Carya Golf Club
Opened in 2008 in the pine forests of Belek, Carya was the first true heathland style course built on Turkey's Mediterranean coast, the work of Thomson Perrett & Lobb, the firm of five time Open champion Peter Thomson. A par 72 of 7,186 yards, framed by heather and pines and lit for night golf, it is one of the most distinctive rounds in the region.
Photo: Atanas via Google.
The verdict
Belek is a dense cluster of resort golf, but Carya set out to be different. Thomson Perrett & Lobb imported the look and the playing character of the great London heathland courses, with heather, silver birch, pine and rugged sandy bunkering, and laid them over the flat Belek forest to create something that feels transported from Surrey. Thomson himself called it an exceptional piece of land, and the result stands apart from its parkland neighbours.
It is a proper test from the back tees at over 7,000 yards, yet the generous corridors and multiple tees make it enjoyable for every level. The other signature is the floodlighting: Carya is one of the few championship courses in the world fully lit for night golf, so in the warm Belek season you can play on into the evening. Combined with the all inclusive resorts on its doorstep, it is a natural centrepiece for a Turkey golf trip.
Carya at a glance
- Opened
- 2008
- Designer
- Thomson Perrett & Lobb
- Type
- Heathland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 7,186 yds
- Green fee
- EUR 90 to 140
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases. Carya was designed by Thomson Perrett & Lobb, the firm of Peter Thomson, and opened in 2008, a par 72 of 7,186 yards. Belek green fees run from roughly 70 to 125 euros by course and season, with Carya among the premium layouts and night golf rates available; figures change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Carya plays through avenues of pine and birch, with heather and sandy waste areas framing the fairways and giving the round its heathland identity. The driving corridors are fair, but the heather and the cleverly placed bunkers punish the wayward shot, and the strategy lies in finding the right side of the fairway to open the angle into the green.
The greens are large and subtly contoured, asking for considered approach play and a sure touch on the surfaces. The par 3s are varied and strong, and the par 5s give the longer hitter a genuine choice between caution and reward. The whole layout has a maturity unusual for its years, the planting and the bunkering settling beautifully into the land.
Played under lights on a warm evening, Carya offers an experience few courses can match, the heather and pines picked out in the floodlights as the round runs into the night. By day or night it is the most characterful course in Belek and a fine partner to the area's other championship layouts.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort and visitor course that welcomes booked play, often as part of an all inclusive Belek golf package |
| Green fee | Indicative from around 90 euros to about 140 euros depending on season, with twilight and night golf rates |
| Booking | Reserve ahead through your resort or a golf travel specialist, especially in the spring and autumn peaks |
| On the day | Walkable but most play with buggies; smart golf attire expected; floodlights allow evening rounds |
| Getting there | In the Belek forest, about 40 minutes from Antalya Airport |
| Best months | March to May and October to November for warm, settled golfing weather, with night golf in the heat of summer |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the club and operator listings; they change by season and year and are often bundled into resort packages, so always confirm current rates and tee times directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Belek is built for golf, with a strip of large all inclusive resorts a short drive from Carya and the area's other courses, many offering golf packages that bundle tee times, transfers and dining. Staying in the Belek resort belt keeps every course within easy reach.
Antalya, with its old town and coastline, lies a little further west for those wanting a city base, and Carya pairs naturally with the Montgomerie, Cornelia and other Belek championship courses for a full golf week on the Turkish Riviera.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts in the Belek resort belt.
Build a Belek golf trip
We secure the Carya tee times, including night golf, pair them with the best of Belek and book the resort around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Carya questions
Who designed Carya Golf Club and when did it open?
Carya was designed by Thomson Perrett & Lobb, the architecture firm of five time Open champion Peter Thomson, and opened in 2008. It was the first heathland style course built on Turkey's Mediterranean coast.
What is the par and length of Carya?
Carya is a par 72 of 7,186 yards from the back tees, a heathland layout of pine, birch and heather with generous corridors and multiple tees that suit every standard of player.
Can you play night golf at Carya?
Yes. Carya is one of the few championship courses fully floodlit for night golf, so in the warm Belek season you can play on into the evening. Night and twilight rates apply, so confirm availability when you book.
How much does it cost to play Carya?
Belek green fees run from roughly 70 to 125 euros by course and season, with Carya among the premium layouts and night golf rates available. Figures change by season and year, so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.