Montgomerie Maxx Royal Belek - Spotlight
Some golf courses make their impression through dramatic scenery, while others reveal their character through the decisions they ask you to make. Montgomerie Maxx Royal in Belek manages to do both. Designed by Colin Montgomerie in collaboration with European Golf Design, this championship layout occupies 104 hectares of Mediterranean pine forest and sandy ridges, creating a course that feels closely connected to its natural surroundings. Opened in September 2008, it measures 6,522 metres from the championship tees and plays as a par-72, with an engaging combination of undulating fairways, expansive sandy waste areas and water hazards that demand careful judgement throughout the round.
The design establishes its character early. The opening hole is a par-five that offers an immediate opportunity to build momentum, although multiple hazards make accuracy essential before thoughts turn to attacking the green. Across the course, the fairways provide room to play, but the contours, bunkering and positioning of hazards ensure that simply hitting the ball as far as possible is rarely the whole answer. Montgomerie's approach combines a strong championship test with opportunities for calculated aggression, rewarding golfers who understand when to take on a challenge and when to play for position. The variety is reflected in the scorecard, which features five par-fives, five par-threes and eight par-fours.
Several holes demonstrate the character of the layout particularly well. The 3rd, a par-four, presents a choice from the tee: a more ambitious line can shorten the approach, but a deep bunker guards the right side of the green. A stream crossing the fairway adds another consideration, making position as important as distance. Further into the round, the 11th par-five brings a different challenge, with a prominent central bunker influencing the line of play and a raised green demanding a considered approach. These are holes where the quality of the second shot can be just as important as the drive, and where a little patience can make a significant difference to the score.
The back nine introduces some particularly memorable tests. At the 14th, a par-three, water must be carried on the way to the green, placing a premium on confident club selection and a committed strike. The following hole is the course's shortest par-four, but its apparent simplicity can be deceptive: the fairway narrows for longer hitters, making the decision to attack from the tee a calculated risk rather than an automatic choice. This contrast between visual invitation and strategic restraint is central to the course's appeal. It is a layout that encourages golfers to play with intent, without allowing the more aggressive options to go unexamined.
The closing hole provides a fitting conclusion. A par-five leading back towards the impressive clubhouse, the 18th offers a final chance to make up ground, but deep bunkers on the left of the fairway complicate the route to the green. It is an inviting finishing hole, yet one that still asks for precision when it matters most. The setting adds another dimension: holes 10 through 18 are floodlit, allowing golfers to experience the back nine under lights and offering a distinctive alternative to a conventional daytime round. Few features make the course more recognisable within Belek's established golf scene, and the opportunity to play after dark adds genuine variety to a golf holiday.
Montgomerie Maxx Royal's credentials extend beyond its design. The course hosted the Turkish Open in 2013, 2014 and 2015, welcoming leading international professionals and establishing its place on the European Tour schedule. Today, its championship layout, extensive practice facilities and striking clubhouse continue to make it a significant part of Belek's golf offering. For visiting golfers, it combines the substance expected of a tournament venue with the setting and facilities of a resort golf experience.
If you enjoy a course that balances length with thoughtful design, where the right angle can be more valuable than extra distance and where a bold decision can bring either reward or consequence, Montgomerie Maxx Royal deserves a place on your Belek itinerary. Its pine-framed fairways, sandy terrain and floodlit finishing holes give it a character of its own, while the closing par-five provides one last opportunity to shape the outcome of the round. It is a course that rewards commitment, but never loses sight of the value of a well-made decision — a fitting reflection of Colin Montgomerie's approach to championship golf.
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