Best Area for Golf Lovers in North Cyprus

If golf is an important part of your lifestyle, Esentepe is the clear choice in North Cyprus. The area is home to Korineum Golf & Beach Resort, currently the region’s principal 18-hole golf destination, making Esentepe and the surrounding coastal villages the strongest locations for buyers who want golf to be part of everyday life. 

For property buyers, however, the choice is slightly broader. Bahceli, Kucuk Erenkoy and Tatlisu can all make sense if you want access to Korineum while prioritising sea views, larger properties, quieter surroundings or potentially better value.

Quick Verdict

Best overall: Esentepe

Best alternative: Bahceli

Best for a quieter coastal lifestyle: Kucuk Erenkoy

Best for access to Kyrenia as well as golf: Catalkoy

1. Esentepe — Best Overall for Golf Lovers

If golf is the reason you are considering North Cyprus property, Esentepe should be the first area you investigate.

The major advantage is simple: Korineum Golf & Country Club is here.

The course is an 18-hole, par-72 international-standard course measuring approximately 6,232 metres. It occupies around 65 hectares among olive and carob trees, with views towards both the Mediterranean and the Besparmak mountains. 

It is not merely a golf course. Korineum has a clubhouse, restaurant, golf academy, driving range, practice greens, pro shop, equipment rental and buggy hire. The academy includes a driving range of almost 300 metres, putting and chipping greens and a practice bunker. 

That makes Esentepe particularly attractive to buyers who want golf to be part of their routine rather than an occasional activity.

Who should choose Esentepe?

Esentepe is particularly suitable for:

• Regular golfers
• Retirees who want an active lifestyle
• Couples looking for a golf-and-sea lifestyle
• Buyers wanting golf, beaches and nature together
• Property owners intending to spend several months each year in North Cyprus
• Buyers looking for properties close to a recognised golf destination

The area also offers something important for non-golfing partners: beaches, restaurants, walking, nature and the Mediterranean coast.

2. Bahceli — Best for Golf and Sea Views

Bahceli sits along the coast close to Esentepe and Korineum, making it one of the strongest alternatives for golfers who do not necessarily need to live immediately beside the course.

Its attraction is the combination of:

• Golf access
• Mediterranean views
• Low-density surroundings
• Coastal developments
• Peace and privacy
• Easy access to Esentepe

For a buyer, this can be an interesting compromise.

You can have Korineum as your golf destination without making the golf course the defining feature of your property search.

Bahceli is therefore worth considering if your priority is a broader lifestyle — perhaps golf in the morning, swimming or walking in the afternoon and quiet evenings at home.

Who should choose Bahceli?

Choose Bahceli if you want:

Golf + sea views + tranquillity

rather than:

Golf + immediate proximity to the clubhouse

3. Kucuk Erenkoy — Best for Quiet Coastal Golf Lifestyle

Further east, Kucuk Erenkoy appeals to buyers who want to combine golf with a quieter coastal environment.

The important distinction is that Kucuk Erenkoy is not a golf-course location in the same way Esentepe is. Its appeal comes from being within the wider golf-and-coastal lifestyle corridor.

For many buyers, that can actually be an advantage.

You are not necessarily paying for the golf course to be your view or your immediate neighbour. Instead, you can prioritise:

• Sea views
• Privacy
• Larger properties
• Resort facilities
• Coastal walks
• A slower pace of life

It can work particularly well for golfers who play regularly but don’t need to walk from their front door to the first tee.

4. Tatlisu — Golf Access with More Space

Tatlisu is another area worth considering for golfers looking east of Esentepe.

It provides a more rural and open environment, with a growing selection of residential developments and villas.

For buyers who want a larger home, garden or private pool, Tatlisu can be more interesting than focusing exclusively on golf-course property.

The trade-off is obvious: the further you move from Korineum, the less convenient frequent golf becomes.

For someone playing once or twice a week, this may be perfectly acceptable.

For someone playing four or five times a week, Esentepe is likely to be the more logical choice.

5. Catalkoy — Best for Golf + Kyrenia

Catalkoy is not the obvious answer to a golf question, but it deserves consideration.

The attraction is its position between the golf-oriented east coast and Kyrenia, giving residents access to a much broader range of restaurants, shops, services and entertainment.

That makes Catalkoy potentially better for couples where golf is important to one person but not the entire purpose of the property purchase.

The calculation becomes:

How much golf convenience are you willing to exchange for better access to Kyrenia?

For some buyers, that is a worthwhile trade.

6. Kyrenia — Best for Golfers Who Want City Life Too

Kyrenia itself is not the golf destination.

But it can still be a sensible choice for a golfer who wants:

• Restaurants and cafes
• Harbour and town life
• Shopping
• Established services
• Healthcare access
• Nightlife
• A larger expat community
• Golf within driving distance

The compromise is that you will have to drive to Korineum.

For a serious golfer playing several times a week, that extra journey may become irritating.

For a casual golfer who wants to play once or twice a week while enjoying everything Kyrenia offers, it can be an excellent compromise.

Golf Facilities in North Cyprus

One important point should be made when researching North Cyprus property.

Do not assume that North Cyprus has a large network of golf courses.

Korineum is the standout 18-hole facility in the north.

Its official course information confirms:

• 18 holes
• Par 72
• 6,232 metres
• 65 hectares
• Two lakes
• Five tee positions per hole
• Driving range
• Practice greens
• Golf academy
• Club and shoe rental
• Buggy hire
• Pro shop
• Clubhouse and restaurant 

There is also the CMC Golf Course, which is described by current local sources as a 9-hole course, rather than an equivalent alternative to Korineum’s 18-hole championship layout. Facilities and equipment availability are considerably more limited. 

Therefore, if golf is a major factor in choosing where to buy, the question isn’t really:

“Which part of North Cyprus has the most golf courses?”

It is:

“How close do I want to be to Korineum?”

That changes the property search considerably.

What Does Golf Access Mean for Property Buyers?

There is an important distinction between golf property and property near a golf course.

A golf-front villa may provide:

• Golf-course views
• Shorter access to the clubhouse
• A strong lifestyle proposition
• Potential appeal to golf-oriented tenants

But it may also command a premium.

A property 10–15 minutes away could provide:

• Better value
• Larger plots
• Better sea views
• More privacy
• Greater choice of developments

So don’t automatically assume that closer to the golf course = better property.

The right question is whether the premium for proximity produces enough lifestyle or resale benefit to justify the additional cost.

Golf Property: What Should Buyers Look For?

If you are specifically buying a North Cyprus property because you play golf, I would rank the following factors highly.

1. Actual driving time to Korineum

Don’t rely purely on a development’s marketing description of being “close to golf”.

Check the real driving time.

Five kilometres on a map can feel very different from five kilometres on the ground depending on the road and terrain.

2. Sea view versus golf view

A golf-course view can be attractive, but don’t automatically sacrifice a superior Mediterranean view.

For some buyers, the better long-term lifestyle is:

Golf nearby + excellent sea view

rather than:

Golf-course frontage + weaker overall position

3. Year-round usability

Golfers tend to spend more time outdoors than many other property buyers.

Look for:

• Shaded terraces
• Outdoor storage
• Easy parking
• Low-maintenance gardens
• Good air conditioning
• Quality insulation
• Outdoor shower/pool facilities
• Practical access to the property

4. Lock-up-and-leave practicality

This is particularly important for overseas owners.

If you spend several months in the UK or elsewhere, ask:

• Who maintains the garden?
• Who maintains the pool?
• Who checks the property?
• What happens if there is a leak?
• Is there a management company?
• What are the annual service charges?

Golf lifestyle properties are still properties. The practical ownership costs matter.

Golfing Costs

Golfers should also investigate the cost of playing rather than simply looking at property prices.

Korineum currently publishes seasonal green fees, with 18-hole rates varying substantially through the year. Its published 2026 rates include €75 during part of the summer season and €125 during several other periods. Equipment rental, buggies and other services are charged separately. 

For regular players, membership can change the calculation considerably.

Korineum currently offers several membership categories, including:

• Full 7-day membership
• 5-day membership
• Family membership
• Junior membership
• Overseas membership
• Time-Smart membership

The overseas membership is specifically designed for people who are not permanent TRNC residents and currently provides up to 50 rounds annually. Time-Smart membership provides up to 60 rounds. 

Always check the latest membership and green-fee structure directly with Korineum before making financial assumptions.

Korineum Golf & Country Club — official course and membership information

Best North Cyprus Areas for Golf Lovers: Ranking

So, What Is the Best Area for Golf Lovers?

For a buyer who genuinely loves golf and expects to play regularly, Esentepe is the strongest choice in North Cyprus.

The reason isn’t simply that Korineum is located there. It is the combination of the 18-hole course, golf academy, practice facilities, clubhouse, resort environment, coastal setting and surrounding residential market. 

But Esentepe isn’t automatically right for everyone.

Choose Esentepe if golf is central to your lifestyle.

Choose Bahceli if you want golf access with a stronger emphasis on sea views and tranquillity.

Choose Kucuk Erenkoy or Tatlisu if you want a quieter coastal lifestyle and are comfortable driving to the course.

Choose Catalkoy or Kyrenia if golf is important but you also want stronger access to the restaurants, services and social life of Kyrenia.

The most important lesson is therefore simple:

For golf lovers, don’t search for “golf property” first. Search for the right balance between golf access, property quality, lifestyle and long-term resale appeal.

That is where the best North Cyprus golf property opportunities are likely to be found.

A Note on Property Prices

I have deliberately not given a single “average golf property price” in this article. Prices around Esentepe and the surrounding coast vary significantly according to property type, title/deed position, construction stage, sea or golf views, plot size, development facilities and exact distance from Korineum.

For a buyer-focused article, a misleading average would be less useful than comparing actual current properties by micro-location and specification.

For the same reason, I would avoid claiming a specific golf-property rental yield or capital-growth percentage without a sufficiently robust dataset.