From a classic all-inclusive summer destination to a refined year-round holiday paradise — that is how the coastal region around Belek has transformed. Turkey scores in equal measure in summer and winter, for beach holidaymakers and golfers alike. The latter rave about superbly maintained courses, challenging fairways and perfect greens, set in a fascinating landscape between the Taurus Mountains and the Mediterranean.

Despite the rapid hotel development of recent years, you can tell that Belek is a region that actively protects and preserves its diverse flora and fauna. Here you can admire the blaze of colour of nature and the beauty of hundreds of rare plants. Everywhere, and especially on the immaculately kept golf courses, the vegetation is a habitat for 100 rare bird species, for turtles, for many squirrels and, of course, for the barn owl, Belek’s emblem.
Among fragrant flowers and birdsong, you can enjoy long walks in the shade of the trees. And of course the crystal-clear water of the Turkish Riviera is always close by.
Right on this wonderful beach lies the family-friendly Hotel Maritim Pine Beach Resort.
A holiday and golfer’s paradise right by the sea!

The hotel sits directly on its own 100-metre sandy beach. Although it is only 25 minutes from the airport, not a single plane disturbs the peace. Barely 5 minutes from the “outlet centre” — because all of Belek is one long shopping mile, with brilliant copies but also traditional local handicrafts. It is 45 km to the centre of Antalya.

But far more important: the Hotel Maritim Pine Beach Resort lies in the middle of a pine forest with orange and olive trees. It is a 57,000 m² golf and holiday resort closely connected to nature. You enjoy a dreamlike view of the sea on one side and the beginning of the Taurus Mountains on the other. Breakfast in the morning on the wonderful terrace, and then the agony of choice begins: head to the well-kept beach with your own parasol and lounger, with changing and shower cabins? Or would you rather spend time at one of the many indoor and outdoor pools? If you have your kids along, you will of course prefer the children’s pool or the hotel’s insane slides in the aqua park. Another option for a great holiday day at the Maritim is a trip to the fitness centre, the sauna, the steam bath and then on to the “hamam,” the traditional Turkish bath that has existed for over 1,000 years.

Or you opt for one of the 11 golf courses, some of which are practically right on the doorstep, the farthest only 30 minutes from the hotel. Many of these golf clubs have more than 27, often even 36 holes. For tee-time reservations, the Pine Beach Resort works with the “Gloria” (right outside the Maritim hotel entrance), the “National,” the “TAT,” the “Antalya,” the “Sueno” and the “Montgomerie” courses.
And the question: what do the kids do when the parents want to learn to dive, or play tennis or golf? They are looked after! In the kindergarten, in the Mini Club (4 to 12 years) and, of course, with a children’s buffet. For teenagers and non-golfing adults, an all-day activity programme with many options is available.

This impressively demonstrates how the balancing act between a 5-star holiday hotel and a congress hotel on the one hand, and classic club-holiday life on the other, can succeed. Everyone has the holiday or conference they want, and no one on the huge site feels disturbed by anyone else. The buffet brings us to another reason worth mentioning to go to the Maritim. Six times a day the restaurant offers an overwhelming abundance of the most varied local and international dishes — from the 7:00 a.m. breakfast to the midnight snack (11:00 p.m. to midnight).

And if the day was still too “short” for you, you can enjoy yourself in the disco or the “Nyx Bar” until morning. A small white wristband is the clincher at the Maritim Hotel Pine Beach. It makes the Maritim’s carefree “all-inclusive” package possible. And the Maritim really means it. Even the bar is included — a holiday without spending another euro. Only the affiliated thalasso, therapy and health centre comes at extra cost.
At the Maritim Pine Beach there is first a fundamental decision to make: do you want one of the 320 bungalow apartments in the garden area, or the hotel’s main building? The furnishings and service are almost identical.
The 325 tastefully designed hotel rooms (some even specially designed for guests with disabilities) have bath/shower/WC, hairdryer, direct telephone line, satellite TV and music, minibar, safe, carpeting, beach towels, a seating area, internet connection, as well as air conditioning and a balcony.

The junior suites can accommodate up to 4 people. But if you want to round off the “luxury Maritim holiday” completely for your family, you should book one of the 54 m² “king suites.” On the huge terrace there is then a wonderful jacuzzi.
During our stay at the 5-star “Maritim Pine Beach” we were able to experience friendly Turkish hosts. The service and guest care are all-encompassing. On request, the Maritim picks you up at the airport and shuttles you to the golf courses.

Golf: Nick Faldo versus Colin Montgomerie

So which of the two created the finest golf course on the Turkish coast? This and other questions pressed themselves on us during our stay on Belek’s coast. Admittedly, in terms of the sheer concentration of courses, it has nowhere near caught up with the Spanish “Costa del Sol” around Marbella, but with 11 courses around the Maritim Hotel in Belek it is already very well stocked.
Six of the eleven courses are even just 12 minutes — and the farthest 30 minutes — from the hotel. As for green fees, too, the “Costa del Golf” level has fortunately not yet been reached.

The cheapest green fee for 18 holes is 74 euros at TAT Golf, and the most expensive is 115 euros at the “Montgomerie Papillon Golf Club.” The courses are all well to very well maintained and, at times, extremely heavily booked.
If you compare the development of the Costa del Sol with the “new golf mecca” Belek, the question arises: quo vadis?
Or put differently: hasn’t the new rush to other golf destinations come about precisely because, in the foreseeable future, a round of golf at the “old locations” — during the German pre- and post-season — is no longer affordable?
We believe that the green fees in Belek, averaging 90 euros, are close to the “ceiling.” Surely one golfer or another is already searching for the next, new and cheaper golf paradise. That said, the service at the courses in the “golf mecca Belek” is mostly superb.

Here, then, are our impressions of the courses we played:
Cornelia Golf Resort – Design by Nick Faldo
Perhaps because it was our first “premium golf club” in Turkey, it impressed us so much. But perhaps also because, from the stately clubhouse driveway onwards, it “feels” as though England begins.
Before you have even properly stepped out of your Maritim hotel golf shuttle, the caddy master is already standing beside you to receive the bags and so on. In the elegant clubhouse you are welcomed by a hostess who offers you a welcome drink from a variety of beverages.
You are then led to a seat at one of the three reception secretaries. Comfortably, while sipping your drink, the green-fee details are discussed and the course, the driving range and the clubhouse explained. Wonderful.

The golf itself is also a delight. The 27-hole course, designed by six-time major winner Nick Faldo, has been open since November 2006.
The course, with a length of 6,400 m and par 72, was embedded in the existing natural landscape and bears Nick Faldo’s typical signature. Between the tees and fairways — and partly to the sides of the holes — there are areas left in their natural state.
Numerous lakes and many pines line the fairways and greens. A very special challenge for all playing abilities are the many pot bunkers. The Cornelia Golf Resort certainly set new standards in the Belek golf region. It shines with beautifully kept fairways and greens. The fairways usually sit slightly raised and forgive no lateral “strays.” Easy is something else. You should not necessarily hope to play anywhere near your handicap. The 27-hole course can be played in different 18-hole rounds:

Prince Course, 6,430 m, par 72
Queen Course, 6,510 m, par 72
King Course, 6,560 m, par 72
Minimum handicaps required by the club: men HCP -28 and women HCP -36.
We did not notice, however, that the handicap was actually checked — and with some players a considerably higher HCP could surely rightly be suspected.

The difference is in the detail – The Montgomerie Papillon Golf Club

Not only at the world’s tournaments have Colin Montgomerie and Nick Faldo battled for the better placing — when it comes to course design, too, it is far from clear who the winner is. So the very next day we are on the “Papillon Golf Course” created by “Monty,” not far from the Cornelia.
A stately driveway. We pause for a moment: is this also a hotel, or “only” the golf club?
In a generous hall, which also houses the well-stocked pro shop, we are received and guided by extremely friendly, business-attired staff.

In the meantime, our equipment — taken in and prepared outside the clubhouse by a friendly member of staff — has been strapped onto our buggy. We drive to the spacious driving range and, after a “pyramid” of struck balls, set off on our round.
On the course, too, the extremely luxurious service continues. The fairways are continuously cleared by staff in club dress of anything that does not belong there. When the refreshments buggy reaches us, a friendly member of staff in a black bow tie asks about our wishes — and should he not have something on his cart, he would gladly fetch it for us right away. Everything at this club is simply first class.

But now to the course: let it be said in advance that Colin Montgomerie certainly was not thinking of amateurs when he designed it.
Evidently, though, they then showed amateurs some mercy in the course rating and, because of the endless strategic tree plantings, the eight lakes and the roughly 7 hectares of bunkers, set a recommendation of between six and eight strokes.
The first nine holes are characterised by seven lakes. After playing the second nine, you wonder whether, with this concentration of bunkers, there was even enough fairway available to place your tee shot.
After the round, once the caddy master had relieved us of our equipment for “reprocessing,” we were led via a “gangway” to the clubhouse terrace. Sitting on fine timberwork and enjoying the beautiful view of the 18th hole, we are certain: playing this course was a truly adventurous and unforgettable experience. Very pleasantly, we noticed that there were no waiting times on the course. Partly because handicaps are only admitted (and checked) from -31, or -40 for women, and partly because, with the most expensive green fee on the coast (€115), utilisation is surely considerably lower.

The facts:
104 hectares total area.
18 holes, par 72, 6,486 m (professional tees).
Design: Colin Montgomerie in collaboration with European Golf Design.
Opened on 1 September 2008.
Average green size 600 m².
4 tees per hole, each with a different slope.
The fairways: challenging and gentle, with endless strategic tree plantings, eight lakes and around seven hectares of bunkers.