Turkish tee Time

Text: Jason Mylroie. Artilce from the October 2013 issue of Compleat Golfer Magazine.

Worsening exchange rates have made all-inclusive overseas travel deals even more attractive to South Africans, and the latest Club Med resort to open in Belek, Turkey, is bound to be a big hit for all the right reasons.

Holidaying abroad is becoming increasingly difficult for most South Africans, mainly because of the weakening rand against the major currencies. It’s often not the flights, transport on the ground and accommodation that is the problem as much as it is the unbudgeted-for expenses such as food, beverages and activities, and this is the area least considered when saving for a trip.

In light of this, all-inclusive travel packages that take care of all costs have become popular among South Africans, with Club Med one of the leaders in this sector of the travel industry.

The Club Med brand has been around for over 60 years and is immensely popular among the European countries, as it offers a variety of facilities and entertainment for people of all ages, especially when travelling as a family. The model is simple: you pay a once-off cost per person that includes transport, accommodation, food, beverages and almost all activities on the property. A deal where all food and drink is included is particularly attractive to us Saffers – you can’t deny we love to ‘wine and dine’.

Club Med strives to create its own culture, with the staff, known as ‘GOs’ (Genteel Organisers), always around to make sure you enjoy every part of the trip. They might even eat and drink with you until late into the night, and don’t be surprised if they breakout in a communal dance from time to time during the day. It is all just part of the Club Med experience.

The latest addition to the ever-growing Club Med empire is a resort in Belek,Turkey, which sits along the Mediterranean coast in an area labelled the Turkish Riviera’. As is the case with most other resorts under the company’s name, there are beaches, plenty of swimming pools and ample activities for the whole family. However, what sets this resort apart from the rest is the fact that it has an 18-hole championship links golf course on the property, along with one of the finest practice facilities.

The golf course, known as the Lykia Links, is the first thing you will see when driving through the gates into the grounds. The layout, designed by Perry O Dye, son of well-known American course designer Pete, was ranked the top course in Turkey and 22nd overall in Europe in 2012. In a similar fashion to The Links at Fancourt, the entire course was built on a flat piece of land, which is hard to believe when you make your way across the undulating dunes the layout now plays over.

Golf on the Lykia Links is unfortunately not included in the basic Club Med packages, but playing packages can be purchased at a discount prior to arriving at the resort. They are well worth the price when you see just how spectacular this course is, considering it is a links layout outside the British Isles.

For the real golfing enthusiasts, there is also the option of heading out the gates and down the road to one of the many other courses in the Belek area. In fact, there are more than 10 additional layouts neighbouring each other as you make your way back towards the city of Antalya.

Apart from the spectacular golf offering at the Club Med resort, other facilities on-site include: water sports, tennis, trapeze, beach volleyball, archery and many other fun activities. For the more adventurous travellers, there are various historical sites in the Belek region, including the famous theatre of Aspendos, located just 10 minutes away from the resort. Trips to such areas and into the city of Antalya, a 45-minute drive away, can be organised at reception.

One of the biggest reasons why Club Med is so popular in Europe is the fact that there are different activities on offer for all members of the family. Babies from the age of four months have their own area in the resorts, where they are looked after by qualified GOs. There are various other children’s clubs available for different age groups, right up until the late teens-freeing up the parents to hit the beach, spa or golf course.

Unique to the Belek resort is the Quiet Zone, situated away from the children’s area. This offers a more private and romantic place for adults to enjoy. The spa and Japanese baths are situated in this area too.

When it comes to the accommodation, Club Med Belek offers a few different options. The main hotel contains 433 rooms, of which 328 are club rooms, 101 deluxe rooms and four premium suites that are designed to take families, and include their own private pools. There are also 16 villas on the property, which accommodate up to four people each and provide a much more private and luxurious option.

“You will never go hungry or thirsty while staying at a Club Med Resort.”

Last, and certainly not least, are the food and beverage options at Club Med Belek. The two bars on the property are open all day – and night, depending on how well the party is going. And there are plenty of parties to speak of, with a themed evening happening at least once a week. The Rapsody restaurant is also open for most of the day, with the bars serving snacks late into the evening too. You will never go hungry or thirsty while staying at a Club Med resort. For more private dining experiences, the Orientalist restaurant in the main hotel serves Turkish-style food, while the golf clubhouse also has its own restaurant where a booking is necessary.

When it comes to choosing places to holiday abroad, Turkey is not generally the first destination that springs to mind for South Africans, especially in terms of a golfing vacation. But when you’re considering an all-inclusive holiday package, Club Med Belek should be one of the first options on your list. All-inclusive deals begin from around R16 400 per person, and change depending on the season.

To find out more about seasonal pricing and the other Club Med resorts worldwide, visit www.clubmed.com.

Turkey 101

Officially known as the Republic of Turkey, the country took the name in 1923 after the demise of the Ottoman Empire in WWI. It is a transcontinental Eurasian country, which means part of it is in Europe and the rest is in Asia. Asian Turkey makes up 97 percent of the country and is separated from European Turkey by the Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmara and the Dardanelles. The Bosphorus actually runs through the middle of Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city and home to around 13 million people.

The biggest religion in Turkey is Islam and the most spoken language is Turkish. This can be an issue for tourists when it comes to communication, as most locals don’t speak English. However, they are a friendly nation and simple hand gestures and saying the name of the place you are trying to get to will work.

The Turkish lira is the country’s official currency, and at the time of writing, the exchange rate between the lira and the rand was approximately R5 to one lira.

The Turkish kebap, or kebab as we call it, is the most popular food in the country, which is simply meat, usually lamb or beef, grilled on a skewer. There are many different forms of kebaps available, most notably the doner, where a large metal skewer is packed with meat and thin slices are cut off to be used in wraps or as a meal by themselves.

Fresh seafood is also big in Turkey, especially because the country is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Aegean Sea to the west and the Black Sea to the north. Spices, teas and Turkish delight can also be found in many places.