Thomson Perrett & Lobb, the international golf course architecture practice founded by five times Open Champion Peter Thomson with partners Ross Perrett and Tim Lobb, is to create a classic, heathland style course on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast.
The Carya Golf Club in Belek Tourism Centre, Antalya, will be a championship golf course set on undulating sand hills and cutting through mature pine and eucalyptus forest.
Peter Thomson, the five-times Open Champion who this year celebrates the 50th anniversary of his Open victory at Royal Liverpool, said, “This is an exceptional piece of land on which to build a golf course. It is reminiscent of the famous Surrey heathland courses near London that I rate among the world’s best and which I was fortunate to enjoy much success on in my playing days. So I am very excited about the prospect of TPL creating a classic, traditional style course in Turkey.” The 96-hectare site is just 200 metres from a beach. The sandy terrain will enable the course to be constructed with minimal disruption to the environment.
Course designer Tim Lobb said, “What will set this course apart is its traditional and classic style. It’s one of the best pieces of land I have seen in the region, with a sand ridge that will feature on numerous holes. The area is heavily forested with corridors of trees through which we will run holes, plus spectacular pine and eucalyptus that will become an integral part of the course strategy.
“It’s an outstanding site that enables us to create a free flowing, expansive and highly natural course.”
TPL beat off bids from six international practices to win the contract from Turkish developers Carya Turizm Yatirimlari. A clubhouse with practice facility and training holes will be added and linked to a new five-star hotel plus luxury villas. Significant attention will be paid to minimising disruption to the environment.
Ross Perrett, landscape architect as well as respected course designer, added, “TPL takes a holistic approach to design where we respect the land and strive to bring the golf course to life with creative flair and imagination. In the case of Carya, sound environmental golf course design will result in the long term sustainability and ultimate success of the development.”
Design work on the new course is already underway, with construction due to start in Autumn 2006. The opening date is November 2007.
Mithat Yenigun, chairman of Carya Turizm Yatirimlari, said, “We decided to work with TPL for two reasons. Firstly, Peter Thomson, a golfing legend and master course designer would be helping create and promote our course; secondly, we value the experience of Tim Lobb, his work in this region and the quality of his course designs.
“This is an outstanding piece of land and we believe that TPL will make Carya Golf Club the best golf course in Turkey. We look forward to welcoming international golfers to the course, five-star hotel and luxury villas later next year.”
Thomson Perrett & Lobb www.tpl.eu.com
‘Surrey-style’ heathland course for Turkey
