Carya Golf Club

Carya sits on a distinct sand ridge, routed through mature woodland with heather-edged corridors that feel closer to Surrey than the Turkish coast. From the tips it's a proper championship test at 7,186 yards, but the multiple tees mean you can make it fun rather than punishing, especially on a week where you're playing several rounds.

The course rewards sensible decisions. The best angle into greens matters, and you'll score better by picking targets and shaping shots than by trying to overpower every hole. Bunkering is there to catch the greedy line, while the framing from the trees keeps you honest from the tee. The routing makes full use of the natural contours, threading through mature woodland and opening up to elevated tee shots that demand accuracy and local knowledge.

Since its unveiling in November 2008, Carya has established itself as one of the very best courses in Turkey, and is highly recommended for any visiting golf holiday group. The design echoes the great heathland courses of Britain, with firm, fast-running fairways and an emphasis on positioning over power.

The standout extra is still the floodlighting. If your group's the type to finish a late lunch, roll straight to the first tee and keep going, Carya makes it possible to play a full 18 holes after dark. It's not a gimmick either, it's a proper championship course experience, just at a time of day you don't normally get. If you're the sort who'd happily squeeze 27 holes into a day, the floodlights here are dangerously tempting.