Turkey vs Spain for a Golf Holiday
Two of Europe's favourite winter golf escapes, with very different appeals. Turkey, built around Belek near Antalya, is the value champion, a tight cluster of fine modern courses wrapped in lavish all inclusive resorts. Spain answers with sheer depth and the highest of high ends, from Valderrama to Finca Cortesin and PGA Catalunya. Here is the honest head to head, with our verdict up front.
Photograph: The Montgomerie Maxx Royal Golf Club, Belek, via Google
The verdict
For a classic golf group week on a sensible budget, Turkey wins. Nowhere does the all inclusive golf resort better than Belek, where a string of genuinely good modern courses, Carya, Montgomerie Maxx Royal, Sueno and the rest, sit within a short drive of luxurious resorts that bundle the golf, the food and the drinks into one price. The value is exceptional, the logistics are effortless, and the weather is reliable through the winter. It is the most efficient warm weather golf week in the region.
But Spain has the higher ceiling and far more of it. The Costa del Sol alone holds dozens of courses, including the elite of European golf at Valderrama and Finca Cortesin, and the country adds the superb PGA Catalunya near Barcelona. Spain is the answer when you want the very best courses, the widest choice, and a trip that can flex from value to extravagant, with great cities and food alongside. Pick Turkey for all inclusive value and ease. Pick Spain for the top of the game and the depth to build around it. Neither will let you down.
Head to head
| Turkey | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Signature courses | Carya, Montgomerie Maxx Royal, Sueno Pines and Dunes, Cornelia, Gloria, and PGA Sultan at Antalya Golf Club, all around Belek | Valderrama, Finca Cortesin, Real Club de Sotogrande, La Reserva, Los Naranjos, plus PGA Catalunya in Catalonia |
| Depth and choice | Around 15 to 16 quality courses, almost all clustered in Belek; superbly convenient but concentrated in one resort strip | Over 70 courses on the Costa del Sol alone, plus Catalonia, Madrid and the islands; the deepest in Europe |
| Green fees | Indicative 2026 roughly 69 to 219 euro, with most courses 99 to 150 in shoulder season; all inclusive packages bundle the golf | Wider range; resort golf is affordable, but Valderrama and Finca Cortesin are among Europe's most expensive rounds |
| Value overall | Excellent; the all inclusive resort model makes a group week outstanding value | Broad; among the best value to most expensive in European golf depending on the course |
| Best season | October to May; a leading winter golf destination, hot in high summer | October to May on the Costa del Sol; Catalonia a touch cooler |
| Getting around | Antalya airport puts all of Belek within 30 to 45 minutes; very short transfers | Malaga hub for the Costa del Sol; Barcelona or Girona for Catalonia; longer hops between regions |
| Who it suits | Groups and societies wanting maximum golf and hospitality for the money in one easy base | Players chasing the very best courses, big variety and the option to combine golf with cities |
Course facts and indicative fee ranges verified June 2026; fees move with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Who should pick which
Pick Turkey if
You want a group golf week with everything handled and the bill kept down. Belek clusters a run of excellent modern courses next to five star all inclusive resorts, so the golf, the food and the drinks come as one price and the transfers are tiny. It is ideal for a society, a buddies trip or a family that wants golf plus a resort. Start with Carya, Montgomerie Maxx Royal and Sueno.
Pick Spain if
You want the best courses Europe can offer and the deepest choice to build around them. The Costa del Sol pairs elite golf at Valderrama and Finca Cortesin with dozens of resort courses, and Catalonia adds the superb PGA Catalunya near Barcelona. Spain flexes from value to extravagant and pairs golf with great cities, so it suits a discerning group or a special occasion.
Plan your golf trip
Turkey, Spain or a shortlist of both. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge builds the tee times, the resort and the transfers, and costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Turkey vs Spain questions
Is Turkey or Spain better for a golf holiday?
It depends on what you want. Turkey, centred on Belek near Antalya, is the best value golf destination in the wider region, with a tight cluster of excellent modern courses such as Carya, Montgomerie Maxx Royal and Sueno wrapped in luxurious all inclusive resorts, ideal for a group week. Spain has the higher ceiling and far greater depth, with the elite courses of the Costa del Sol like Valderrama and Finca Cortesin plus the brilliant PGA Catalunya. Choose Turkey for all inclusive value and convenience, Spain for the very best courses and breadth.
Is golf cheaper in Turkey or Spain?
Turkey is generally the better value, especially once you factor in the all inclusive resorts that bundle golf, food and drink. Belek green fees in 2026 typically run from around 69 to 219 euro, with most courses between 99 and 150 in the shoulder season. Spain spans a far wider range, from affordable resort golf to the most expensive rounds in Europe at Valderrama and Finca Cortesin. Always confirm current fees directly before booking.
When is the best time to play golf in Turkey or Spain?
Both play best outside high summer. Belek in Turkey is at its finest from October to May, with mild, dry conditions, and is a popular winter golf escape. The Costa del Sol in Spain runs the same autumn to late spring window, roughly October to May, with comfortable temperatures and firm turf, while Catalonia is a touch cooler. High summer is hot in both. Always confirm course conditions for your dates.
Which has better all inclusive golf resorts?
Turkey, comfortably. Belek is built around large five star resorts such as Maxx Royal, Regnum Carya, Cornelia, Gloria and Sueno that offer premium all inclusive golf packages, bundling rounds, dining and drinks at a level that is hard to match in Spain, where golf and hotels are more often booked separately. If the all inclusive model appeals, Turkey is the stronger pick. We build either as a package costed to the head.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.