There’s nothing quite like playing golf in the sun with a nice cold beverage to boot, but with so many destinations across Europe to choose from, where are some of the best courses?
MailSport took a trip to Antalya, Turkey to check out the credentials of Cullinan Belek, one of the most luxurious, market leading hotels in the continent, but what are their golf courses like?
Fist of all, yes, that plural is deliberate. Cullinan has 36 holes spread over two courses, a driving range as well as chipping and putting areas where lessons are also available.
Olympos and Aspendos are the two courses in question and there is plenty of water on hand whether it be the very first tee on the latter or the sea that walks along the first few holes of Olympos.
It’s just as beautiful as it is tricky, so let’s get into playing at Cullinan Links Golf Club.
To take a closer look at Cullinan Belek and book your next golf trip, click the link.
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The Cullinan Belek has 36 holes of golf, a private beach and 13 swimming pools
Trademark first holes
Even a tee time of 7:45am in late May requires factor 50, a hat and plenty of water (or beer) in the buggy. It’s scorching hot. And yeah, you will need that buggy because walking in the heat if you boast Irish heritage like I do is a no-no.
Both golf courses are par 71, championship calibre delights with Olympos around 250 metres longer than Aspendos. We decided to tackle the latter first; you can’t miss it as you enter the hotel and it immediately seduced us!
The first hole is a par four that forces you to hit over a tempting stretch of water that just so happened to sit adjacent to our rooms. Once you hit it over the magnetic fountain (at least it was to my ball), you’re in business.
Aspendos sees you tee off over the water right next to the room we were staying in
The Cullinan Links Golf Club has a bar that overlooks the 18th hole and some great scenery
Beautiful weather and greens
The greens are so well kept and lush that even the second cut feels like the fairway. Past that, though, and the bushes get sandy and tricky fast like some rustic bunkers. Despite the conditions, the greens are constantly watered and there’s not even a hint of the course being too dry.
It was 30 degrees everyday we were in Antalya. There’s plenty of water around the hotel with myriad of pools and places to get beverages. Out on the course, it’s easy to feel the heat and if you fail to prepare for that, prepare to cook.
At the mid-way point of both courses there are halfway houses to supply you with the water you will mostly certainly need. However, there is also a bombastic cart-driver making his way around with ice cold beers too, should that tickle your fancy (it will). Your buggies come equipped with a cool box already stacked with ice – very helpful.
There were several moments where my dad and I stood there and said “does it get much better than this?” We’re from Hemel Hempstead though, so, context.
Considering the heat, the greens are kept in lush condition all the way around
A look at the long par five that is the second hole on Aspendos, featuring a moat by the green
That’s how close the golf course is to the hotel, as seen on the far right of this picture
Challenging water
A few holes are certainly designed to take you by surprise and keep you guessing. On the second hole of Aspendos, once you get some 300 yards up there, what is essentially a moat protects the green and it’s very easy to miss if you’re trying to make it there in two or three, depending on your ability.
That’s one of this course’s main strength, the variety in each hole from the quirky par threes where you can end up in the drink just as easy as the green to the par fives that stretch out the jaw-dropping scenery on show.
I assume if we were better golfers than we are, then yes it might. But if beautiful greens, blue skies and a beach in sight is good for your endorphins, you’re in for the best sensory overload you could hope for.
I did par this hole… after going in the water twice during other rounds and finally learning!
There is plenty of water features around the course and fountains to tease you as you tee off
It’s very easy to find yourself in trouble on these courses, but that made upped the ante for us
Variety
Olympos starts with the same task of hitting over the water to kick your round off with a bang or a bummer. This particular 18 holes hugs the coastline where Culinan’s private beach shows itself off as the impressive hotel sits as a backdrop.
It’s a flatter course with some wider fairways to aim at. However, the greens are fast and about as even as the rocky mountains in places. The wrong approach can be very costly, plenty of three-putts were had!
Playing next to the beach also brings the added challenged of battling swirling winds. One of our scorecards had taken 26 shots taken after four holes on the final day (I cannot confirm if it was mine) because the conditions were juxtaposing; bright, sunny skies with fierce gusts ruining our best laid plans.
The beach is right next to one side of the course as you play the opening holes on Olympos
The stunning view from the clubhouse where we enjoyed a well-earned beer after playing
The man hotel is a stones throw away from the course, everything is very close and accessible
Everything, and we mean everything, is first class
The last hole on the course features water down the right hand side and after a 70 yard pause it also sits to the right of the final green. To the left, fellow golfers overlook your last efforts from the intoxicating clubhouse bar and when you’re done, you’ll most certainly want to join them.
Much like the hotel that accompanies the course, it is kept in pristine condition and there is almost a surplus of people on hand to make sure those high standards are adhered to.
If you want a round of golf, the hotel have personal assistants who will book your tee time for you. They’ll even pick you up from your room in a golf buggy and take you to the clubhouse. And when they say the hotel is all-inclusive, whatever you have previously experienced with those words won’t match up to this. Nothing is too much.
The clubhouse, where all the food and drink is included, is extremely modern and luxurious
The view from the balcony that overlooks the 18th is stunning with a nice atmosphere
Final say
We played Olympos twice (foolishly the second time on a windy day!) and Aspendos one during a five day stay. I think the former is a slightly easier course to tackle, but both have their challenges and they’re fun to work out in a where did my kids put my car keys, those little rascals-kind of way.
Unless you book a deal, green fees will be €155 (£131) for a guest at the Cullinan Belek. A buggy is €50 (£42) and hiring clubs is another €40 (£34). There are deal on flights, the golf and accommodation and if you’re smart, you can save on hiring golf clubs once in Antalya. If you just rock up and play, it can be expensive.
The Culinan Belek hotel and Links Golf Course are a powerful two-punch, complimenting each other as prime Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole. Both bring the goods at the highest level and whichever one you play, they’re great! Yes, I think that analogy just about works.
As golf breaks become increasingly popular, the main takeaway from this trip is the consistent high quality wherever you go, whatever you do. Unless you’re watching me tee off, obviously.
To take a closer look at Cullinan Belek and book your next golf trip, click the link.
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