Carya Golf Club
The heathland of Surrey, transplanted to the Mediterranean. Peter Thomson's design team carved Carya through the umbrella pines of Belek in 2008, ribbons of fairway between heather and sand that look and play like the great London clubs. It is also Europe's first fully floodlit eighteen, home to the longest hole in Turkey, and the most distinctive course on the Turkish Riviera.
Photo: Carya Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Belek is Turkey's golf coast, a strip of pine forest behind the beaches of Antalya packed with resort courses, and Carya is the one that breaks the mould. Opened in 2008 to a design by five time Open champion Peter Thomson and his Thomson, Perrett and Lobb team, it sets out to recreate the heathland golf of the Surrey and Berkshire sand belt, with purple heather lining the fairways, exposed sandy waste and the umbrella pines of Belek standing in for the silver birch of London. It is a par 72 of 7,186 yards and it looks like nowhere else in the region.
The idea works because the golf is good, not just because the look is unusual. The fairways tumble and the greens are quick and subtly contoured, the heather punishes the wayward and the routing keeps you guessing. Carya is also Europe's first full eighteen hole floodlit course, so a round can run on into the warm Mediterranean night, and it holds the longest hole in the country in the 621 yard par 5 sixth, fittingly named Long. For a golf week in Belek it is the course that gives the trip its signature.
Carya at a glance
- Opened
- 2008
- Designer
- Thomson Perrett
- Type
- Heathland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 7,186 yds
- Green fee
- Around €130
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases. Carya is a heathland style course of 7,186 yards and is Europe's first full eighteen hole floodlit layout. Green fees are indicative, around 130 to 150 euros for a day round in the main season with floodlit evening golf at a premium in the 2026 calendar. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
From the first the heather and the sandy scrapes make the strategy plain: keep it on the short grass or pay for it. Thomson's team framed the fairways with the rough that defines heathland golf, and the driving lines reward the player who shapes the ball and resists the urge to take on every carry.
The par 5 sixth, Long, stretches to 621 yards and is the longest hole in Turkey, a genuine three shot test where the heather and a well placed bunker scheme make even the lay up demand thought. It is the headline, but the run of par 4s and the short holes are where the round is shaped, each green guarded so that the angle of approach matters as much as the number on the card.
The greens are firm and true and roll faster than the resort norm, so distance control and reading the borrows decide the score. Add the option of finishing under floodlights, the warm evening air and the quality of the conditioning, and Carya delivers an experience that no other course on the Turkish coast can match.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort and visitors club; green fee players and Regnum Carya guests welcome |
| Green fee | Around 130 to 150 euros for a day round, floodlit evening rounds at a premium (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Reserve ahead, particularly for floodlit tee times, which run on selected evenings |
| On the day | Buggies usual at Belek resorts; caddies can be arranged. Smart golf dress |
| Getting there | In Belek about 40 minutes east of Antalya airport, the gateway to Turkey's golf coast |
| Best months | March to May and October to November for the kindest playing conditions |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with the club or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is the Regnum Carya resort beside the course, a large five star hotel that puts Carya on your doorstep and the rest of Belek's courses within a short transfer. For a golf and family trip it covers every angle.
Belek is built for golf holidays, so the wider resort strip offers a deep choice of five star hotels with their own courses and direct buggy access, all within a few minutes of Carya. Antalya airport, about forty minutes west, keeps the region within easy reach of much of Europe.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Carya and Belek.
Build a Belek golf trip
We pair Carya with the best of Belek, line up a floodlit evening round and book the resort hotel and transfers to suit. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Carya Golf Club questions
Who designed Carya Golf Club and when did it open?
Carya was designed by the team of five time Open champion Peter Thomson, Thomson, Perrett and Lobb, and opened in 2008. They built it as a Mediterranean take on classic English heathland golf, with heather and sandy waste lining the fairways.
What is the par and length of Carya?
Carya is a par 72 measuring 7,186 yards, and it includes the longest hole in Turkey, the 621 yard par 5 sixth named Long.
How much does it cost to play Carya?
Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 130 to 150 euros for a daytime round in the main season, with floodlit evening rounds at a premium. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
Can visitors play Carya?
Yes. Carya is a resort and visitors club that welcomes green fee players and guests of the Regnum Carya hotel. Booking ahead is recommended, especially for the floodlit evening tee times.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.