Turkey’s golf links are concentrated in Istanbul and Belek, near Antalya, but the Bodrum region, which takes 70 per cent of all tourist arrivals to the country, is being talked up as having the potential to be on a par with Spain’s Costa del Sol, according to an expert

Golf tourism is experiencing strong growth in Turkey and revenues are expected to hit 500 million euros by 2010, but now the country intends to take golf giant Spain on head-to-head.

An 18-hole course has been completed at Vita Park near Bodrum, which will open a second course in 2011, and a 27-hole course winding through pine forests and olive groves is under construction close to the village of Mumcular.

Thanks to a joint venture between two large groups of companies, another course is on its way. Net Holding and the Ağaoğlu Group have plans for an 18-hole golf course located five kilometers from the airport.

Thousands of additional jobs could be created in the region after the opening of the golf facilities and world golfing bodies have already been approached to open debate about hosting international tournaments in Muğla in the future.

Adam Godwin, Marketing Director for Dream Homes WorldWide, which has been operating for three years with offices in Bodrum, said the region has the potential to be on a par with the Costa del Sol.

“Golfers who prefer Bodrum will pay considerably less than the average 80 euros for a round on the Costas,” he said. “Those who get in early in prime projects will enjoy significant price rises over the next five to 10 years.”

However, not everybody is a fan of promoting golf tourism. In September 2008, the Council of State stopped the enactment of a plan by the Culture and Tourism Ministry with the potential for over-settlement near golf courses in protected areas.

Vita Park, which offered the first 18-hole golf course in Bodrum, lies close to Tuzla Bay, a unique wetland habitat for a number of rare bird species and flamingoes.

The resort encompasses a total area of 1.5 million square meters, including the 5,795-meter course, clubhouse and the Mike Adams Golf Academy.

With an average of 240 players per day in summer (groups of four players start every nine minutes) and about 180 per day in the winter, the Milas par-71 course is designed for good strategic games in perfect harmony with the natural environment.