Cornelia Press Release Archive

olf Marketing Services is delighted to announce that it has been appointed to handle the marketing throughout Europe for the Cornelia Golf Resort in Belek, Southern Turkey.

The Nick Faldo designed Cornelia Golf Club, which opened in November last year, is the six-time Major Champion’s first design project in the eastern Mediterranean. The course bears all the hallmarks of the class and attention to detail that characterised Faldo’s golf game when he was in his prime. A par-72 layout built on a vast ridge of sand dunes, the course threads its way through the surrounding umbrella pines and measures 6,970 yards from the back tees. A further nine holes will be completed in the spring and a David Leadbetter Academy is due to open in February.

Accompanying the golf course is the 5-star Cornelia Deluxe Resort. Overlooking the sea and just 2 km from the golf course it is a sophisticated, modern and stylish hotel that provides a unique holiday experience. The hotel facilities are of the highest standard and offer an impressive range of ameneties for its guests.

“We are delighted to have won the contract to handle the marketing for such a prestigious golf resort as Cornelia,” said GMS Director Neil Gray. “The owners have aspirations for Cornelia to be recognised as one of the best golf courses in Europe and we look forward to helping them achieve this aim.”

For more information about Cornelia Golf Resort please contact James Lovett at GMS on
+44 (0) 1438 718399 (james@gmsgolf.co.uk)

GMS was founded in 2001 and now boasts an impressive list of clients that includes PING, PING Collection, Aldila, ECCO, Golf Pride, Softspikes, Marriott Golf UK, Carnoustie Golf Links, England’s Golf Coast, the Crete Golf Club, Top Golf, the BMW Championship and the Weetabix Women’s British Open

Six time Major champion, Nick Faldo, has designed a new 27-hole lay-out at Cornelia Golf Club in Antalya, Turkey, that is destined to be regarded as one of Europe’s best.

Faldo has acquired a deserved reputation as one of the game’s most cerebral golfers and that characteristic is still much in evidence now that the six time major champion has ceased to be a full time golfer and become a course designer of considerable renown.

One of Faldo’s latest designs can be found at the luxurious new Cornelia Golf Club near Belek, in southern Turkey, and it is a 27-hole facility which reinforces the Englishman’s reputation for building courses which the golfer has to think his way round.

Cornelia could well be described as a thinking man’s golf course and it is built on an outstanding piece of land which is sandy in texture and studded with attractive pine trees.

Faldo was adamant that he wanted to create a golf course that demanded a thoughtful approach and the end result of his endeavours are three distinct nine holes which are superior to anything else that can be found in this burgeoning area of Turkey where 11 courses will be open for play by the end of 2007.

The first nine holes is named after Tiberius, who was renowned as one of Rome’s greatest generals and who ran successful military campaigns in Pannonia, Illricum, Rhaetia and Germania.

The Tiberius nine has two excellent par fives and a couple of undulating par threes where the emphasis is on accuracy rather than length. However, the most memorable holes are probably the 306-metre par four seventh and the 369-metre par four eighth which reward accuracy but need to be played with care.

The second nine is named Sempronia in memory of Sempronia Gracchae, the eldest daughter of Tiberius. It might well be marginally easier than the Gaius nine but has several holes which rank right up there with the best of Faldo’s previous designs.

The newest nine is called Gaius in honour of Gaius Julius Caesar and in keeping with the legendary Roman emperor it is exceptional even by Faldo’s high standards.

“In time we feel Cornelia will feature near the top of any list of Europe’s top courses and we also want it to be known as a club where the amenities and service are second to none.” said Ali Sahin, the club’s Director of Golf.

Those amenities include a stunning clubhouse where visitors can enjoy a drink or a wide choice of meals in sumptuous surroundings. Cornelia also features Turkey’s first David Leadbetter Academy, run by amiable New Zealander David Louys-Moroney, and is within 10 minute’s drive of the 5-star Cornelia Hotel that offers a wide choice of standard rooms, deluxe suites and junior villas and boasts a superb 2,700 square metre indoor and outdoor aqua park where golfers can relax after an enjoyable round.        

Six-time Major Champion Nick Faldo, was on-site on May 19th to officially open one of his greatest course designs to date, the 27-hole Cornelia Golf Club near Belek, in Southern Turkey.

Destined to be regarded amongst the best courses in Europe, Cornelia Golf Club is Faldo’s first design project in the eastern Mediterranean. Consisting of three separate nine-hole loops, Cornelia is built on a vast ridge of sand dunes, and threads its way through the surrounding umbrella pines. The course bears all the hallmarks of the class and attention to detail that has characterised Faldo’s golf game, and clearly reinforces the Englishman’s growing reputation for creating strategically interesting and strong golf courses.

Faldo fell in love with the site as soon as he saw it and he set about designing a memorable golfing experience.

“This is an exceptional piece of land,” Faldo commented after last week’s opening. “My company, Faldo Design, is fortunate to have created courses in some truly exceptional places around the world, and this wonderfully natural, pine-clad, sandy site is among the finest we have seen.”

Faldo was adamant that he wanted to create a golf course that demanded a thoughtful approach and the end result of his endeavours are three distinct nine holes which are superior to anything else that can be found in this burgeoning area of Turkey where 11 courses will be open for play by the end of 2007.

The first nine holes is named after Tiberius, who was renowned as one of Rome’s greatest generals and who ran successful military campaigns in Pannonia, Illricum, Rhaetia and Germania.

The Tiberius nine has two excellent par fives and a couple of undulating par threes where the emphasis is on accuracy rather than length. However, the most memorable holes are probably the 306-metre par four seventh and the 369-metre par four eighth which reward accuracy but need to be played with care.

The second nine is named Sempronia in memory of Sempronia Gracchae, the eldest daughter of Tiberius. It might well be marginally easier than the Tiberius nine but has several holes which rank right up there with the best of Faldo’s previous designs.

The newest nine is called Gaius in honour of Gaius Julius Caesar, and in reflecting the character of the legendary Roman emperor, it has a litany of extraordinary challenges.

“In time we feel Cornelia will feature near the top of any list of Europe’s top courses and we also want it to be known as a club where the amenities and service are second to none.” said Ali Sahin, the club’s Director of Golf.

Those amenities include a stunning clubhouse where visitors can enjoy a drink or a wide choice of meals in sumptuous surroundings. Cornelia also features Turkey’s first David Leadbetter Academy, run by amiable New Zealander, David Louys-Moroney, and is within 10 minutes drive of the 5-star Cornelia De Luxe Hotel that offers a wide choice of standard rooms, deluxe suites and junior villas and boasts a superb 2,700 square metre indoor and outdoor aqua- park where golfers can relax after an enjoyable round.

The stunning Nick Faldo designed Cornelia Golf Club located in the golfing haven of Belek, Southern Turkey has recently announced the completion of   its third nine-holes, entitled Gaius.

Constructed on an outstanding piece of land which is sandy in texture and studded with attractive pine trees, the Gaius nine completes the fine work that the 6-time Major Champion has fashioned at the 27-hole Cornelia Golf Club.

 “This is an exceptional piece of land,” Faldo confirmed when the first two of the three nines were opened in June 2006. “My company, Faldo Design, is fortunate to have created courses in some truly exceptional places around the world, and this wonderfully natural, pine-clad, sandy site is among the finest we have seen.”

“We believe that the Gaius nine is quite simply world-class and will be is a fantastic addition to the existing Tiberius and Sempronia nines. With all 27-holes now complete we would like to think that Cornelia offers some of the finest golf and service to be found anywhere in Europe,” said Ali Sahin, the club’s Director of Golf.

“Turkey is quickly becoming known as one of the best golf destinations in southern Europe,” said Sahin. “By the end of 2007 we will have 11 courses situated within about 10-15 minutes of each other and we want Cornelia to be regarded as the best of those.

The Gaius nine starts with a relatively straightforward 320-metre par four situated behind the clubhouse before meandering thorough trees and around a series of large lakes. Amongst the many highlights of this challenging nine-holes will almost certainly be the 183-yard par three seventh, which is reminiscent of the 16th at Augusta National and the ninth hole, which  in time become known as one of the world’s most dramatic closing holes and would  be a fitting finale for a WGC or European Tour event.

The hole is quite literally framed by water hazards. There is one expanse of water in front of the tee and to the left of the fairway and another to the right of the fairway and in front of the green. It will become known as Cornelia’s signature hole and will be photographed almost as much as the 18th at Pebble Beach in California or the Road Hole at St Andrews.

Cornelia also features Turkey’s first David Leadbetter Academy, run by amiable New Zealander David Louys-Moroney, and is within 10 minute’s drive of the 5-star Cornelia Hotel that offers a wide choice of standard rooms, deluxe suites and junior villas and boasts a superb 2,700 square metre indoor and outdoor aqua park where golfers can relax after an enjoyable round.

Turkey had its burgeoning reputation within the world of golf confirmed when it won the European Golf Destination of the Year Award at the recent IAGTO Awards Gala Dinner at the Gran Melia Hotel in Cancun, Mexico.
The prestigious IAGTO Award caps an incredible period of sustained growth that has seen Turkey develop into one of the finest destinations in the world.
“We are very proud and happy to win this award,” said Ali Sahin, the Director of Golf at Cornelia Golf Club and the Chairman of the IAGTO Turkey Chapter.
“The award means we have achieved something because we have worked very hard over the last ten years.
“We started off with just one course in Turkey but now we have 14. Over the next two or three years there are plans to build about 30 courses throughout the country.” 
Turkey’s recent golf boom has meant the country is now widely regarded as an increasingly attractive alternative to Europe’s more traditional golf destinations. Blessed with excellent year-round weather, a competitive pricing structure and high quality service and accommodation, it has a range of fine courses that is second to none.
Much of the best golf can be found near Belek, an attractive coastal resort just 30km east of Antalya. One of Belek’s newest golf facilities is the exceptional Cornelia Golf Club where former Open and Masters champion, Nick Faldo, has designed 27-holes on an undulating tract of land studded with attractive pines.
Eight-time European Order of Merit Champion, Colin Montgomerie, has also used his vast experience to create the superb Papillion Golf Club nearby. Other top-quality courses to be found within this golfing mecca are National Golf Club, PGA Sultan and Pasha, Gloria and newly opened Sueno and Kaya Golf Clubs. If that isn’t enough to wet the appetite there will be a further two courses opening later this year, Karya and Lykia Links which is being designed by Perry Dye and as the name suggests will bring a new style of golf to an area that is fast becoming the number one destination of choice for golf in Europe.