Montgomerie Maxx Royal guide: value golf on Turkey's coast
Colin Montgomerie's course at Belek — a Turkish Airlines Open host on Turkey's pine-forested Antalya coast, and the anchor of Europe's best-value winter-golf trip. The course, booking, and when to go.
The Montgomerie Maxx Royal is the flagship of Belek, Turkey's purpose-built golf coast on the Mediterranean near Antalya. Colin Montgomerie designed it (with European Golf Design) on pure sand amid Mediterranean pine — his first course in the region and one he rates among his finest — and it hosted the Turkish Airlines Open on the DP World Tour. Belek itself is wall-to-wall championship golf wrapped in all-inclusive resort culture, and dramatically better value than comparable golf in western Europe.
It's easy, tourist-friendly resort golf. Here's the course, how to book, when to go, and how to build a Belek trip around it.
Where
Belek, on Turkey's Mediterranean (Antalya) coast
Course
The Montgomerie Maxx Royal (par 72), Colin Montgomerie, 2008
Nearest airport
Antalya (AYT) ~30–45 min; heavy European charter access
Best time
Spring (Mar–May) & autumn (Sep–Nov) ideal; a big winter-golf hub
Access
Resort golf — visitor tee times bookable; buggies & caddies available
Nearby
Belek's courses: Regnum Carya, Cornelia, Sueno, Gloria, PGA Sultan
Colin Montgomerie (with European Golf Design) · 2008 · 18 holes · Resort · par 72
Turkish Airlines Open host (2013–2015, 2019)
Colin Montgomerie's design — his first in the Mediterranean — is routed on pure sand through Mediterranean pine forest, with 54 bunkers, seven lakes and a stream, and floodlights on the back nine for night golf. It's widely rated among Turkey's best and hosted the Turkish Airlines Open, a DP World Tour Rolex Series event, in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2019 (the neighbouring Regnum Carya has hosted the more recent editions).
For visitors it's polished, tour-standard resort golf — a genuine test that's still hugely enjoyable, and the marquee round on a coast full of them.
How to play the Montgomerie (booking)
This is tourist-friendly resort golf — visitor tee times are bookable, often bundled into a Belek golf package or through the Maxx Royal resort, with buggies and caddies available as standard on the coast. Most visitors come on an all-inclusive golf holiday and play several of Belek's courses over a week, so book your marquee Montgomerie round early in your stay.
Belek's sweet spots are spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) — warm, settled and ideal for golf. Summers are hot, and winters are mild, which is why Belek is one of the biggest winter-golf destinations for northern Europe: you can play in comfort when home courses are frozen. Peak season books up, so reserve ahead.
Getting there
Belek is a short transfer — about 30–45 minutes — from Antalya Airport (AYT), which handles a huge volume of charter and package flights from across Europe. That access, plus the all-inclusive resorts, is a big part of why Belek is such good value.
How to play it
Belek is one of the world's densest golf clusters, so build a multi-course week around the Montgomerie — nearby are Regnum Carya (which now hosts the Turkish Airlines Open), Cornelia (a Nick Faldo design), Sueno, Gloria and the PGA Sultan course at Antalya Golf Club. Our Belek golf trip guide covers the wider coast and how to plan an all-inclusive golf holiday.
What to pack
The kit this trip demands
Belek is warm, bright Mediterranean golf for most of the season, with cool mornings in the shoulders — pack for sun with a light layer:
Yes — it's resort golf with bookable visitor tee times, often bundled into a Belek golf package or booked through the Maxx Royal resort, with buggies and caddies available. Most visitors play it as part of an all-inclusive golf holiday.
Has the Montgomerie Maxx Royal hosted the Turkish Airlines Open?
Yes — it hosted the Turkish Airlines Open, a DP World Tour Rolex Series event, in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2019. The neighbouring Regnum Carya has hosted the more recent editions.
Who designed the Montgomerie Maxx Royal?
Colin Montgomerie, with European Golf Design — his first course in the Mediterranean, opened in 2008, routed on pure sand through pine forest with floodlit back-nine holes for night golf.
When is the best time to play golf in Belek?
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are ideal — warm and settled. Summers are hot and winters mild, making Belek one of the biggest winter-golf destinations for northern Europe.
How do you get to Belek?
Belek is about 30–45 minutes from Antalya Airport (AYT), which handles a huge volume of charter and package flights from across Europe — a big part of why the destination offers such good value.
