Golf in Türkiye

Golf in Türkiye
In recent years, as golf courses with international standards have opened up, Türkiye has become an elite golfing centre where players from around the world can meet in an environment of quality and prestige. Especially the area of Belek, 30km east of Antalya, where, there is a potential for golf tourism with the unique bonus of the cultural, historical and natural sightseeing of the region. Top-class courses are also being planned for Istanbul, Ankara and Mugla.

In Türkiye, most courses are in the vicinity of tourist resorts, around the coastal regions which have the necessary facilities like accommodation, restaurants and entertainment. The Ministry of Tourism plans to establish another 11 golf courses in these tourist areas. stage.

Specific leisure activity research shows that there are currently approximately 37 million golfers in the world and that the number of people playing golf in Europe grows by about 20% a year. Türkiye is a tourist destination for people from all over the world. Golfing holidays are becoming more and more popular in this country. The golf courses in Türkiye are situated in two main areas: Antalya and Istanbul. Antalya, especially, a city for all seasons. The best seasons for golfers are autumn, winter and spring! In this area there are 4 golf courses. The Istanbul area has 3 courses.


Please contact us if you have any further requirements for sporting activities and sports training camps (soccer, golf and tennis) and health and wellness holidays in Antalya Kemer and Belek.

DESTINATION MANAGEMENT ISTANBUL
Kore Şehitleri Cad. No. 45, K.1-2 34394 Zincirlikuyu- Istanbul-Türkiye
Tel:+90 212- 340 70 00 Fax:+90 212 347 12 14 
Mail: mice@tui.com.tr
 

 DESTINATION MANAGEMENT ANTALYA

Pınarlı Beldesi, Cihadiye Mahallesi, Serik Caddesi No. 83 Antalya-Türkiye
Tel: 0242- 310 30 00 -  Faks: 0242- 462 18 37
Mail: mice@tui.com.tr

History of Golf in Türkiye

Golf, which has a long history and is known for being the most environment oriented sport, is showing a great development in recent years in Türkiye.
The first golf club in Türkiye, known as Istanbul Golf Club was founded in 1895 in the Maslak district of Istanbul and featured a 9 hole course. Various other Golf Clubs were established on the heels of the Maslak club's foundation, though without golf courses of their own and closely affiliated with the Turkish Tennis federation the sport never gained the necessary foothold to expand.The current infrastructure and increased popularity of Golf in Türkiye is owed to more recent developments .
In the early 1990's Many affluent residents began to move to areas on the outskirts of the Istanbul where they could easily commute to work and also enjoy the greenery, open space and quiet these areas provided. Developers saw a need to create leisure activities and sports to draw more residents out of the city. Hence the first professional golf course in Türkiye was completed in 1994 at Klassis Country Club in Istanbul, followed by Kemer Country Club shortly after.

While plans were being drafted for Kemer and Klassis, the Turkish Tourism Ministry was beginning to recognize the combined importance of promoting a new sport to The Turkish people and the potentially lucrative endeavor for Türkiye's growing Tourism sector that golf could provide. In 1990 they set aside land in the Mediteranean resort towns of Izmir and Antalya to be developed into golf courses. Today the land is occuppied by 4 world class golf courses making Antalya an attractive destination for golf tourism and adding yet another facet to Türkiye's diverse and developing tourism sector.

Clubs and courses in Istanbul and Antalya continue to be the most important in Türkiye due to the quantity of courses, several annual Pro-Am tournaments and programs aimed at involving youngsters of all economic backgrounds (some of the best golfers in Türkiye are former caddies) in the game.

At this moment more courses are being planned for Türkiye's Mediteranean region, and membership figures at Istanbul's clubs continue to climb. It would take a stretch of the imagination even 20 years ago for one to conceive of the advances and increase in interest that Turkish Golf has achieved in such a relatively short history.

Why Tükiye ?
Beyond the obvious lure of Türkiye's storied past as the seat of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires and the fascinating nuances from its position as the gateway between the Asian and European continents, Türkiye is a modern golf and vacation paradise and one that is quickly developing as an alternative to golf vacations in Western Europe.

Climate: Türkiye's southern coast, commonly referred to as "The Turkish Riviera" is a beautiful expanse of largely unspoiled coastline that not only provides beautiful views, diverse nature and interesting golf topography, but a temperate climate. The golf season in Antalya begins in October when it when most golf regions are winding down for the off season. Antalya is one of the few places where golf can be played right through the winter, in short sleaves.

Golf Courses: Would you go back in time to play a round at Valderrama or Costa Ballena 20 years ago, before the crowds arrived? A similar option is available to you in Türkiye, with several world-class facilities and many more under way, it would be difficult to find an undiscovered golf destination of Türkiye's caliber anywhere in the world. All professional courses have been developed by international teams of Golf architects, consultants and PGA Professionals. Course maintenance is also top notch.

Prices: It won't last long but in Türkiye you can still find excellent resorts at local prices. All inclusive vacation packages for €100 per day for a family of four are not the exception, but the rule. Most resorts are a stone's throw away from some of the best and least crowded golf courses in Europe. . Since Türkiye is looking to promote golf vacations, especially to first time visitors, green fees, which are usually charged separate from packages, are quite reasonable. Prices hover around the €40 mark.

Service: Türkiye is a good alternative for those tired of paying a premium for a nice vacation and receiving average service. Golf resorts are largely unspoiled by mass tourism and eager to attract visitors. Therefore service is consummate with a destination looking to bring in more visitors and leave a lasting impression on newcomers. You won't find the kind of complacency and bad service all too common in areas that have become saturated with tourists. As a new player in the golf tourism arena, the 'eager to please' aspect is apparent.

Location: Türkiye is no more than a 3hour flight from any point in Western Europe, close enough for even a weekend golf getaway. Australians and New Zealanders will be able to shave a few hours off of the already long journey, as Türkiye is a bit closer than its Western European counterparts.