Türkiye has hosted more than 100 golf tournaments since the beginning of the year, welcoming professional and amateur athletes. These events include the Turkish Airlines Open, Turkish Amateur Open, 5 Stars International Golf Cup, Cornelia Open, Cornelia Hotels Master 2025, 2026 TGF Türkiye Golf Tours, TGF Türkiye Interclub Golf Tours, Legends Tour Qualifying School 2026, US Kids Antalya Local Tour 2026, Gloria Özaltın Championship and the 2026 İGK Antalya Golf Tournament.
Antalya, the center of golf tourism
Antalya attracts tourists with its beaches, ancient cities, natural beauty and accommodation options, while also expanding its potential in golf tourism. Fifteen of Türkiye’s 22 golf courses are located in Antalya.
Golf activities in Antalya are particularly concentrated from September to May. The city’s golf journey, which began approximately 35 years ago, contributes to spreading tourism across all 12 months of the year and increasing tourism revenues.
Revenue per golfer exceeds 200 euros
Ercan Çek, deputy chairman of the Professional Hotel Managers Association and a board member of Taurus Golf Club, said golf can be played in Antalya throughout the year, with the winter months being the busiest period. Çek said Antalya’s name is frequently mentioned in the global golf market and that Türkiye’s share of this market increases every year.
Çek said golf has value not only as a sport but also for tourism, noting that the average per-person spending of tourists visiting Türkiye is 105 euros, while the figure exceeds 200 euros in golf tourism. Çek said golfers pay separately for accommodation and play.
Çek said Türkiye welcomes nearly 125,000 golfers annually and that seven-night accommodation and golfing expenses contribute approximately 190–200 million euros to Turkish tourism. He added that the total economic contribution rises further when transportation, food and beverage spending is included.
Çek also said work was under way on a new golf course in Manavgat and that such investments could increase the number of golfers.
There are 9,000 golfers registered with the federation
Çek said 9,000 golfers are registered with the Turkish Golf Federation and that various events are being organized to increase their number. He said the federation holds tournaments for young people and children every year, adding that these events contribute to the sport’s wider popularity.
Çek also said the number of Turkish athletes achieving success in international tournaments is increasing each year.
Clubs continue their youth development programs
Orkunhan Kaplan, operations manager at Antalya Golf Club, said he was introduced to golf at the age of seven and has been involved in the sport for 21 years. Kaplan said he was selected for the national team in 2012 and has been an active national-team player for approximately eight years.
Kaplan said the federation provides significant support for clubs’ youth development programs and that these efforts enable more children to take up golf. He said clubs in Antalya are training new athletes, adding that golf is not an inaccessible sport and that Turkish sport could achieve greater success in the future.
