Antalya
Carya Golf Club
Carya is a spectacular course of soaring
pine and eucalyptus trees, deep heather,
ragged white sand bunkers and elegantly
shaped holes. It promises one remarkable
shot after another. Opened in 2008, it
instantly entered Europe’s Top 100 golf
courses; given its origins that is little
surprise for it was designed by Thomson
Perrett & Lobb, the design firm founded
by five-time Open Champion, Peter
Thomson. The introduction of native
mountain heather means Carya is Turkey’s
only heathland-style course, modelled in
a fashion similar to Sunningdale and The
Berkshire. But there is so much more to
playing golf at Carya.
The course flows over gently undulating
sand hills, once home to dense forest.
Thousands of trees remain, forming
avenues of stilt-like giants. They also
stand as the centrepiece on several holes,
splitting fairways and presenting golfers
with interesting choices. It gives Carya
an inspiring structure, creating dramatic
drives between the trees and heather.
Water plays its part, on six holes, but there
are further unique elements to playing
here: a tumbling 125 metre putting green
might require more than your putter; the
par five 6th is the longest hole on the
Turkish Riviera, measuring a mere 572
metres from the back tees; and golfers
have the opportunity to play 18 holes in
the dark, under floodlights.
Carya Golf Club will be unforgettable for
so many reasons.
www.caryagolf.com
Destination Golf Turkey | Page 65