It should go without saying dear readers, that I’m no Rory McIlroy. I’m the sort of weekend hacker who slices into pines and then blames the wind. Yet there I was, teed up at Gloria Golf Resort in Belek, Antalya, surrounded by professional golfing journalists, courtesy of Corendon Airlines and golf tour operator Kaden Group for a press invite that promised flights, fairways and a finale of a UK club showdown. It was October, the sun was still shining, and for once, I’d almost forgotten how embarrassing my handicap was.
When planning your golfing get aways, wouldn’t it be great if you ignore the usual limitations and book well into Autumn? We may be having an early heatwave in the UK however you can’t forget the usual wet and rainy excursions in Britain and across Europe in the colder months. Do not fret as now you can set off for Antalya in Türkiye with daily flights from London Stansted as well as regular flights from Gatwick, Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow.
Check in and boarding was seamless and before I knew it I was on my way with an Efes in hand and being served a sky kebab. Corendon are one of the few, if not only, airlines to serve döner on selected flights, which is both delightfully ridiculous and exactly the sort of thing that tells you this is a leisure airline that knows its audience. In an industry where onboard innovation often means a marginally better biscuit, a hot kebab feels almost heroic.
The Race to Belek
Turkish golf holiday specialists the Kaden Group organised the event and went all out hosting us at the Gloria Hotel & Resorts. These are a group of fantastic hotels, including the Gloria Golf Resort and the luxury Gloria Serenity Resort, both of which feature regular shuttles to their two 18-hole championship golf courses and a 9-hole course. Nestled in lush pine forests between the stunning Taurus mountains and the beach it’s perfect for golfers. With 45 holes, Gloria golf club is the largest golf course in Turkey and the largest associated with a hotel even including Europe.
I was overly optimistic in my abilities as I found myself about to tee off on one of the beautifully sunny greens. Thankfully my earlier visit to the club house helped build my confidence, with technology that went beyond the usual resort practice setup. Swing analysis equipment recorded movements in super slow motion, making it easy to see exactly where adjustments were needed, while the Phil Kenyon putting studio used projected guides on the floor to help with alignment and aim. It gave the whole place a precise, modern feel, but without losing the relaxed atmosphere you want before or after a round. I even had a go on their double decker driving range which included a TrackMan Range system. This somehow magically monitored the trajectory of my shot and was able to display it, in all its underwhelming glory, for me for analyse.
There is also plenty of the more usual holiday activities for those, less than enthusiastic, accompanying family members to engage with. Gloria Serenity Resort has a more composed, slightly more polished feel than the main golf hotel, with a fancy Apple HQ-esc circular layout, elegant and thankfully impossible to get lost in. The setting is quieter, the atmosphere more deliberate, and the architecture leans towards curved lines, soft lighting and the kind of spaces that encourage you to slow down rather than simply pass through.
Then there was the food. Aka A La Carte offers a welcome change of pace from the buffet and Turkish eateries around the resort, with Japanese cooking bringing a measured sophistication to the evening. The setting was eye catching and set the mood beautifully: all deep reds, low lighting and a striking contemporary interior that felt clean and calming, with sculptural details and a sense of theatre provided by the chef working hot plates in view of diners. I started with a sushi selection, crispy tempura, then ordered the yaki udon, which came with succulent pieces of sirloin steak and just enough bite in the noodles to carry the savoury sauce without becoming heavy. Along with some pork dumplings it made a nice change to the overwhelming choice from the decedent buffets available throughout the resort.
Another restaurant sampled was the Fuego A La Carte, whose display of dry-aged steaks in a cabinet by the entrance sets the tone immediately, signaling a restaurant that takes its beef seriously. I started with a melt in your mouth bone marrow infused with garlic, served with chimichurri sauce and toasted bread, before moving on to a T-bone steak that arrived sizzling and was expertly sliced by the table, adding a dramatic flourish to a very well-executed meal. This restaurant provides and exciting array of traditional Turkish deserts if by some miracle you have any space left by the end of your meal.
Nearly falling into a meat coma, staggering, I managed roll myself out of the restaurant back into the hotels main atrium only to be confronted with a beautiful bar that stretched around the curved walls as far as the eye could see and what can only be described as a giant chocolate waterfall which covers the entire back wall of the Gloria Serenity Chocolaterie. Move over chocolate fountain, this was pure indulgence. I felt a short lived pang of guilt that my wife could not partake in its rippling velvety goodness and it took every fiber of my body not to stick my head into it. Strawberries covered in chocolate as well as other boutique hand crafted Belgian chocolaty treats are available 10:30 – 23:00. This is complimented further by their Bon Vivant Patisserie and Ice cream shop. If you are lucky to be all inclusive these are available for you to visit at your pleasure. Even after enjoying all the culinary options you will find space for these deserts.
The spa at Gloria Resort lets you exhale after a day on the course, with a hushed atmosphere and a sense of quiet luxury that invites you to slow down. It helped me forget my sub par performance. Edge protection be dammed, if you are so relaxed walking out of your treatment room that you miss your footing and slip into a green pool, that’s on you. There are also a magnitude of indoor and outside pools for you to relax the day away in.
If this all sounds too good to be true then fear not. This summer, golfers across England and Scotland will have the chance to qualify for this years grand final at Gloria Golf Resort in Türkiye through individual rounds staged at clubs near key UK airports served by Corendon Airlines. The Race to Belek begins on 6 June and runs through a series of qualifying events up until the end of July before concluding with its final at Gloria Golf Resort in Belek from 6 to 10 October. Readers keen to take part can enter via racetobelek.com.
