Monty's latest masterpiece

THE Belek region of Turkey is well on the way to rivalling Portugal and Spain as Europe’s premium golf destination – and Colin Montgomerie is the latest big name to design a course there.

For a man who has achieved almost everything in golf, Montgomerie retains a youthful enthusiasm for seeking out fresh challenges.

Now one of the game’s greats – who claimed his 31st European Tour title earlier this year – has turned his huge knowledge of the game to course design.

Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Peter Thomson and Nick Faldo have already made their mark while younger peers like Tiger Woods and Ernie Els are also starting to sculpt courses.

But even though Monty’s CV lacks the Major victory that defined the status of these other performers, his playing record bears worthy comparison and suggests inspiration, application and lateral thinking will all be applied in abundance on his designs.

On the evidence of his efforts so far, it is quite possible he will ultimately outshine many of these other luminaries of modern course architecture.

Already he has crafted well-received championship layouts at Carton House in Ireland, Celtic Manor in Wales and in Dubai, with many more in the pipeline. One such glittering prospect opened this year on the south-west coast of Turkey, in the burgeoning golf resort of Belek.

Certainly Montgomerie, a veteran of nine Ryder Cup matches and an eight-times No 1 on the European Tour Order of Merit, has high hopes for the 18-hole course – situated half an hour’s drive from the international airport at Antalya.

He has carved out of a forest largely comprising pines and eucalyptus trees on behalf of the Papillon hotel group and in conjunction with European Golf Design.

The new course looks set to be exciting both visually and as a test of golf, and the Scot is convinced it could become the outstanding venue in the Mediterranean’s fastest growing golf destination. On a recent flying visit to this superbly-manicured site, he said: “I can’t believe how beautiful this place is. I think this is destined to be one of the best courses I have seen.”

The Montgomerie at Papillon, which also has a nine-hole floodlit academy course, is one of four 18-hole layouts opening at Belek this winter – to add to the six golf centres currently established there.

And with designs by five times Open champion Thomson and American architect Pete Dye also nearing completion, Belek is indeed booming – just like one of Monty’s drives!

YOU could be one of the first people to play the new Montgomerie Course at the Papillon through a great deal from Alternative Travel and Holidays.

A seven-night, all-inclusive stay in a five-star hotel with four rounds of golf is available at just £429 plus tax, with London flights departing on January 27 and February 3.

Manchester flights are also available with a supplement departing on January 26 and February 2. To book call 020 7923 3230 or visit www.turkishgolf.com