully rather than excessively. The result is a course that continually asks questions of the golfer and rewards strategic thinking as much as technical execution.
The greens are among the most demanding in the region, placing additional emphasis on approach play and short-game performance. Even golfers who find plenty of fairways can quickly discover that scoring well requires excellence across every aspect of the game.
Having hosted major professional events and international championships, the course has earned a reputation as one of Turkey's finest tests of golf.
For lower-handicap golfers and those who enjoy traditional championship layouts, the PGA Sultan delivers one of the most rewarding rounds in Belek.
Before Belek became one of Europe's most popular golf destinations, there was National Golf Club.
As the region's original golf course, National played a crucial role in establishing Belek on the international golfing map. More importantly, it remains one of the most enjoyable and distinctive rounds available today.
Where many newer resort courses feature extensive shaping and dramatic earthmoving, National takes a more restrained approach. The routing works with the natural landscape, weaving through mature pine and eucalyptus forests while allowing the terrain itself to dictate strategy.
This creates a course with a noticeably different character from many of its neighbours. There are fewer manufactured features and less visual drama, but the strategic challenge is every bit as compelling. Accuracy from the tee is rewarded, while clever positioning often proves more valuable than outright power.
The course has matured beautifully over the years. Established trees now frame many holes, creating a sense of permanence that cannot be replicated overnight. The atmosphere is quieter and more traditional than some of Belek's larger resort venues, which many experienced golfers view as part of its charm.
For visitors looking to experience the roots of golf in Belek, National remains an essential stop.
Among the three courses at Gloria Golf Club, the Old Course continues to hold a special place in the affection of visiting golfers.
Opened in 1997, it has matured into one of Belek's most complete and balanced layouts. Towering pine trees, well-positioned water features and excellent green complexes combine to create a course that rewards good golf without becoming overly punitive.
One of the Old Course's greatest strengths is its broad appeal. Better players can attack pins and pursue low scores, while higher handicappers can enjoy the challenge without feeling overwhelmed. The course rarely relies on forced carries or excessively narrow corridors, instead encouraging players to think their way around the layout.
Water comes into play on a number of holes but is integrated naturally into the routing rather than dominating it. This creates strategic decisions without turning every hole into a high-risk proposition.
The greens provide much of the course's defence. Subtle contours and carefully designed surrounds place a premium on approach play and recovery shots, ensuring that scoring well requires more than simply finding fairways.
Combined with Gloria's outstanding practice facilities and long-standing reputation for hospitality, the Old Course remains one of the safest recommendations in Belek. It is a course that appeals equally to first-time visitors and returning golfers who have played the region for years.