The National Golf Club
Every golf destination has a founding father, and in Belek it is The National. Opened in November 1994 to a design by the Ryder Cup player David Feherty and the Irish professional David Jones, it was Turkey's first championship course, the host of the country's first European Tour sanctioned events, and the proof of concept for everything that followed on this pine covered coast. Here is the verdict, the facts, the holes and how to get on.
Photograph: National Golf Club, via Google.
The verdict
Before the Montgomeries and the Faldos and the stadium lighting, there was The National. When it opened in 1994 it stood alone on the Belek coast, a par 72 threaded through mature umbrella pine and eucalyptus on sandy ground a few kilometers from the Mediterranean. Three decades on, with a dozen big resort courses around it, the original still holds its own, and for golfers who like their courses settled into the landscape rather than carved out of it, The National remains one of the most natural rounds in Belek.
Feherty and Jones kept the design honest: tree lined corridors, greens defended by sand rather than gimmicks, water appearing where the land allows it. At around 6,279 meters it is not long by modern standards, which keeps it enormously playable for a mixed group, yet the pines punish a crooked driver all day. It hosted the Turkish Seniors Open in 1996 and 1997, the first European Tour sanctioned golf in the country, and it pairs a real club atmosphere with resort convenience. Belek trips are built on volume; this is the course that gives one a soul.
The National Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 1994
- Designers
- Feherty & Jones
- Par
- 72
- Length
- ~6,279 m
- Type
- Forest resort
- Green fee
- From around €79
Designer, opening and layout verified June 2026. The National's championship course was designed by David Feherty and David Jones and opened on 18 November 1994 as the first championship course in Belek. It plays as a par 72 of around 6,279 meters, roughly 6,870 yards. Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 79 euros in low season to roughly 150 euros at peak; fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The National's character comes from its trees. The umbrella pines here were mature before the course was built, so the corridors feel grown rather than planted, and the smart play off most tees is the one that respects them. The front nine works gently through the forest with doglegs that reward a shaped tee shot, while the inward half brings water into the reckoning on several holes, including a closing stretch where a round can be rescued or ruined.
The greens are the quiet star: large enough to hold a long iron but full of subtle borrow, and traditionally among the best conditioned putting surfaces in Belek. There are no island green theatrics and no fairways squeezed between hotel towers, which is precisely the point. This is the most traditional golf experience on the Turkish Riviera, closer in spirit to a settled members' club than a resort showpiece.
Played in the soft light of a Belek spring morning, with the Taurus mountains showing over the treetops and the scent of pine on the warm air, The National is a reminder that the country's golf boom started with a genuinely good golf course.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Open to visitors year round; most golfers book through a Belek hotel golf package or a tour operator, and the club takes direct bookings too |
| Green fee | Indicative 2026 fees from around 79 euros in low season to roughly 150 euros in the peak spring and autumn windows, with buggy and twilight options |
| Booking | Reserve well ahead for the mid February to June and mid September to December peaks, when Belek tee sheets fill with European groups |
| On the day | A 9 hole academy course, driving range and a relaxed clubhouse; soft spikes and standard resort dress are expected |
| Getting there | In Belek, around 35 to 40 minutes from Antalya airport; most Belek hotels run shuttles and transfers are inexpensive |
| Best months | Mid February to early June and mid September to early December; midwinter is the cheapest and reliably playable, July and August are very hot |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with The National or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The National sits in the heart of the Belek strip, so the entire run of five star, all inclusive resorts is within a few minutes' transfer. The big golf hotels bundle unlimited food, drink and spa time with discounted green fees across the region's courses, which is what makes a Turkish golf week such conspicuous value compared with western Europe.
Most groups play The National as part of a multi course Belek itinerary alongside Carya, the Montgomerie Maxx Royal and the Gloria Old Course, all within fifteen minutes of each other.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts across Belek and the Antalya coast.
Play Belek the right way
We arrange tee times at The National and build it into a full Belek week, four or five courses, an all inclusive five star base and airport transfers, costed to the head. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge does the rest, with no obligation.
The National Golf Club questions
Who designed The National Golf Club in Belek?
The National's championship course was designed by the Ryder Cup player David Feherty together with the Irish professional David Jones, and it opened in November 1994. It was the first championship course in Belek and effectively launched Turkish golf tourism.
What par and length is The National?
The National plays as a par 72 of around 6,279 meters, roughly 6,870 yards, from the back tees. The holes run through mature umbrella pine and eucalyptus on gently moving sandy ground, the classic Belek formula that this course established.
How much does it cost to play The National Golf Club?
Indicative green fees start from around 79 euros in low season, rising to roughly 150 euros in the peak spring and autumn windows for the 2026 season. Belek fees move with the calendar, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Has The National hosted professional golf?
Yes. The National hosted the Turkish Seniors Open on the PGA European Seniors Tour in May 1996 and again in May 1997, the first European Tour sanctioned events played in Turkey, which cemented the club's place as the home of Turkish championship golf.
When is the best time to play golf in Belek?
The prime Belek windows run from roughly mid February to early June and from mid September to early December, when temperatures are warm but not punishing. Midwinter golf is reliably playable and the cheapest of the year, while July and August are very hot.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening date, layout and tournament history verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.