The latest episode of Adventures in Golf explores Turkey, from Istanbul’s historic club to Belek’s golf paradise and urban fairways.
In the newest installment of Adventures in Golf, host Erik Anders Lang travels to Istanbul, a city defined by contrasts. Here, the Istanbul Golf Club was founded in 1895, making it one of the oldest golf clubs in Europe—long before the sport gained popularity across the continent. Today, the club is located in Reva, far outside the city center. Lang meets with members who remained loyal even during years without a proper course. ‘We had just a few greens and a makeshift tee for ten years,’ recalls club president Nison Ozelen. The episode highlights how this club became the heart of Turkish golf across generations.
Belek: Turkey’s Golfing Wonderland
The journey continues to Belek on the Turkish Riviera, a resort town that resembles Las Vegas—minus the casinos but packed with golf. With 16 courses and over 300 holes tightly clustered together, Belek thrives on international golf tourism. Visitors from across Europe fill the hotel lobbies and fairways. Lang describes it as an ‘all-you-can-play buffet,’ where golf is available nearly 24/7, even under floodlights.
Urban Golf in Istanbul
The episode concludes back in Istanbul at the Atasehir Golf Club, a six-hole course nestled among high-rise buildings. Open to everyone, this urban course aims to make golf accessible to children, beginners, and anyone curious to pick up a club. It’s not about exclusivity—it’s about inclusion and community.