Teeing off on the Turkish Riviera: Belek pulls in the golfers

By Bernhard Krieger Sep 20, 2011, 3:06 GMT

Belek, Turkey - In the summertime Belek is a standard seaside resort like any other. Children frolic in the waves while the sun-worshippers soak up the rays on loungers. Once the summer heat has faded though the ocean is no longer the main focus along this part of the Turkish Riviera. That's when the bay near Antalya turns into a golfer's paradise.

Golfers flock to the 14 perfectly-manicured 18-hole links, indeed 400,000 rounds were played here in 2010. This year that number is set to increase. Belek provides what the club-swinging holidaymakers are looking for - attractive courses, warm weather, comfortable hotels and good flight connections.

The backdrop serves as the icing on top: The peaks of the Lykian Taurus Mountains soar to around 2,000 metres, flanking the shimmering turquoise waters of the bay.

The sinking sun bathes this lush setting of greenswards, handsome pine trees and oleanders in an attractive light. Revenue from the golf courses is the motive power behind the economic boom in the area. Ecologists are nevertheless aghast that whole forests have been felled to create them and they also lament the waste of water resources.

For vacationers the luxury hotel complexes such as the Kempinski, the Dome or the Robinson-Club Nobilis are green oases in a barren landscape. Scarcely a holidaymaker ventures outside the facilities which are jokingly referred to by local citizens as ghettoes. There is actually no need for them to look elsewhere since the resorts pamper their guests and offer much more than the town of Belek. It is characterised by rows of souvenir shops or outlets offering cheap clothes or even cheaper fake versions of designer labels.

It is much nicer to dine in the roof terrace restaurant of a golf club instead of standing in line at the customary bumper buffet and guests can pay a little extra in order to enjoy a gala nine-course menu.

From the lofty vantage point there is a good view of the landscaped gardens and the tortoises which live hereabouts. The Nobilis course has the reputation of being benign and forgiving, in contrast to Montgomery and National which are both hard to play. Nobilis is considered easier and the atmosphere is refreshingly relaxed.

Dominik Kremper, who manages the Robinson-Clubs Nobilis resort, is not the slicked-back golf beau that people might expect. The Austrian's powerful upper arms are adorned with tattoos and he sports a bright red belt buckle with the inscription 'Golf Punk'.

And so it comes as no surprise that a young golf fan from Bavaria enthuses about her taster course being 'really cool' and wants to apply for regular permission to play. 'Around 200 guests do this annually,' said Kremper.

The technically-demanding sport of golf is very much a mind game too and it is easier to learn in the relaxed atmosphere of a vacation than it is at home. 'Looseness is a key factor and not physical strength,' said Elsa Honecker. The editor-in-chief of the German magazine Discover Golf is fond of Belek because of the laid-back feel of the place.