The quick read
What to know
- Belek has under ten hours of daylight from late November to about 18 January, so for all of December; by late February it has about 11 hours 20 minutes, with most of the gain since December coming in the afternoon.
- MGM's 1991–2020 normals for Antalya give winter daily highs of about 15–17°C, lows of about 6–7.5°C and rain on roughly 11–13 days a month.
- Frost can hold up early starts, so confirm tee times, maintenance dates and buggy rules for your actual playing dates.
Winter golf in Belek calls for different planning from a spring or autumn trip. Between December and February the days are at their shortest, mornings are cool and rain is more frequent than at any other time of year. None of that rules out a rewarding trip, but it changes when rounds start, how many holes fit into a day and what to pack.
Our seasonal overview compares the seasons briefly. This guide looks at winter alone, using official climate normals from the Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM) and U.S. Naval Observatory sunrise and sunset data. These are long-term averages and astronomical estimates, not forecasts, club opening hours or tee-time promises.
Daylight: a shorter window, and an uneven one
Belek's shortest days fall around the December solstice. On 21 December 2026 the sun rises at about 08:05 and sets at about 17:43 local time, giving roughly nine hours and 38 minutes of daylight. By 1 February 2027 sunrise and sunset are about 07:58 and 18:21, and on 28 February about 07:28 and 18:49, or about 11 hours and 21 minutes of daylight.
Mornings and evenings do not change together. The earliest sunsets, at about 17:39, come in the first half of December, while the latest sunrises, at about 08:09, come in the first half of January. On 15 January 2027 the sun still rises at about 08:08 but sets at about 18:03. In practice, compared with December, most of the extra light on a January trip comes in the afternoon; sunrise only starts to move noticeably earlier during February.
The daylight planner below this article shows sunrise, sunset and daylight length for any date you choose. Treat it as a planning aid: it calculates astronomical events for Belek, while each club sets its own first and last tee times. Golf after sunset needs a separately booked floodlit round; our night-golf guide explains the options.
What the long-term weather averages show
MGM publishes official 1991–2020 climate normals for Antalya, summarised in the table below. They describe Antalya rather than a particular Belek fairway, but give a dependable picture of a typical winter month.
Three practical points follow. First, afternoons are usually mild while early mornings are cool, so the temperature can change noticeably during a round. Second, December is the wettest month of the year in these normals, averaging about 272 mm of rain; January follows with about 211 mm. Spread across roughly 12 rain days, those totals average about 17–22 mm per rain day, so a wet day can bring more than a passing shower. Third, average sunshine is about five hours a day, roughly half of the available daylight.
Averages cannot tell you what a particular week will bring. Check the forecast shortly before travelling, and keep a flexible day in the itinerary where you can.
Swipe to read the full table
| Month (1991–2020 average) | Daily high | Daily low | Days with rain | Sunshine per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December | 16.7°C | 7.5°C | 12.4 | 4.7 hours |
| January | 15.0°C | 5.9°C | 12.6 | 4.9 hours |
| February | 15.9°C | 6.5°C | 10.8 | 5.7 hours |
Frost, dew and choosing a start time
Average winter lows of about 6–7.5°C do not rule out frost. MGM's longer 1930–2025 record for Antalya includes minimum temperatures below freezing in December, January and February. Turf can also be colder than the air: the sports-turf consultancy STRI explains that grass can freeze on cold, clear nights while the air stays above zero, though such frost usually lifts fairly quickly.
Frozen grass is brittle. STRI notes that damage from footsteps on frosted greens may not show immediately but can take months to repair, which is why a course manager may hold play until the frost has gone. Shaded, low-lying and sheltered areas tend to stay frosted longest. Dew can also leave shoes and trouser hems wet on the first holes, even when there is no frost.
Together, these factors point to a practical window. With sunrise around 08:00, the early morning is usually the coldest and dampest time on the course, while an 18-hole round should finish before sunset unless it is played under floodlights. If a group needs four and a half hours, for example, a start after about 13:00 in late December leaves little or no margin before sunset. Late-morning starts sit comfortably between those limits, making them a sensible winter choice.
If you are happy to risk a frost delay, ask about an earlier time, remembering that a hold-up at the first tee pushes following groups back. If the only available start is mid-afternoon, a nine-hole round may be a more realistic plan than racing the sunset.
Course conditions after autumn overseeding
Several Belek courses are grassed with warm-season turf, such as the bermudagrass Gloria lists on its Old Course. Montgomerie Maxx Royal explains why clubs overseed: cool-season grass seed is sown over the warm-season grass so the course keeps a green appearance and good playing conditions through winter. Our autumn maintenance guide covers the process and the closures it brings.
This work happens in autumn: Gloria's published 2026 schedule closed the Old Course for overseeding from 10 to 21 September, so by December it has had about ten weeks or more to establish. After heavy rain, expect softer ground and less run, and check on the day whether buggies must stay on the paths.
Courses can also close for short periods in winter. When rechecked on 12 October 2026, the conditions for Gloria's Golf in Winter programme list closures of both Gloria Old and Gloria New from 14 to 17 January 2027, with Gloria New also closed on 18 and 19 January. Schedules change, so our team checks the current course schedule and maintenance notices for your dates before confirming tee times.
What to pack, and when a longer stay helps
Pack for a cool start, a mild afternoon and the chance of rain on the same day. Light layers that come off as the round warms up are more useful than one heavy jacket. Travelling with your own clubs? Our first-golf-holiday checklist explains what to check in your airline's sports-equipment policy.
A longer stay suits winter well. Over two weeks or more, a wet day or a frost delay matters less and there is more scope to move rounds around the weather, subject to tee-time availability. When rechecked on 12 October 2026, our long-stay page lists winter programmes of 14 nights or more at Gloria and Regnum, plus tailored 14-night stays at Cullinan Belek and Titanic Deluxe Golf Belek. Each has its own validity dates and conditions, and the Gloria and Regnum programmes exclude stays over Christmas and New Year. Rounds, tee times and inclusions are confirmed for each booking.
- A thin base layer, a warm mid-layer and a windproof outer layer.
- Waterproof jacket and trousers, plus an umbrella and a towel for grips.
- Waterproof golf shoes, with a second pair so one can dry overnight.
- Several gloves, including a pair suited to wet conditions.
- A warm hat for the early holes and a cap for the afternoon.
- Sunglasses and sun cream: low winter sun can still be dazzling.
Belek, Türkiye
A little more daylight.
Find your moment, from the first light to the last. Explore the daylight hours for your golf holiday.
Sunrise and sunset in local time. Daylight hours are a planning guide.
A few more answers
Common questions
Is Belek warm enough for golf in winter?
MGM's 1991–2020 normals for Antalya give average daily highs of about 15–17°C from December to February and lows of about 6–7.5°C. Afternoons are usually mild, but mornings are cool and rain is more frequent than at other times of year, so pack layers and waterproofs and check the forecast before you travel.
What time is sunset in Belek in December?
U.S. Naval Observatory data puts sunset in Belek between about 17:39 and 17:49 local time in December 2026, with the earliest sunsets in the first half of the month. On 21 December the sun rises at about 08:05 and sets at about 17:43. Use the daylight planner on this page for your own dates; each club sets its own last tee time.
Will frost delay my tee time in Belek?
It is possible. Average winter lows are above freezing, yet MGM's long-term record includes sub-zero minimums, and turf can freeze on clear nights. Clubs decide when play can begin, so allow for a possible delay if you book an early start.
Sources & further reading
- Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM): Antalya climate normals, 1991–2020 (in Turkish)mgm.gov.tr (opens in a new tab)
- Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM): Antalya long-term statistics and extremes, 1930–2025 (in Turkish)mgm.gov.tr (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Naval Observatory: sun and moon data for Belek (example: 21 December 2026)aa.usno.navy.mil (opens in a new tab)
- STRI: greens management in frost and cold weatherstrigroup.com (opens in a new tab)
- Montgomerie Maxx Royal: greenkeeping and winter overseedingmontgomeriemaxxroyal.com (opens in a new tab)
- Gloria Golf Club: Old Course grass and 2026 maintenance schedulegloria.com.tr (opens in a new tab)
