Things to do · Morocco
Morocco has quietly become one of the great golf destinations, with championship courses laid out beneath the snow-capped Atlas and along the Atlantic coast. Mild winters, manicured fairways and the ease of pairing a round with a fine riad make it a refined escape for the player who likes the day to end well. Here are the courses and details worth knowing.
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Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s masterpiece in the cork-oak forest of Rabat is Morocco's most celebrated course, long host to the Hassan II Trophy. Its Red Course is a true championship test, threading between mature trees and lakes on terrain the kings of Morocco helped shape.
The grande dame of Marrakech golf, dating to the 1920s and once played by Churchill and Eisenhower. Olive groves, orange trees and palms frame the fairways, with the High Atlas rising white on the horizon — a classic, unhurried round near the medina.
A polished 27-hole layout on the road to the Atlas, dotted with date palms, water hazards and earth-toned bunkering. Amelkis is a favourite for its conditioning and its clubhouse, and sits among the villa estates south-east of the city.
A Cabell Robinson design with generous fairways and the Atlas filling the backdrop on almost every hole. The course flows through olive trees and gentle water features, making it a rewarding round for low handicaps and improvers alike.
Kyle Phillips laid out this striking course around a contemporary art collection and reflecting pools, with bold bunkering and the mountains beyond. Al Maaden is one of Marrakech's most photographed layouts and pairs well with its design-led resort.
Agadir is Morocco's sunniest golf hub, with the Dunes, Les Dunes and the cliff-edge Tazegzout among several courses set between the Atlantic and the Souss plain. Reliable warmth and sea breezes make it a dependable choice through the winter months.
The Moroccan pleasure is to combine the course with the right address — a private riad in the Marrakech medina, a country estate near the fairways, or a coastal hotel at Agadir. Tee times, transfers and clubs can be arranged so the golf folds seamlessly into the trip.
While much of Europe is frozen, Morocco offers comfortable golf through autumn, winter and spring. Marrakech and Rabat are at their best from October to April; summer rounds are best played early in the morning to stay ahead of the midday heat.
Few settings rival a Marrakech fairway with the snow-dusted High Atlas behind it. The combination of desert light, palm and olive groves and mountain peaks gives Moroccan golf a sense of place that lingers long after the round is over.
Most leading clubs offer PGA-trained professionals, practice ranges, caddies and buggies, so a lesson or a guided round is easily arranged. For visiting players, clubs and equipment can be hired on site, keeping luggage light.
Autumn through spring (October to April) is the prime season, with mild, dry days ideal for golf in Marrakech and Rabat. Agadir's coastal courses stay pleasant even longer thanks to Atlantic breezes, while high summer rounds are best played early in the morning.
Royal Golf Dar Es Salaam in Rabat is the most celebrated, host to the Hassan II Trophy. Around Marrakech, Royal Golf de Marrakech, Amelkis, PalmGolf Ourika and Al Maaden are all highly regarded, while Agadir offers a cluster of fine coastal courses.
Yes. Golf-and-riad packages are a Moroccan speciality, pairing tee times at the leading courses with a private riad in Marrakech or a coastal hotel in Agadir. Transfers, club hire and tuition can all be arranged so the golf fits effortlessly into the holiday.
Not necessarily. Most championship clubs in Marrakech, Rabat and Agadir offer quality club and equipment hire on site, along with buggies and caddies, so visiting players can travel light and still enjoy a full round.
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