Istanbul-based Kayı Real Estate Investment is undertaking construction of houses in its residential Ka Golf Belek project, where prices range from 83,000 to 168,000 euros.
The size of the houses in the project with 1+1, 2+1 and 3+1 floor plans, which are located in Antalya's Belek region, ranges from 70 to 143 square meters. The project is comprised of 122 houses and 20 villas of different types and sizes, and the construction of 24 houses has already been completed. The Ka Golf Belek project has attracted the attention of foreign investors in particular.
Meanwhile, Kayı Real Estate Investment has also started the construction of putting greens and chipping greens golf courses, 500 square meters in size, for residents of the housing complex, as the area is located in the vicinity of 16 golf courses in Belek. Residents of the project will be able to use these areas at no charge. The Ka Golf Belek project also provides a wide range of opportunities for residents, such as maintenance that continue after the sale of the houses, garden care and private security facilities.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Football
Turkish high school history lessons recall stories of how only hundreds of brave Turkish soldiers, and not more, secured great victories against “the mighty armies of the western countries.” The stories may sound exaggerated, but a Turkish victory tonight on the football pitch will be no less important than David killing Goliath.
The Turkish national football squad takes on Germany tonight in Basel's St-Jakob Park Stadium in the semifinal of the 2008 European Championship, or EURO 2008. Turkey's path to the final seems a difficult one, not only because of the past Euro Cup success of the German opponent, which can boast of 10 appearances, three titles and two final losses, but also due to the number of injured and suspended Turkish players.
“Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win," legendary English footballer, Gary Lineker, once said, but the depleted Turks are ready to do anything to avoid that sort of destiny in Turkey's first-ever European semifinal.
The 23-man Turkish squad is now down to 13 players, the latest blow being striker Nihat Kahveci, who left the team Sunday to start treatment in Spain for a groin injury. In addition to Nihat, Emre Güngör will also miss out on the game, and the presence of three other players, Servet Çetin, Emre Belözoğlu and Tümer Metin remains extremely doubtful.
Goalkeeper Volkan Demirel will be suspended for the second and last time due to his two-match suspension for a red card. Emre Aşık, Tuncay Şanlı and Arda Turan are also suspended after picking up two yellow cards each.
The team has lost almost half of its players, but coach Fatih Terim, or “The Emperor,” a nickname the foreign press has taken over from the Turkish media, is confident that his side will have a shot against Germany as long as he can field 11 players. He even considers using third-choice goalkeeper Tolga Zengin as an outfield player if necessary.
"He [Tolga] could come on toward the end as a sub as last man (in defense) or a center forward," Terim told reporters, and he is not worried about facing the three-time champion.
"We have shown several times already that we can achieve the impossible. I have faith in my team and in our ability to reach the final," said the Turkey coach.
Terim is a prominent, but also controversial figure in Turkish football. His squad selection for the tournament was heavily criticized in the Turkish media, and after Turkey lost its first game against Portugal 2-1, football pundits were ready to send him to the gallows. But the Turks' performance since that game has been sensational. After staging three amazing comebacks to reach the semifinals they are now called the “comeback kings,” and the man behind this success is no one other than Terim himself, whose motto is “nothing is impossible, miracles just take time.”
"Our coach is incredible, he doesn't let you get your head down,” said Kazım Kazım. “When you get your head down he shouts at you straight away and believe me, when that man shouts - you look. He's all about belief."
Turkey, with so many absentees in midfield, will be desperate to make best use of an “insider” against Germany: Hamit Altıntop, a German-Turk who plays for Bundesliga side Bayern Munich. Altıntop thinks that team sprit will be the key to victory.
"I'm not worried about the absentees, our greatest strength is our emotion and passion,” said Altıntop. "There is an excellent spirit in the team. I'm sure we can progress to the final."
The coach believes in his team, the players are confident, the Turks all over the world are hopeful. They are all ready for a historic night, and a historic night it will be.
The Turkish national football squad takes on Germany tonight in Basel's St-Jakob Park Stadium in the semifinal of the 2008 European Championship, or EURO 2008. Turkey's path to the final seems a difficult one, not only because of the past Euro Cup success of the German opponent, which can boast of 10 appearances, three titles and two final losses, but also due to the number of injured and suspended Turkish players.
“Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win," legendary English footballer, Gary Lineker, once said, but the depleted Turks are ready to do anything to avoid that sort of destiny in Turkey's first-ever European semifinal.
The 23-man Turkish squad is now down to 13 players, the latest blow being striker Nihat Kahveci, who left the team Sunday to start treatment in Spain for a groin injury. In addition to Nihat, Emre Güngör will also miss out on the game, and the presence of three other players, Servet Çetin, Emre Belözoğlu and Tümer Metin remains extremely doubtful.
Goalkeeper Volkan Demirel will be suspended for the second and last time due to his two-match suspension for a red card. Emre Aşık, Tuncay Şanlı and Arda Turan are also suspended after picking up two yellow cards each.
The team has lost almost half of its players, but coach Fatih Terim, or “The Emperor,” a nickname the foreign press has taken over from the Turkish media, is confident that his side will have a shot against Germany as long as he can field 11 players. He even considers using third-choice goalkeeper Tolga Zengin as an outfield player if necessary.
"He [Tolga] could come on toward the end as a sub as last man (in defense) or a center forward," Terim told reporters, and he is not worried about facing the three-time champion.
"We have shown several times already that we can achieve the impossible. I have faith in my team and in our ability to reach the final," said the Turkey coach.
Terim is a prominent, but also controversial figure in Turkish football. His squad selection for the tournament was heavily criticized in the Turkish media, and after Turkey lost its first game against Portugal 2-1, football pundits were ready to send him to the gallows. But the Turks' performance since that game has been sensational. After staging three amazing comebacks to reach the semifinals they are now called the “comeback kings,” and the man behind this success is no one other than Terim himself, whose motto is “nothing is impossible, miracles just take time.”
"Our coach is incredible, he doesn't let you get your head down,” said Kazım Kazım. “When you get your head down he shouts at you straight away and believe me, when that man shouts - you look. He's all about belief."
Turkey, with so many absentees in midfield, will be desperate to make best use of an “insider” against Germany: Hamit Altıntop, a German-Turk who plays for Bundesliga side Bayern Munich. Altıntop thinks that team sprit will be the key to victory.
"I'm not worried about the absentees, our greatest strength is our emotion and passion,” said Altıntop. "There is an excellent spirit in the team. I'm sure we can progress to the final."
The coach believes in his team, the players are confident, the Turks all over the world are hopeful. They are all ready for a historic night, and a historic night it will be.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Turkey
Just as Turkey looks as if it is shaping up to become the next major holiday-home and investment destination, its government has stopped title deeds being issued to foreigners.
Safe as houses: Bodrum Castle overlooks the lively old town. The peninsula is popular with British and Turkish buyers alike
The country did it for six months in 2005, too, in an attempt to prevent large tracts of rural land being bought up. The latest ban - announced in April and awaiting ratification in parliament - has a similar purpose, limiting foreign ownership to 10 per cent of the land in any town.
Agents selling in Turkey expect the restriction to be lifted soon. "I don't see it as a problem, as you could never expect to receive your title deeds within three months anyway," says Julian Walker from Turkish property specialist Spot Blue. "For anyone buying now, the suspension will have ended by the time they reach completion."
Even 10 per cent foreign ownership of land is a high figure that is unlikely to ever be met, Walker points out. "Even in Spain, 95 per cent of sales are to the domestic market. In Turkey, there are 77,000 foreign property owners out of a population of 77 million, which is 0.1 per cent, so 10 per cent is light years away," he says.
"You have to remember Turkey is a poor country, 20 years behind the West in its property market, laws and business practice. And even though finance is available, it is also still typically a cash market."
advertisementApart from this blip, Turkey's property market is proving resilient, with prices expected to rise by 10-15 per cent this year, says Knight Frank.
The currency exchange company Moneycorp reports that British interest in Turkish property has trebled in the past year. A NatWest survey of mortgage lenders predicts that Turkey - where 22,650 Brits own property - will be the third most popular
destination for UK buyers in the next three years, with most sticking to the area between Kusadasi on the Aegean coast and Alanya on the Med.
In its attempts to double tourist numbers to 10 million by 2010, the Turkish government is investing in infrastructure and attractions, including new golf courses in Dalaman and Belek.
It is also encouraging new air routes and airport expansion. EasyJet now flies to Dalaman and Istanbul, BA to Antalya. A new international airport at Edremit will open up areas around Ayvalik, north of Izmir - until now, despite good beaches, great windsurfing and attractive property, the preserve of Turkish buyers.
Beyond its appeal as a value-for-money location for holiday homes - outside pricier Istanbul or Bodrum, the average two-bedroom apartment costs £35,000-£90,000 - Turkey is also drawing investors to Istanbul, where new development is taking place on both sides of the Bosphorus.
Prices average about £700-£900 per square metre, with studios from £40,000 in developments such as Life Studio near Ataturk international airport (through The Right Move Abroad), or Astrum Towers, six miles from the airport, which agent Regnum predicts will see annual growth of 30 per cent.
So, this Christmas - or whenever the restrictions ease - why not vote for Turkey?
BODRUM FAR FROM HUMDRUM
Lively resorts, leisure facilities and low-priced newbuild properties make the Bodrum peninsula one of Turkey's best-known areas for British visitors, while quieter spots such as Yalikavak and Gumusluk appeal to wealthy Turkish property buyers wanting £1m-plus villas.
"Bodrum is one of the most popular coastal regions," says Jane Griffiths, managing director of Regnum, "and Turkey's appeal is widening to take in growing numbers of Eastern European holidaymakers as well as British. Small apartments can achieve rents of £300 a week."
Safe as houses: Bodrum Castle overlooks the lively old town. The peninsula is popular with British and Turkish buyers alike
The country did it for six months in 2005, too, in an attempt to prevent large tracts of rural land being bought up. The latest ban - announced in April and awaiting ratification in parliament - has a similar purpose, limiting foreign ownership to 10 per cent of the land in any town.
Agents selling in Turkey expect the restriction to be lifted soon. "I don't see it as a problem, as you could never expect to receive your title deeds within three months anyway," says Julian Walker from Turkish property specialist Spot Blue. "For anyone buying now, the suspension will have ended by the time they reach completion."
Even 10 per cent foreign ownership of land is a high figure that is unlikely to ever be met, Walker points out. "Even in Spain, 95 per cent of sales are to the domestic market. In Turkey, there are 77,000 foreign property owners out of a population of 77 million, which is 0.1 per cent, so 10 per cent is light years away," he says.
"You have to remember Turkey is a poor country, 20 years behind the West in its property market, laws and business practice. And even though finance is available, it is also still typically a cash market."
advertisementApart from this blip, Turkey's property market is proving resilient, with prices expected to rise by 10-15 per cent this year, says Knight Frank.
The currency exchange company Moneycorp reports that British interest in Turkish property has trebled in the past year. A NatWest survey of mortgage lenders predicts that Turkey - where 22,650 Brits own property - will be the third most popular
destination for UK buyers in the next three years, with most sticking to the area between Kusadasi on the Aegean coast and Alanya on the Med.
In its attempts to double tourist numbers to 10 million by 2010, the Turkish government is investing in infrastructure and attractions, including new golf courses in Dalaman and Belek.
It is also encouraging new air routes and airport expansion. EasyJet now flies to Dalaman and Istanbul, BA to Antalya. A new international airport at Edremit will open up areas around Ayvalik, north of Izmir - until now, despite good beaches, great windsurfing and attractive property, the preserve of Turkish buyers.
Beyond its appeal as a value-for-money location for holiday homes - outside pricier Istanbul or Bodrum, the average two-bedroom apartment costs £35,000-£90,000 - Turkey is also drawing investors to Istanbul, where new development is taking place on both sides of the Bosphorus.
Prices average about £700-£900 per square metre, with studios from £40,000 in developments such as Life Studio near Ataturk international airport (through The Right Move Abroad), or Astrum Towers, six miles from the airport, which agent Regnum predicts will see annual growth of 30 per cent.
So, this Christmas - or whenever the restrictions ease - why not vote for Turkey?
BODRUM FAR FROM HUMDRUM
Lively resorts, leisure facilities and low-priced newbuild properties make the Bodrum peninsula one of Turkey's best-known areas for British visitors, while quieter spots such as Yalikavak and Gumusluk appeal to wealthy Turkish property buyers wanting £1m-plus villas.
"Bodrum is one of the most popular coastal regions," says Jane Griffiths, managing director of Regnum, "and Turkey's appeal is widening to take in growing numbers of Eastern European holidaymakers as well as British. Small apartments can achieve rents of £300 a week."
Friday, June 13, 2008
golf
FOUR investors have visited Didim this week to investigate the potential of kick-starting the much-vaunted golf course projects.
Two Swedish and two Turkish groups visited the area to look at land off the road on the way to Akbük which has been allocated by government ministers for golf tourism.
The visit on Wednesday (June 11) came two years after Spanish company FADESA investigated the potential of setting up a top quality golf course in Didim, but declined to follow up their interest.
The four investors visited Mayor Mümin Kamacı and the Didim Estate Agencies Association before the association’s deputy chairman Sevim Külekçi took them on a site visit. The investors left Didim the same day.
One investor Fuat Yücel, speaking to Voices Newspaper by phone, said they were pleased with the visit. He added: “We want to be involved in golf tourism with our foreign partners in the Aegean region and we see great potential in Didim.
“We have a planned budget of 20 million Euros for a project, but we still need to investigate other areas in Bodrum and Ayvalık before we make a firm decision.
“If we decide on Didim, we will open the golf course in three years.”
Two Swedish and two Turkish groups visited the area to look at land off the road on the way to Akbük which has been allocated by government ministers for golf tourism.
The visit on Wednesday (June 11) came two years after Spanish company FADESA investigated the potential of setting up a top quality golf course in Didim, but declined to follow up their interest.
The four investors visited Mayor Mümin Kamacı and the Didim Estate Agencies Association before the association’s deputy chairman Sevim Külekçi took them on a site visit. The investors left Didim the same day.
One investor Fuat Yücel, speaking to Voices Newspaper by phone, said they were pleased with the visit. He added: “We want to be involved in golf tourism with our foreign partners in the Aegean region and we see great potential in Didim.
“We have a planned budget of 20 million Euros for a project, but we still need to investigate other areas in Bodrum and Ayvalık before we make a firm decision.
“If we decide on Didim, we will open the golf course in three years.”
Friday, June 6, 2008
Golf
For decades, the only intersection between golf and turkey was a club sandwich in the grillroom. But Turkey, the country that sits at the timeless crossroads between East and West and has been a cradle of civilizations, is now embracing another culture-crossing endeavor: golf.
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The only question is what took so long. Turkey's Mediterranean coast, first colonized by the Greeks and later controlled by the Romans, fronts an azure-blue sea long popular among sun-starved Europeans.
They have been arriving to eat tasty kebabs at outdoor cafes overlooking the sea, to savor aromatic tea or strong Turkish coffee with the ebullient locals, to peruse local markets for hand-woven kilims and other handicrafts, and perhaps most of all to see the imprint of history. The world's first agrarian settlers put down roots in the south of Turkey in 9,000 B.C. Other visitors have included Alexander the Great, who wrested the Anatolian peninsula from the Persians in 334 B.C., and St. Paul, who traveled to the south of Turkey on his first missionary journey.
Nowadays, it's the people who are the big attraction. Unfailingly courteous and welcoming, modern-day Turks consider hospitality both a civic duty and a source of pride. While predominantly Muslim, Turkey, a longtime NATO member and strong American ally, is a modern secular republic. As such, the nation is very tolerant of Western lifestyles.
So the Tourism Ministry pointed to Belek, 25 miles east of the walled port city of Antalya, as the area to develop for visiting golfers. It was a good choice. Set back from the shore beneath the Taurus Mountains, which rise to more than 10,000 feet and are snow-capped in winter, sits rolling, sand-based terrain covered in umbrella pines and eucalyptus trees.
The obvious comparisons are to Spain's Costa del Sol and Portugal's Algarve. Belek lacks their inventory of courses, but the region's well-preserved classical sites outshine those of any golf destination in Western Europe. Each site in this area, an hour's flight from Istanbul, opens a window to a lost world, offering an unforgettable outdoor history lesson.
At present, Belek has nine courses open for play; five will open soon, with several more on the drawing board. Many are attached to resort hotels strung along the beachfront. With each new course opening, Turkey, with one foot in Europe and the other in Asia, raises its profile as a winter golf destination. It's not quite the Myrtle Beach of the Med, but it is a land that gave Alexander the Great a tussle and delights those who enjoy retracing history's footsteps.
As for golf, it's a modern golfer making history of his own who fascinates young Turks keen on the game. Tiger Woods is their idol; once they find out you're an American, they ask you what he's like. Not as a golfer. As a person.
Mainstays
Debuted in 1994, Belek's first course was the National Golf Club, by the Irish duo of David Jones and David Feherty. A clever blend of British and American features, the gently rolling layout wanders through a forest of eucalyptus and pine, with several natural lakes in play. The distant Taurus Mountains loom into view at several holes. It's a subtle, lay-of-the-land design with small greens and enough length at 6,896 yards to keep better players honest.
Host of a European Seniors Tour event in 1996-97, National sets the standard for the area. The courses that have cropped up since, all within a 20-minute drive of each other, range from very good to excellent. Tat Golf Belek International Golf Club (Tat means "taste" in Turkish) is a relatively flat 27-hole layout by Englishman Martin Hawtree, a third-generation designer. Opened in 1997, it offers a diverse mix of inland, tree-lined holes as well as links-style holes stretched along the beachfront, with a river in play at roughly half the holes. Tat's only failing is its conditioning, which can be iffy.
The region's sleeper course is Robinson Club Nobilis, which occupies the site of a former Roman settlement. English course architect Dave Thomas routed holes through tall umbrella pines near the Acisu River, the landing areas and slick bentgrass greens staked out by rolled-down, grass-faced bunkers. And just in case you neglected to remember where you are, there's a colonnaded clubhouse and a statue of Julius Caesar swinging a club atop a Roman arch to remind you.
Belek's largest facility is the 45-hole Gloria Golf Resort. The Old course was laid out in 1997 by Michel Gayon, a little-known Frenchman who created an impressive, tree-lined venue that emphasizes the tee shot: The layout's seemingly wide, inviting fairways actually call for well-positioned drives to open up a clear shot to the green.
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The major-domo at Gloria is Tony Martin, a former European Tour player who has tirelessly promoted Turkey as a first-class destination. "The future of golf tourism in this country is looking very positive," he says. "Some compare Turkey with Spain 30 years ago, but we are moving faster here and the quality and service are higher."
The region's most recent developments have given Belek enough critical mass to enter the big leagues. The 36-hole Antalya Golf Club, opened in 2002, occupies gently rolling terrain and has a different look than the region's other courses. With fewer trees and numerous lakes, it could almost pass for a Florida spread. The Sultan, at 7,011 yards, is a pro-style test; the Pasha, relatively short at 6,268 yards, compensates with small, very undulating greens.
Top Newcomer
Cornelia Golf Club is a superb 27-hole facility that amply justifies the long journey. Named for a beloved Roman matron, Cornelia opened its Nick Faldo-designed Tiberius and Sempronia nines last November. The Gaius nine will debut this fall. (The nines are named for Cornelia's children.) The core 18 is, without question, the top course in Turkey. Cornelia was revered in the ancient world for her character; the club will share her reputation.
Faldo was a tactical thinker as a player, and it shows in his course designs. On a sandy, pine-clad site with a broad dune ridge running through the center of the property, Faldo created a strategic gem. Straightaway holes are in short supply at Cornelia. Par 5s are subtly Z-shaped or make hairpin turns through the woods. Among the more memorable holes is Tiberius' short par-4 7th, called "Faldo's Choice." The safe play is to the higher ground, though big hitters can take dead aim over sandy wasteland and trees to a sprawling green that slopes to three deep bunkers intended to swallow pushed shots. Cornelia is an eco-sensitive design that shelters hundreds of plant and bird species, notably the hooded owl, symbol of the Belek region.
Coming Attractions
Belek's newest venue is Papillon Golf Resort, which is scheduled to open its Colin Montgomerie design in late 2007. While more open than Cornelia, the course's site, a mixed pine forest interspersed by sandy ridges, is exceptional. The resort is angling to host a European Tour event. The ribbon-cutting will continue this fall at Sueno Golf Club, its Pines and Dunes courses proceeding from a new hotel. Pines is the region's longest course to date at 7,057 yards.
Thirty minutes east of Belek is Lykia Links, yet another newcomer scheduled to open this fall. The nearly treeless course by Perry Dye is set along the sandy shore a stone's throw from the beach. Looking ahead, Carya Golf Club, a heathland-style course by Thomson Perrett & Lobb, the firm founded by Australian great Peter Thomson, will debut next year. Like Cornelia, the expansive site, a mere 200 yards from the beach, is bisected by a sandy ridge and is heavily forested.
Hotels
Arguably the finest property in Belek is the Kempinski Hotel The Dome, a 157-room resort that fronts a private beach and is next to Antalya Golf Club. The hotel's ornate architecture was inspired by the Seljuk dynasty, which dates to the 11th century. The Dome Spa is one of the largest spa and Thalasso facilities in Turkey.
Among the newcomers, the top choices are Gloria Serenity Resort, a nicely landscaped, low-density property with 270 rooms and three a la carte restaurants, and the 178-room Sueno Hotels Golf Belek, which fronts a pair of courses and is slated to open in late 2007.
History Lessons
Belek is a perfect base for exploring the region's antiquities. Perge bears the imprints of a once-prosperous, well-planned Roman city: stadium, handsome theater and extensive baths. A pair of Hellenistic towers marks the entry to the city. The grooves in the paving stones are ruts worn by chariot wheels. St. Paul preached here on his first missionary journey.
Equally impressive is Aspendos, which boasts one of the best-preserved Roman theaters in the world-it is still in use with seating for 15,000. Aspendos also has an impressive aqueduct that traverses the valley, another superb example of Roman engineering.
Moving to the east is Side, one of Turkey's best-known classical sites. This lovely seaside town was founded by early Greeks, but its touchstones are mostly Roman. A popular resort, Side's narrow streets are lined with merchants selling handcrafted leather goods and jewelry. There are beautiful seaside temples dedicated to Apollo and Athena and a unique archeology museum contained in a Roman bathhouse.
An hour's drive west of Belek is Antalya, an ancient city (founded in 159 B.C.) with a modern pulse and a population of 1.1 million. The most important remains are the Roman city walls and Hadrian's Gate, built in honor of the emperor's visit. However, a distinctive fluted minaret of red brick, built by a sultan in the 13th century, is Antalya's most distinctive landmark.
Cuisine
Turkish cuisine is as varied as its history. Mezes, or appetizers, are usually served cold, running the gamut from elaborately stuffed vegetables to imam bayildi-slow-roasted baby eggplant topped with fried onions and tomatoes, and seasoned with garlic. Kebabs-marinated cubes of meat, often lamb, grilled with vegetables on a skewer-are excellent. As a main course, all preparations of lamb are recommended. Fresh fish, notably sea bass, is seasoned simply with olive oil and lemon and grilled whole. Save room for dessert. Baklava-a Turkish pastry made with phyllo dough, honey and chopped nuts-is rich and satisfying.
Turkish coffee -- dark, strong and a little gritty -- is an acquired taste. The local beer is Efes Pilsen, a fine pilsner. Raki, Turkey's national drink, is made from grapes and aniseed, and is similar to Greek ouzo. It's usually served as an aperitif. How you end the meal -- and the end of a day of Turkish golf and sightseeing -- is up to you.
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The only question is what took so long. Turkey's Mediterranean coast, first colonized by the Greeks and later controlled by the Romans, fronts an azure-blue sea long popular among sun-starved Europeans.
They have been arriving to eat tasty kebabs at outdoor cafes overlooking the sea, to savor aromatic tea or strong Turkish coffee with the ebullient locals, to peruse local markets for hand-woven kilims and other handicrafts, and perhaps most of all to see the imprint of history. The world's first agrarian settlers put down roots in the south of Turkey in 9,000 B.C. Other visitors have included Alexander the Great, who wrested the Anatolian peninsula from the Persians in 334 B.C., and St. Paul, who traveled to the south of Turkey on his first missionary journey.
Nowadays, it's the people who are the big attraction. Unfailingly courteous and welcoming, modern-day Turks consider hospitality both a civic duty and a source of pride. While predominantly Muslim, Turkey, a longtime NATO member and strong American ally, is a modern secular republic. As such, the nation is very tolerant of Western lifestyles.
So the Tourism Ministry pointed to Belek, 25 miles east of the walled port city of Antalya, as the area to develop for visiting golfers. It was a good choice. Set back from the shore beneath the Taurus Mountains, which rise to more than 10,000 feet and are snow-capped in winter, sits rolling, sand-based terrain covered in umbrella pines and eucalyptus trees.
The obvious comparisons are to Spain's Costa del Sol and Portugal's Algarve. Belek lacks their inventory of courses, but the region's well-preserved classical sites outshine those of any golf destination in Western Europe. Each site in this area, an hour's flight from Istanbul, opens a window to a lost world, offering an unforgettable outdoor history lesson.
At present, Belek has nine courses open for play; five will open soon, with several more on the drawing board. Many are attached to resort hotels strung along the beachfront. With each new course opening, Turkey, with one foot in Europe and the other in Asia, raises its profile as a winter golf destination. It's not quite the Myrtle Beach of the Med, but it is a land that gave Alexander the Great a tussle and delights those who enjoy retracing history's footsteps.
As for golf, it's a modern golfer making history of his own who fascinates young Turks keen on the game. Tiger Woods is their idol; once they find out you're an American, they ask you what he's like. Not as a golfer. As a person.
Mainstays
Debuted in 1994, Belek's first course was the National Golf Club, by the Irish duo of David Jones and David Feherty. A clever blend of British and American features, the gently rolling layout wanders through a forest of eucalyptus and pine, with several natural lakes in play. The distant Taurus Mountains loom into view at several holes. It's a subtle, lay-of-the-land design with small greens and enough length at 6,896 yards to keep better players honest.
Host of a European Seniors Tour event in 1996-97, National sets the standard for the area. The courses that have cropped up since, all within a 20-minute drive of each other, range from very good to excellent. Tat Golf Belek International Golf Club (Tat means "taste" in Turkish) is a relatively flat 27-hole layout by Englishman Martin Hawtree, a third-generation designer. Opened in 1997, it offers a diverse mix of inland, tree-lined holes as well as links-style holes stretched along the beachfront, with a river in play at roughly half the holes. Tat's only failing is its conditioning, which can be iffy.
The region's sleeper course is Robinson Club Nobilis, which occupies the site of a former Roman settlement. English course architect Dave Thomas routed holes through tall umbrella pines near the Acisu River, the landing areas and slick bentgrass greens staked out by rolled-down, grass-faced bunkers. And just in case you neglected to remember where you are, there's a colonnaded clubhouse and a statue of Julius Caesar swinging a club atop a Roman arch to remind you.
Belek's largest facility is the 45-hole Gloria Golf Resort. The Old course was laid out in 1997 by Michel Gayon, a little-known Frenchman who created an impressive, tree-lined venue that emphasizes the tee shot: The layout's seemingly wide, inviting fairways actually call for well-positioned drives to open up a clear shot to the green.
Advertisement
The major-domo at Gloria is Tony Martin, a former European Tour player who has tirelessly promoted Turkey as a first-class destination. "The future of golf tourism in this country is looking very positive," he says. "Some compare Turkey with Spain 30 years ago, but we are moving faster here and the quality and service are higher."
The region's most recent developments have given Belek enough critical mass to enter the big leagues. The 36-hole Antalya Golf Club, opened in 2002, occupies gently rolling terrain and has a different look than the region's other courses. With fewer trees and numerous lakes, it could almost pass for a Florida spread. The Sultan, at 7,011 yards, is a pro-style test; the Pasha, relatively short at 6,268 yards, compensates with small, very undulating greens.
Top Newcomer
Cornelia Golf Club is a superb 27-hole facility that amply justifies the long journey. Named for a beloved Roman matron, Cornelia opened its Nick Faldo-designed Tiberius and Sempronia nines last November. The Gaius nine will debut this fall. (The nines are named for Cornelia's children.) The core 18 is, without question, the top course in Turkey. Cornelia was revered in the ancient world for her character; the club will share her reputation.
Faldo was a tactical thinker as a player, and it shows in his course designs. On a sandy, pine-clad site with a broad dune ridge running through the center of the property, Faldo created a strategic gem. Straightaway holes are in short supply at Cornelia. Par 5s are subtly Z-shaped or make hairpin turns through the woods. Among the more memorable holes is Tiberius' short par-4 7th, called "Faldo's Choice." The safe play is to the higher ground, though big hitters can take dead aim over sandy wasteland and trees to a sprawling green that slopes to three deep bunkers intended to swallow pushed shots. Cornelia is an eco-sensitive design that shelters hundreds of plant and bird species, notably the hooded owl, symbol of the Belek region.
Coming Attractions
Belek's newest venue is Papillon Golf Resort, which is scheduled to open its Colin Montgomerie design in late 2007. While more open than Cornelia, the course's site, a mixed pine forest interspersed by sandy ridges, is exceptional. The resort is angling to host a European Tour event. The ribbon-cutting will continue this fall at Sueno Golf Club, its Pines and Dunes courses proceeding from a new hotel. Pines is the region's longest course to date at 7,057 yards.
Thirty minutes east of Belek is Lykia Links, yet another newcomer scheduled to open this fall. The nearly treeless course by Perry Dye is set along the sandy shore a stone's throw from the beach. Looking ahead, Carya Golf Club, a heathland-style course by Thomson Perrett & Lobb, the firm founded by Australian great Peter Thomson, will debut next year. Like Cornelia, the expansive site, a mere 200 yards from the beach, is bisected by a sandy ridge and is heavily forested.
Hotels
Arguably the finest property in Belek is the Kempinski Hotel The Dome, a 157-room resort that fronts a private beach and is next to Antalya Golf Club. The hotel's ornate architecture was inspired by the Seljuk dynasty, which dates to the 11th century. The Dome Spa is one of the largest spa and Thalasso facilities in Turkey.
Among the newcomers, the top choices are Gloria Serenity Resort, a nicely landscaped, low-density property with 270 rooms and three a la carte restaurants, and the 178-room Sueno Hotels Golf Belek, which fronts a pair of courses and is slated to open in late 2007.
History Lessons
Belek is a perfect base for exploring the region's antiquities. Perge bears the imprints of a once-prosperous, well-planned Roman city: stadium, handsome theater and extensive baths. A pair of Hellenistic towers marks the entry to the city. The grooves in the paving stones are ruts worn by chariot wheels. St. Paul preached here on his first missionary journey.
Equally impressive is Aspendos, which boasts one of the best-preserved Roman theaters in the world-it is still in use with seating for 15,000. Aspendos also has an impressive aqueduct that traverses the valley, another superb example of Roman engineering.
Moving to the east is Side, one of Turkey's best-known classical sites. This lovely seaside town was founded by early Greeks, but its touchstones are mostly Roman. A popular resort, Side's narrow streets are lined with merchants selling handcrafted leather goods and jewelry. There are beautiful seaside temples dedicated to Apollo and Athena and a unique archeology museum contained in a Roman bathhouse.
An hour's drive west of Belek is Antalya, an ancient city (founded in 159 B.C.) with a modern pulse and a population of 1.1 million. The most important remains are the Roman city walls and Hadrian's Gate, built in honor of the emperor's visit. However, a distinctive fluted minaret of red brick, built by a sultan in the 13th century, is Antalya's most distinctive landmark.
Cuisine
Turkish cuisine is as varied as its history. Mezes, or appetizers, are usually served cold, running the gamut from elaborately stuffed vegetables to imam bayildi-slow-roasted baby eggplant topped with fried onions and tomatoes, and seasoned with garlic. Kebabs-marinated cubes of meat, often lamb, grilled with vegetables on a skewer-are excellent. As a main course, all preparations of lamb are recommended. Fresh fish, notably sea bass, is seasoned simply with olive oil and lemon and grilled whole. Save room for dessert. Baklava-a Turkish pastry made with phyllo dough, honey and chopped nuts-is rich and satisfying.
Turkish coffee -- dark, strong and a little gritty -- is an acquired taste. The local beer is Efes Pilsen, a fine pilsner. Raki, Turkey's national drink, is made from grapes and aniseed, and is similar to Greek ouzo. It's usually served as an aperitif. How you end the meal -- and the end of a day of Turkish golf and sightseeing -- is up to you.
Golf
The popularity of destinations like Bodrum and Antalya has already led to massive success in the Turkish tourism industry, but the market is set to grow further as a result of golf tourism, according to a new report.
KPMG Golf Advisory Services surveyed more than 70 tour operators and 50 golf course architects and found that Turkey is one of the countries that is expected to see a thriving golf tourism market in the future.
Hotspots like Malaga and Faro have made Spain and Portugal Europe's top destinations for golfers, but the KPMG research suggested that this could be set to change, Travel Daily News reports.
Andrea Sartori of KPMG Golf Advisory Services said: "The golf industry as a whole is likely to benefit from the continued growth of the broader travel and tourism industry.
"However, the traditional golf markets of Europe and North America can expect increasing competition from the emerging golf destinations that offer high quality golfing experiences at affordable prices."
Ms Sartori went on to explain that the "changing face" of the tourism industry is a result of lower air fares, greater accessibility to worldwide destinations and more frequent travel.
KPMG Golf Advisory Services surveyed more than 70 tour operators and 50 golf course architects and found that Turkey is one of the countries that is expected to see a thriving golf tourism market in the future.
Hotspots like Malaga and Faro have made Spain and Portugal Europe's top destinations for golfers, but the KPMG research suggested that this could be set to change, Travel Daily News reports.
Andrea Sartori of KPMG Golf Advisory Services said: "The golf industry as a whole is likely to benefit from the continued growth of the broader travel and tourism industry.
"However, the traditional golf markets of Europe and North America can expect increasing competition from the emerging golf destinations that offer high quality golfing experiences at affordable prices."
Ms Sartori went on to explain that the "changing face" of the tourism industry is a result of lower air fares, greater accessibility to worldwide destinations and more frequent travel.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Lykia World
LykiaGroup, which has been contributing to Turkey's tourism sector with investments in recreation, culture, golf and congress tourism for years, will open LykiaWorld & LinksGolf Antalya, which was constructed with an investment of 100 million euros, on June 7.
Placed at a special location surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea on one side and the Taurus Mountains on the other, LykiaWorld & LinksGolf Antalya stands out with its 2.5-kilometer coastal line. Another factor that marks the hotel as different from its rivals is its links golf course, the first of its kind on the Mediterranean coast. LykiaWorld & LinksGolf Antalya will begin offering unforgettable experiences to golf addicts from all over the world from September onward.
Individualism and diversity
“We aim to introduce the concept of ‘enjoyment' to the tourism sector beyond that of ‘entertainment.' The concept combines individualism with diversity in order to create the unexpected. This understanding will allow our guests to spend time in an activity that suits their individual taste, interest and enjoyment best,” said Burhan Silahtaroğlu, chairman of the board of LykiaGroup. Our guests will find the comfort that will make them feel at home, noted Silahtaroğlu. “We abstain from mass tourism above all. It will even be difficult for our guest to come together, at a capacity of 1,200 people.”
LykiaWorld & LinksGolf Antalya offers every comfort to its guests with its 449 units differing in size from 40 to 225 square meters. The hotel includes duplex units with direct access to the swimming pool, superior family suites that are larger in size, and terrace suites as well as deluxe golf and resort rooms.
Corners tailored to each and every taste
LykiaWorld & LinksGolf Antalya guests will be able to chose from four a la carte restaurants six days a week: The “Leziz” buffet restaurant, which is open 12 months a year offering both Turkish and international dishes in an elegant environment, the Turkish Quarter offering Turkish meals, services and entertainment in a modern setting, Vinoegusto, an Italian restaurant, Singapore, a far eastern restaurant, and the Fish House. Moreover, the Links Bar & Steak House will entertain hotel guests with distinguished tastes from international cuisines.
The small guests are not neglected in LykiaWorld & LinksGolf Antalya, either. The Lykie Club will serve them with such options as hamburgers, chips and pasta.
The guests will also be able to enjoy themselves in the different atmospheres of 11 special pubs such as the “Lobi Bar,” the “Piyano Bar,” the “Havuz Bar” and the “Meltem Bar” by tasting specially prepared drinks.
Links golf course
Termed a “Seaside Golf Course,” Links Golf is the first of its kind in Turkey. Some 300 golf courses out of 36,000 in the world are links golf courses. With 27 holes, the LykiaLinks Golf Course was designed by Perry Dye, third-generation representative of the Dye family of America. The golf course will open in September.
“The golf course has a special kind of grass called ‘Seashore Paspalum.' The grass is green throughout the year, and is not affected by the salty sea water,” said Zeynep Silahtaroğlu Baykal, member of the board of LykiaGroup. The golf course is irrigated by Köprü Çay, a small brook that also divides the hotel into two, noted Silahtaroğlu Baykal and added that they did not use ground water but planned to refine sea water and use it for irrigation purposes in the future.
“Covering a total area of 1 million square meters, LykiaWorld & LinksGolf Antalya targets the highest income group. The prices are twice the Turkey average because our product package is the best. We have made a success of an unprecedented hotel in an unprecedented location,” said Burhan Silahtaroğlu and added that they expected an annual revenue of between 37 and 40 million euros.
Placed at a special location surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea on one side and the Taurus Mountains on the other, LykiaWorld & LinksGolf Antalya stands out with its 2.5-kilometer coastal line. Another factor that marks the hotel as different from its rivals is its links golf course, the first of its kind on the Mediterranean coast. LykiaWorld & LinksGolf Antalya will begin offering unforgettable experiences to golf addicts from all over the world from September onward.
Individualism and diversity
“We aim to introduce the concept of ‘enjoyment' to the tourism sector beyond that of ‘entertainment.' The concept combines individualism with diversity in order to create the unexpected. This understanding will allow our guests to spend time in an activity that suits their individual taste, interest and enjoyment best,” said Burhan Silahtaroğlu, chairman of the board of LykiaGroup. Our guests will find the comfort that will make them feel at home, noted Silahtaroğlu. “We abstain from mass tourism above all. It will even be difficult for our guest to come together, at a capacity of 1,200 people.”
LykiaWorld & LinksGolf Antalya offers every comfort to its guests with its 449 units differing in size from 40 to 225 square meters. The hotel includes duplex units with direct access to the swimming pool, superior family suites that are larger in size, and terrace suites as well as deluxe golf and resort rooms.
Corners tailored to each and every taste
LykiaWorld & LinksGolf Antalya guests will be able to chose from four a la carte restaurants six days a week: The “Leziz” buffet restaurant, which is open 12 months a year offering both Turkish and international dishes in an elegant environment, the Turkish Quarter offering Turkish meals, services and entertainment in a modern setting, Vinoegusto, an Italian restaurant, Singapore, a far eastern restaurant, and the Fish House. Moreover, the Links Bar & Steak House will entertain hotel guests with distinguished tastes from international cuisines.
The small guests are not neglected in LykiaWorld & LinksGolf Antalya, either. The Lykie Club will serve them with such options as hamburgers, chips and pasta.
The guests will also be able to enjoy themselves in the different atmospheres of 11 special pubs such as the “Lobi Bar,” the “Piyano Bar,” the “Havuz Bar” and the “Meltem Bar” by tasting specially prepared drinks.
Links golf course
Termed a “Seaside Golf Course,” Links Golf is the first of its kind in Turkey. Some 300 golf courses out of 36,000 in the world are links golf courses. With 27 holes, the LykiaLinks Golf Course was designed by Perry Dye, third-generation representative of the Dye family of America. The golf course will open in September.
“The golf course has a special kind of grass called ‘Seashore Paspalum.' The grass is green throughout the year, and is not affected by the salty sea water,” said Zeynep Silahtaroğlu Baykal, member of the board of LykiaGroup. The golf course is irrigated by Köprü Çay, a small brook that also divides the hotel into two, noted Silahtaroğlu Baykal and added that they did not use ground water but planned to refine sea water and use it for irrigation purposes in the future.
“Covering a total area of 1 million square meters, LykiaWorld & LinksGolf Antalya targets the highest income group. The prices are twice the Turkey average because our product package is the best. We have made a success of an unprecedented hotel in an unprecedented location,” said Burhan Silahtaroğlu and added that they expected an annual revenue of between 37 and 40 million euros.
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