Carya Golf Club Course Review

Carya Golf Club Fact File: 

• Location: In Belek, in between Antalya and Sueno
• Year Established: 2008
• Par: 72
• Length (yards from yellows): 6,288
• Green Fees (weekdays): €200
• Signature Hole: The par-3 8th, a picturesque short hole
• Website: caryagolf.com

With all the jostling for position in a very golf-dense area, Carya is a clear leader both in the rankings and golfers' affections. It's a remarkable back story and one that is very different to the generic description of the place which involves a tee on top of a villa and all 18 holes having floodlights.

But let's start with the unique tee box at the 16th which has been in play for the Turkish Airlines Open on the DP World Tour. 

When some villas were added after the course was opened in 2008 it was thought that the hole would have to be significantly reduced. 

But, to add some yards (and a great talking point), the DP World Tour have turned the par-4 into a dramatic 460-yarder and the new tee is where the old one used to be, albeit on top of someone's home and with a swimming pool directly below it.

"The raised tee really enhances the hole, gives the players a great view, brings the bunkers into play and looks great on TV. We were able to get real grass on the roof and the tee is in good shape. It takes four men to lift a hand mower up the stairs to the tee," explained Tournament Director Miguel Vidaor.

We've had four Opens here; Thorbjorn Olesen won the first in 2016 before Justin Rose doubled up the following two years. 

In May 2025, Carya returned to the Tour's roster and up-and-coming French star Martin Couvra would close in 64 for his first title.

The Challenge Tour has also welcomed tournaments here, and Mel Reid prevailed at Carya on the Ladies European Tour in 2015.

Carya Golf Club Review

The course is inspired by the traditional old English style heathland courses in the Surrey area outside of London such as Wentworth, Sunningdale, Walton Heath and The Berkshire.

Given what we know of golf in Belek, this seems like a huge leap of faith. But the way late Peter Thomson, winner of five Claret Jugs, described it before getting to work on it will have raised plenty of eyebrows.

"This is an exceptional piece of land on which to build a golf course. It is reminiscent of the famous Surrey heathland courses that I rate among the world's best. So I am very excited about the prospect of TPL (Thomson Perrett & Lobb) creating a traditional style course in Turkey."

The site sits just 200 metres from the beach with a sand ridge that features on numerous holes. 

It also benefits from being the 10th site of 10 projects that were planned along this coastline strip so the designers were able to see what had and hadn't already worked but the level of foresight was still remarkable.

"Ross (Perrett) and I first went to the site in 2005 when we were in a competition to actually win the design up against some pretty good competition. And one thing we were pretty strong on after our first visit to site is that we wanted to create a heathland style course," explains Tim Lobb.

"The reason was that there were sandy ridges and sandy dunes, there were pine trees and there was heathland already found on site. So whenever we go to a project, we try and use the local landscape and enhance that and make that better and make that part of the course. So there was a lot of heather on site and like Surrey, there were sandy hills and pine trees so it was a very similar type of environment that we were working in."

Glass houses were put in on site, the local greenkeeper would spend time in Surrey at the great heathland layouts and the long-term plan was put in place.

Now the club website explains that close to one million heather plants have been put in place to strengthen the heathland environment that already exists.

The course itself also has space. It was originally seen as a 27-hole layout but is just 18 holes, albeit with a double-ended two-storey driving range and a 130-metre putting green.

The club rather elegantly singles out the par-3 8th, The Siren, as the course's signature hole:

'Stunning in its beauty yet deceptive in its challenge, this hole is a moment every golfer remembers. From the tee, The Siren looks inviting, with its lush surroundings and a perfectly framed green. But appearances can be misleading: attacking a pin on the left side is a true test of courage and precision. Crafted by the legendary Peter Thomson, The Siren reflects the spirit of Carya – a course that combines natural elegance with strategic depth. It is a hole that enchants at first sight and stays with you long after the round is finished. The Siren: where beauty meets challenge, and Carya reveals its soul.'

An English course planner might read: 'A well-protected par 3, be sure to hit the right club'.

Final Verdict

There is a decent amount of water here but nothing too dominant and the emphasis is on strategy rather than anything too brutish though the 7th can stretch to over 600 yards if you're foolish enough to head to the back tees.

Again, this might be a tour venue but it's holiday golf so use the appropriate tees, enjoy the cafeteria after the 10th hole and drink in Turkey's best course.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

For more information, please visit the club's website here