Turkey Property | Golf in Turkey

Golf in Turkey: Colin Montgomerie, Belek

Colin Montgomerie's appointment by Papillon Hotels will see the design of a luxurious new golf course near the popular resort of Belek.

The Montgomerie Course at Papillon Golf Club is not just to be a top set of links, but will be the feature around which $100 million (£53 million) of top hotel and Turkey property development will occur.

Teaming up with European Golf Design, players will be able to engage in golf in Turkey on an 18-hole championship course or a nine-hole short course and golf academy, meaning that players of all skills can engage in the game. Yet once the round is over, it does not mean that golfers will have to leave the development, for it is to be surround by a five-star hotel and up to 40 holiday villas, in addition to the range of top Turkey property in the nearby area.

Mustafa Nazik, president of Papillon Hotels, said: "We are delighted to announce the addition of the Montgomerie Course at Papillon Golf Club to our family of resorts. I am very honoured that Colin Montgomerie is bringing his design experience and personality to our portfolio."

At the official signing ceremony, Montgomerie added: "I am delighted to be associated with the Papillon Hotels golf course at Antalya and designing what we hope will be yet another great tournament venue.

"You never know, one day on our ever-expanding European Tour we might have a Turkish Open played on this course."

The design, which should come to fruition by the end of 2007, has already won praise from golfing fans. 3D Golf has described the project as "impressive" and "will prove to be one of the very best golf courses in southern Europe".

"Colin Montgomerie has excelled himself in the design of this superb new development, much stronger than his course in Dubai," the site adds.

For those keen to start getting ready, the design by the professional Scottish golfer includes six par five holes, six par fours and six par threes, with a range of ridges and pines and water hazards. The finale is described as "superb" due to the water hazards in front of the clubhouse.

In total, there is to be 104 hectares (257 acres) of mixed pine forest and ridges on the natural sandy ground, which should help develop the course's "particular characteristics".

Getting 'Monty' to design the course is a coup for golf in Turkey, as he becomes the latest in a string of top golf professionals to design a course in the country. Nick Faldo is designing one in Belek too and this will also come complete with a variety of luxurious Turkey property developments. This will allow visitors to view the magnificent course, or investors to own somewhere that they know will attract keen golfers from around the world.