Back! What a fantastic week......

[Smiffy]

To anybody thinking about going to Turkey on a golfing break, just do it. Don't hesitate.
Got home about 8.00pm last night, absolutely shattered from a fantastic week, playing on some wonderful courses that knock the Algarves offerings into a cocked hat. No question.
Played like an absolute cock (so what's new?) but that didn't detract from the experience at all. The PGA National is most probably the hardest course I have ever played in my life, but is also one of the most beautiful. 16 of us went, had a weeks stableford competition. I was well out of it by the 3rd round and on the last day (Weds) we played the Nick Faldo "Cornelia" course. The competition leader, Martin Latham (playing off 10) scored 14 points he was that nervous. The 3rd placed guy only scored 18, and the eventual overall winner, Greg Lindley, only scored 26! Made my 23 looks pretty impressive.
I'll post some piccies up later to show the quality of the courses, but for me the pick of the two have to be the above mentioned Faldo Cornelia and the Carya Club. Fairly new, but has some spectacular holes.
The hotel we stayed at (Voyage Hotel, Belek) was incredible. I think it has to be one of the best hotels I have ever been to. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff, the food was superb and a never (and I mean NEVER) ending supply of your favourite tipple.
Roll on next year!!

 

[RichardC]

Glad you enjoyed it.

Gutted im not going this year.

 

[chrisd]

glad you had a great time Rob if anyone deserves it it's you mate. You are pretty much confirming what I've heard most people say about golf in Turkey, maybe a forum meet there next time?

What have you missed? Oddsocks has stopped trying to bring down low flying aircraft and now shot a PB and believe it or not, has spent more dosh on new shineys! Munro has peed off the mods - makes a change from peeing me off! I've had my handicap slashed ! Other than that Bob's refusing to play with anyone who won't give him 20 minutes to search for a lost ball.

Pretty much the same old!!

 

[Oddsocks]

It was my suggestion to the lads that we do turkey next year, unfortunately I had to miss Portugal this year.

Sounds like a nice week smiffy

 

[Smiffy]

 

[bobmac]

View attachment 1821

Par 5 at the Sultan. I birdied this one!!

Glad they let you use the red tees

 

[Snelly]

Looks great. Glad to hear you enjoyed it.

My pals and I have considered Belek before but we are always advised that we would be bored in the evenings as there is only really the hotel to play in. This wouldn't work for us as we enjoy the nights out in Palma / Barcelona / Cascais as much if not more than we enjoy the golf.

See you soon for a game at Crowborough maybe?

 

[Smiffy]

Some more piccies to whet your appetite. If anybody fancies coming along next year (similar time) let me know and I'll let Danny the organiser know. 16 of us went this year, he is hoping to get a few more for next time.

 

[USER1999]

Looks great. Glad to hear you enjoyed it.

My pals and I have considered Belek before but we are always advised that we would be bored in the evenings as there is only really the hotel to play in. This wouldn't work for us as we enjoy the nights out in Palma / Barcelona / Cascais as much if not more than we enjoy the golf.

See you soon for a game at Crowborough maybe?

Won't affect smiffy, he's in bed by nine!

 

[Smiffy]

 

[duncan mackie]

you've actually put the best case for such a trip that I have seen - in a few well selected words and a few pics; apparently I have the green light from the boss so please keep me in mind.

no doubt we will met up before then!

 

[Smiffy]

First picture in this batch kinda sums up my week....guess who was playing the Wilson Staff DX3 Soft number 4??????

 

[G1BB0]

looks awesome Smiffy, glad you had a cracking time despite the shoddy golf

 

[Smiffy]

looks awesome Smiffy, glad you had a cracking time despite the shoddy golf

Biggest problem was the bloody trees G1BBO. Over here, if you clout into one the ball will either drop straight down or if it bounces off will go maybe 5 or 10 yards away so you know roughly where to look.
Over there, if you hit one the ball will come flying off at such a rate of knots you don't really have any idea of where it might have gone, unless it comes back out onto the fairway....which mine never seemed to do!
Also, if you have to try to go over one, you've only got to catch the slightest branch and that's it. The ball will just seem to stay up there an age and then drop straight down. Not like over here where you can sometimes get lucky and fly straight through them! The trees are bigger hazards than the bunkers or lakes. And there are plenty of lakes mate!!
The greens on all of the courses were absolutely superb. Super quick and sooo smooth.

 

[G1BB0]

The greens on all of the courses were absolutely superb. Super quick and sooo smooth.

just like you eh

 

[Achilles]

Looks proper nice Rob - nice pics! Glad to hear you enjoyed it!

 

[Smiffy]

Two of the good laughs we had out there were the "blob" pot, where every blob you had during a round, up to a maximum of 5, cost you a euro, and something else we called the "hollibop pot".
Whenever I have gone away on a golf trip in the past, the one subject that would normally raise hackles was a discussion on handicaps. So when we arrived we decided that nobody was allowed to mention the word "handicap" while we were in the hotel grounds. If you did, you were fined 5 euros. It was great fun trying to corner somebody into mentioning the word accidently. You had to say "hollibobop" instead. Everybody was listening out for anyone else saying the dreaded word, and you knew if somebody had accidently let it slip out by the roar that went up each time! Any money raised from the blob or hollibop pots when towards buying drinks at the actual clubs, tipping the drivers or barstaff etc.
Sounds stupid, but when you are in a large group like we were, it all added to the party atmosphere.
The winner each day also had to wear a "Zorro" mask with the loser having to wear "The Fez of shame".....I wore it one night, had to keep it on all day and throughout the evening.
A red Fez with an L plate on the back, and "Bogey Master" on the front!

 

[fundy]

Sounds like a cracking trip Rob and from the pictures the courses look fantastic

 

[Laughing Gravy]

Sounds brilliant Smiffy.

Approx what cost?

And in the evenings, is there much to do or do you generally stay at the hotel?

 

[Smiffy]

Sounds brilliant Smiffy.

Approx what cost?

And in the evenings, is there much to do or do you generally stay at the hotel?

Cost of the actual holiday (Hotel & Golf) was £718.00 and on top of this we had flights that cost £280.00 and included golf club and hold luggage allowance. So all in all, around £1k. It sounds a lot but when you consider that once there you don't have to dip into your pocket at all then it's not too bad at all.
We also had buggies every day (which really are a neccesity) and these cost 15 euro's per person each.
We all stayed at the hotel for the duration. There was plenty to do in the evenings with 6 restaurants along with the main one, and there were bars everywhere within the complex. The thing I liked was that if you ordered a drink it was a well known brand everytime, not the local watered down rubbish, and the food selection was out of this world. We hardly scratched the surface of it. There were various shows laid on, belly dancers that sort of thing, and the hotel had it's own nightclub and beach bar. It really was a fantastic venue and I am seriously looking at going back there next year for a "family" holiday with Sam. She would love it there. If you search "Voyage Hotel, Belek" online, you won't read a bad report about it anywhere.