The Montgomerie Maxx Royal

Created in conjunction with European Golf Design, this is a bona fide modern championship test. The European Tour recognised its quality within six years, selecting it to host the Turkish Airlines Open, one of the Race to Dubai Final Series events.

Measuring comfortably over 7,000 yards from the championship tees, the course is no pushover even for the world's best, but with three additional tee sets it can be played from as little as 5,382 yards. So you can bite off as much as you fancy, from a resort-friendly set-up to a proper back-tee workout.

The routing is unusual: six par 3s, six par 4s and six par 5s. That creates an extremely dynamic playing experience which keeps you on your toes from start to finish. Fairways are generous but carved through the mature pines that typify the Belek region, placing an emphasis on accuracy from the tee without being overly penal on the odd stray shot. The back nine holes are floodlit, allowing golf to be played into the evening.

Monty's layout sits on sandy sub-soil ideal for year-round golf and features no fewer than eight on-site lakes, placing a premium on solid course management to avoid most of the hazards. Like anywhere, conditioning can vary with the season, but it's generally in cracking shape for a resort that hosts tour-level golf.

Signature Hole – No. 13: Par 5, 543 yards (Blue Tees)

While it's tough to pick just one hole, the signature is probably the doglegged par-5 13th. Two towering pine trees positioned in the middle of the fairway present options from the tee: take the Tiger line to the left for a better chance of carrying the waste bunker which splits the fairway for your second shot, or choose the easier line to the right, lay up and face a more difficult approach to the green. This hole tests both body and mind and sums up Maxx Royal perfectly, with sound decision-making and skilful shots required to escape safely with a par.

The Montgomerie Maxx Royal is ranked as one of the best courses in Turkey.

Practice Facilities

As you'd expect for a venue which has successfully hosted one of the European Tour's biggest events, there are ample practice facilities at Maxx Royal.

At the Golden Swing Academy, you'll find two purpose-built indoor teaching rooms on the range as well as a workshop, fitting centre and Yes! putting studio. Should you feel the need to sharpen up your game, this is the place to be.

A huge double-ended driving range allows golfers to warm up to their heart's content before their rounds, and with separate greenside bunker and chipping greens, as well as a 1,000m² practice putting green, there's plenty of scope to work on your short game before heading to the 1st tee.

At The Clubhouse

The clubhouse at Maxx Royal is one of the most impressive in the Belek region and the perfect place to enjoy a few drinks or a delicious meal before or after your round.

Elegant and spacious, the Maxx Royal clubhouse has its own 30m-high viewing tower from which golfers can watch fellow players make their way up the final hole, as well as enjoying views over the distant mountains and out towards the Mediterranean Sea.

With two floors accommodating every need, golfers are able to use the conference rooms for special tournament prize-giving ceremonies or for business requirements before and after their round.

Other Information

Depending on the season, the weather in Turkey can get plenty hot, so be sure to pack sun cream and take plenty of water onto the course with you. Buggies are recommended too, as in the heat of the sun, walking the course can be quite tough.

A drink or two in the clubhouse's tower is a must.

Did You Know?

Course designer Colin Montgomerie became only the seventh man in history to play in 600 European Tour events when he teed it up in the £4.4 million Turkish Airlines Open in 2014.