Legendary golfer to open course in Turkey's Belek

Colin Montgomerie of Scotland will be in Belek Monday to open the Montgomerie Papillon Golf Course, which he designed. The course will be Belek's second signature course, following Cornelia Nick Faldo Golf Course that opened in November 2006. 

"We have built a different golf course, from the design to the club house,” said Cahit Sahin, manager of the Montgomerie Papillon Golf Course. "Every golfer on the green will feel the difference," he was quoted by the TDN as saying. The Montgomerie Papillon Golf Course is the only course on the Mediterranean designed by the player, Sahin added.

"We are delighted to announce the addition of The Montgomerie Course at Papillon Golf Club to our family of resorts. I am very honored that Montgomerie is bringing his design experience and personality to our portfolio," Mustafa Nazik, President of Papillon Hotels, told the TDN.

The course will form part of a new $100 million golf and hotel complex. To compliment the 18 hole championship golf course there will be a flood lit nine hole short course and a golf academy, as well as a luxury five star hotel and up to 40 holiday villas which will join the four existing Papillon hotels in Belek.

Montgomerie, who turned professional in 1983, has had one of the finest careers in European Tour history. He won a record eight Order of Merit titles including a streak of seven consecutively from 1993 to 1999, and 31 European tour victories, placing him third on the all time list.

The 45-year-old is renowned also for both his extraordinary Ryder Cup performances as well as the dubious distinction of being one of the most accomplished players never to have won a major championship after finishing runner-up on five occasions.