7 years ago I was asked by a young Russian business man Ostap Lukiyanov to shoot a new course in Belek Turkey, at that time it was know as the Montgomerie Pappillon. Ostap had set up a company called Golden Swing which would run the Academy and pro shop. My project was to get course and academy shots to help promote his new venture and the newest course in the area.

A 5 star hotel that would support the course was under construction but after the shell of the building was completed, work was halted, the far reaching recession had kicked in.

4 years later some major changes had been made the, the hotel was nearly completed, the course was under new ownership with a new course manager and I was called in to reshoot the course. By this time the layout had matured and shooting was a lot easier, also it was a little later in the season so wasn’t as hot!

I worked very closely with the director of golf Cahit Sahin.

Cahit is one of those people in Golf who get’s the concept of great marketing supported by the best collateral images. So when it was announced that Colin Montgomerie the course designer would be playing his 600 European Tour event at the Montgomerie Maxx in the Turkish Open, I got the email from Cahit to come over and cover the tournament.

There were many official shots to be taken, but also new course shots under tournament conditions and of course the players.

I also had a few one on one shots, and one of the highlights was a request from Rafa Cabrera Bello to film his swing on the range so that he could iron out a few issues.

The Tournament was a huge success with Brooks Koepka a worthy champion with his first European Tour win.

There’s plans to hold the Turkish Open at the Montgomerie Maxx next year for a 3rd year, let’s hope that happens!