Situated on the breath-taking white sands of the Belek coastline, The Maxx Royal Golf & Spa is gearing up to welcome 77 of the world’s best golfers for the inaugural Turkish Airlines Open from November 7th – 10th. In less than a month’s time, the luxurious resort will be welcoming the likes of World #1, Tiger Woods; FedExCup winner, Henrik Stenson; U.S. Open Champion, Justin Rose; and Ryder Cup hero, Ian Poulter; all of whom have confirmed their attendance at the highly-anticipated event. This will provide the perfect opportunity to showcase the resort’s unrivalled offerings and hospitality on the world stage, and strengthen its position as Turkey’s leading holiday destination.
Designed by 2010 Ryder Cup Captain, Colin Montgomerie, the Montgomerie Maxx Royal championship course is in spectacular condition and ready to provide a suitable test for the penultimate event of the European Tour’s inaugural Final Series. The newly modernised clubhouse will also be unveiled for the tournament, following an impressive €2 million expansion, and it will be able to welcome up to 5,000 player and spectators each day.
Head Course Superintendent, Ben Lovett has been working tirelessly with his dedicated team to ensure the course is in the finest condition to welcome the world’s best, “For me it is always exciting to host a tournament, but to be bestowed the honour of hosting the first ever European Tour event in Turkey is a real privilege. Due to the nature of the Final Series, the tournament is guaranteed to have one of the strongest fields on the European Tour this year. It is daunting to think so many great players are going to be competing on our golf course in such a high stakes golf tournament, but I am extremely confident our entire team will shine under the spotlight and deliver a course in pristine condition, showcasing the quality of golf on offer here in the Belek region.”
“I joined The Montgomerie Maxx Royal in 2009 after working on a number of other projects across the world for five years, and this is by far one of the most exciting projects that I have been involved in,” continued Lovett. “The course design is very much based on one of Monty’s favourite courses, PineValley. Players will have to strategically plot their way around, and we are aiming to get the expansive undulating green complexes playing hard and fast to test every aspect of the player’s game.”
The Montgomerie Maxx Royal has undergone a number of changes to ensure that it is suitably set-up for the week, “Designed in collaboration with European Golf Design, many of the key characteristics for tournament golf were already considered in the layout. However, we have been working closely with the European Tour and the Tournament Director, Michael Viador to ensure that the course is in the best possible shape when the players arrive in November. We have narrowed several fairways and brought more hazards into play off the tee. The introduction of run-off areas around numerous greens is going to ensure accuracy is paramount. We are hoping to set the course firm and fast, and with our bentgrass surfaces we have the opportunity to offer good green speeds. Colin Montgomerie has also been actively involved in the process and has given us vital feedback on the changes.”
The Turkish Airlines Open will provide a platform to showcase the luxury five-star plus Maxx Royal Golf & Spa resort to the world and provide a breath-taking experience for all those attending, which will further its reputation as Turkey’s most desired holiday destination.
The Montgomerie Maxx Royal www.montgomeriemaxxroyal.com
The Maxx Royal Golf & Spa www.maxxroyal.com