Carya Golf Club: Heathland Golf and a Night Game Under Lights
Carya brings the visual language of English heathland golf to the pine forests of Belek. Its full-course floodlighting adds a second identity: a championship round that can continue after sunset.
Carya stands apart in Belek because it does not follow the usual image of a Mediterranean resort course. Its character is closer to the heathland layouts of England’s Surrey: sandy ground, rolling fairways, pine trees and carefully shaped green complexes. The second distinction is technological. Carya was the first course in Europe to install floodlights across all 18 holes, allowing the game to move into the evening when the club’s operating schedule permits.
A Surrey heathland idea translated to the Mediterranean
The course occupies a pine-forest setting in Belek, Antalya, with sandy ground and undulating playing corridors that give it a different feel from the flatter resort layouts nearby. Its design is attributed to Peter Thomson, with the course architecture credited to Thomson Perrett & Lobb. Construction began in 2007 and the course opened in November 2008.
The setting combines natural tree cover with deliberately shaped fairways, greens and bunker complexes. The course information records 75 bunkers and water features touching eight holes, framed by four lakes. These features create variety without losing the heathland influence that defines Carya’s identity.
Pine-lined corridors and choices from the tee
The fairways are undulating and offer several strategic options. Pine corridors can narrow the visual window from the tee, while bunkers and water influence which side of the landing area is preferable. A good drive is not simply one that travels far; it is the one that leaves a clear angle into the green and avoids bringing a lake or bunker into the next shot.
The greens are generous in size, but their surrounds and the approach lines still reward control of distance. Carya’s design asks players to balance aggression with placement, especially when the course is playing firm or the wind changes direction.
The rare experience of all 18 holes under floodlights
Carya’s full-course lighting system is its most distinctive feature. The club describes it as Europe’s first 18-hole golf course to install floodlights across the entire layout. The lighting is positioned to let players follow the flight of the ball, creating a different atmosphere while preserving the practical demands of a full round.
Night golf is not simply a novelty: in the warmer months it can provide an alternative to the heat of the afternoon, while the evening setting changes the way the pine corridors and greens appear. Visitors should confirm the availability of the floodlit format and its schedule for their chosen date directly with the club.
