GILLIAN IS FLOWER

OF SCOTLAND AT

MEDIA MASTERS

IN TURKEY

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Webmaster Gillian Kirkwood, Scotland's only competitor in the European Golf & Travel Association's Media Masters in Turkey last week, won the ladies' title in a thrilling finish

with Geraldine Bradley from Belfast.

You can read the full story on www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk.

Picture shows Gillian with men's winner Erwin Mulder (centre) from the Netherlands and tournament organiser Jo Maes.

The Stableford competition was played over five different courses in the Antalya region of Belek on Turkey's southern Mediterranean coastline - National Golf Club, Gloria Golf Club's New Course, Antalya's Sultan & Pasha Courses, and finally the Nick Faldo Course at the palatial Cornelia Golf Club.

MONTGOMERIE COURSE

The Editor had never been to Turkey before and didn't know quite what to expect ... I certainly had my eyes opened. There are something like seven courses at the moment in the Antalya region but they can build a course and open it (perhaps a shade too early) within months in the warmth of southern Turkey.

Soon there will be a Colin Montgomerie Course and a five-star hotel next to it.

In short, the Turkish Riviera is in the same position as Portugal's Algarve or Spain's Costa del Sol 30 or 40 years ago.

Watch this space. Turkey, the new kid on the block, over the next few years could become just as popular a golfing tourist destination as the more established venues.