A New Era for Golf in Turkey: The Dalaman Golf Club Opens in August 2026
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
For many UK golfers, the words “golf holiday in Turkey” immediately bring one destination to mind: Belek.
That is hardly surprising. With an impressive concentration of championship courses, luxury all-inclusive hotels and warm-weather golf, Belek has earned its place among Europe’s leading golf destinations. However, an exciting new chapter is about to begin elsewhere on Turkey’s southern coastline.
On 30 August 2026, The Dalaman Golf Club is scheduled to open beside Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme Resort & Golf. It will be the first championship golf course on the Dalaman Coast, introducing UK golfers to a completely different side of Turkey and giving the country an important new golf destination beyond Belek.
At Hashtag Golf Travel, we think this is one of the most interesting new golf openings of 2026. It is not simply another course added to an established golf region. It is the beginning of something new.
Introducing The Dalaman Golf Club
Designed by Andrew Craven of International Design Group, The Dalaman Golf Club will be an 18-hole, par-72 championship course measuring 6,152 metres from the back tees.
Its design makes full use of a naturally varied site containing sandy terrain, pine woodland, wetlands, lakes and changes in elevation. The course moves through three distinct areas described as the Dunes, Wetlands and Mountains, giving different parts of the round their own scenery and playing character.
The two loops of nine return to an elevated clubhouse, while 15 lakes and 55 bunkers will provide much of the course’s strategic challenge. Golfers will need to think carefully about positioning rather than simply reaching for the driver on every tee.
The standout hole is expected to be the 15th, a 517-metre par five with a dramatic 25-metre descent from tee to fairway. A protected nature reserve runs along one side, with a lake guarding the other, creating a hole that should be as memorable visually as it is demanding to play.
Championship golf with excellent practice facilities
The new club is being developed as a complete golf facility rather than merely an 18-hole resort course.
Golfers will have access to a driving range measuring approximately 240 metres long and 90 metres wide, along with dedicated putting and chipping areas. A Golf Academy will cater for players of different abilities, making the resort suitable for experienced groups, beginners and golfers hoping to sharpen their game during their holiday.
Buggies, trolleys and rental clubs will be available, while the clubhouse facilities are expected to include changing rooms, showers, equipment storage, club cleaning and dining. A complimentary shuttle will connect the course with Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme Resort & Golf.
The course has been built using Sea Dwarf Paspalum grass, selected for its tolerance of salty coastal conditions. Hilton also says the development will use lake-fed irrigation and retain areas of natural vegetation to reduce its water requirements.
A different type of Turkish golf holiday
The arrival of The Dalaman Golf Club is exciting because it gives golfers an alternative rather than attempting to copy Belek.
Belek’s greatest strength is choice. Golfers can stay in one resort and play several different championship courses during the same week. Official Turkish tourism information currently promotes around 15 courses in the Belek area, supported by a large collection of golf-focused hotels.
Dalaman will begin with one course, so it should not initially be viewed as a direct replacement for a traditional multi-course Belek itinerary. Instead, it offers a different style of trip: a luxury beach holiday with championship golf built into the experience.
That distinction could make it particularly attractive to couples, families and mixed groups. Golfers can enjoy their rounds while the rest of the party makes use of the beach, pools, spa and wider resort facilities. It also gives returning visitors to Turkey an opportunity to experience a new landscape and a different stretch of the country’s coastline.
In our view, this is exactly what Turkey’s golf offering needs. Belek can remain the country’s established golf capital while destinations such as Dalaman introduce greater variety and attract travellers who may not previously have considered Turkey for a golf holiday.
Stay at Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme Resort & Golf
The course will be managed by Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme Resort & Golf, an established five-star property set between the Dalaman River and the coast.
The ultra-all-inclusive resort occupies an extensive 300,000-square-metre site and offers 550 rooms, including sea-view accommodation, family rooms, suites and swim-up options. It also has a 650-metre private sandy beach with its own pier.
This is not a hotel where guests are likely to run out of things to do. The resort includes ten outdoor swimming pools, an aquapark, tennis courts, fitness facilities and a wide programme of land and water-based activities. Its children’s and teenagers’ clubs also make it a strong option for golfers travelling with their families.
After golf, guests can retreat to the resort’s enormous 6,000-square-metre spa and wellness complex. Facilities include Turkish baths, saunas, steam rooms, heated pools, treatment rooms and relaxation areas, with a broad menu of massages and wellness treatments available.
The ultra-all-inclusive dining concept provides a wide choice of restaurants, bars, snacks and international cuisine. That should work particularly well for golf groups that value knowing most of their holiday costs in advance.
Exceptionally easy airport access
Another major advantage is the resort’s proximity to Dalaman International Airport.
Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme Resort & Golf is approximately 20 kilometres from the airport, with transfers taking around 20 minutes by car. For UK golfers accustomed to much longer transfers after an early flight, that is a very appealing arrival experience.
The course itself is also around 20 kilometres from the airport, helping to make Dalaman practical for both week-long holidays and shorter golf breaks.
Once the clubs have been collected and the luggage loaded, guests can be at their resort remarkably quickly. Less time spent on a coach means more time by the pool, on the practice ground or easing into the holiday with a drink overlooking the coast.
More than just golf
Dalaman’s wider location is another reason this development has so much potential.
The region of Muğla sits where the Aegean and Mediterranean meet and includes some of Turkey’s best-known coastal destinations, including Göcek, Fethiye, Ölüdeniz and Marmaris. The area is characterised by forested hills, turquoise bays, ancient sites and a coastline made for boat trips.
Nearby Dalyan is one of the easiest and most rewarding days out. Visitors can travel along the Dalyan River, see the Lycian-style rock tombs and explore the remains of the ancient city of Kaunos.
The river eventually reaches İztuzu Beach, a long strip of sand separating the freshwater delta from the Mediterranean. It is also an important nesting habitat for loggerhead sea turtles. Dalyan is around 40 minutes from the resort, making it a realistic addition to a golf holiday rather than an exhausting full-day expedition.
Göcek, approximately 40 minutes away, is another excellent choice for a free day. Its marinas, restaurants, secluded bays and boat tours have made it one of the region’s best-known sailing destinations. Visitors can join a shared cruise, arrange a private boat or simply enjoy lunch beside the harbour.
Fethiye and Ölüdeniz can also be reached from the resort, offering everything from beaches and boat trips to hiking, diving and paragliding. These experiences give Dalaman a major advantage for groups in which not everybody wants to spend the entire holiday on the golf course.
When will golfers be able to play?
The Dalaman Golf Club is currently scheduled to open on 30 August 2026. The course is intended to operate throughout the year, apart from planned overseeding periods.
While the opening arrives towards the end of the main summer season, we believe the most interesting opportunities may come during autumn and spring. A combination of golf, resort facilities and a warm coastal setting could make Dalaman an appealing choice when UK golfers are looking to escape cooler weather at home.
As with any brand-new course, its condition and character will continue to mature after opening. That is part of the appeal: early visitors will have the opportunity to experience a completely new venue and watch it develop into an established golf destination.
Our verdict
The opening of The Dalaman Golf Club represents far more than a name change for Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme Resort & Golf.
It gives Turkey a new championship course on a coastline that has not previously had a major golf venue. It combines straightforward airport access, five-star ultra-all-inclusive accommodation and a genuinely beautiful holiday region with an ambitious new course designed to operate for most of the year.
Belek will remain the natural choice for golfers wanting to play a different course every day. Dalaman offers something else: a relaxing coastal resort holiday where high-quality golf, family facilities, wellness and local experiences can all sit comfortably within the same trip.
That makes the new development particularly exciting for couples, mixed groups and golfers who already love Turkey but are ready to discover somewhere new.
At Hashtag Golf Travel, we are looking forward to seeing The Dalaman Golf Club welcome its first players in August 2026—and to watching Dalaman take its place on the European golf holiday map.
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