Golf Fit for Royalty
Few countries have embraced golf quite like Morocco. In the 1970s, King Hassan II personally championed the game, inviting Robert Trent Jones Sr. to Rabat to design the 45-hole complex at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam — a stone's throw from the Royal Palace. The king later hired Butch Harmon (who would go on to coach Tiger Woods) as his personal golf pro. Morocco's "Royal" clubs — private institutions open to visiting golfers — still set the standard for the country's golf experience, and HRH Prince Moulay Rachid personally heads the Moroccan Royal Golf Federation.
Golf history in Morocco runs deeper than most realise: Royal Tangier opened in 1914, Royal Mohammedia and Royal Marrakech in the 1930s. In the last two decades, Morocco has transformed into one of Europe's most interesting alternative golf destinations, attracting design work from Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tony Jacklin, Colin Montgomerie, Cabell Robinson, Kyle Phillips, and more.
Four regions define the journey: Marrakech, the country's golf capital, where over a dozen courses sit within half an hour of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains; Rabat & Casablanca, the royal and commercial heart, anchored by Dar Es Salam; the Atlantic Coast from Tangier down to El Jadida, where Gary Player's Mazagan and newer courses at Al Houara meet Portuguese-era port towns; and the Atlas Mountains, where Jack Nicklaus's Michlifen near Ifrane delivers alpine-style golf at 5,500 feet — a spectacular surprise the first time you see it.
Morocco Itineraries
Our signature Morocco itineraries — each a distinct way to experience Moroccan golf and culture. Every trip is fully customizable.
Morocco's Greatest Courses
From Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s Royal masterpiece in Rabat to Jack Nicklaus's mountain course at 5,500 feet — these are the Moroccan courses our clients ask for.
Four Distinct Regions
Each Moroccan golf region has its own character, courses, and cultural treasures. Explore them below.
Marrakech — The Red City & Its Golf Valley
Marrakech is the beating heart of Moroccan golf — more than a dozen championship courses within thirty minutes of the city centre, each one framed by the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. The classic is Royal Marrakech (1927), but the depth comes from modern signatures: Assoufid, Samanah (Nicklaus), Al Maaden (Kyle Phillips), Montgomerie, Tony Jacklin Marrakech, Amelkis, and more.
Between rounds: the labyrinth of the UNESCO-listed medina, the Jardin Majorelle, the night-market theatre of Jamaa el-Fna square, sunset cocktails in a riad rooftop, and day trips to the Atlas foothills or the Ourika Valley. A perfect 4-7 night golf base.
Top Attractions
- Jamaa el-Fna Square
- Jardin Majorelle & YSL Museum
- Bahia Palace
- Koutoubia Mosque
- Saadian Tombs
- The Medina souks
- Menara Gardens
- Day trip to Ouzoud Falls
Rabat & Casablanca — The Royal & the Commercial
Golf's royal heart. Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat is a 45-hole complex personally commissioned by King Hassan II and designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1971 — the championship Red Course sits next door to the Royal residence and is widely considered RTJ Sr.'s finest African work. Don't be surprised to spot a member of the royal family playing a round.
An hour south, Casablanca is Morocco's commercial capital — and the coast of Mohammedia has the historic Royal Mohammedia (1932) plus a growing handful of modern layouts. Pair rounds with the staggering Hassan II Mosque (one of the largest on Earth, built partly out over the Atlantic), the Habous quarter, and a night at Rick's Café.
Top Attractions
- Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca
- Hassan Tower & Mohammed V Mausoleum
- Kasbah of the Udayas
- Chellah Necropolis
- Rabat's Medina & Souk
- Rick's Café, Casablanca
- Corniche Ain Diab
- Museum of Mohammed VI
Atlantic Coast — El Jadida, Tangier & the Portuguese Legacy
Morocco's Atlantic shore is a long string of fortified Portuguese port cities and modern beach resorts. The headline course is Mazagan Beach Resort in El Jadida — a Gary Player links-style design along dunes that front the ocean. The city itself is UNESCO-listed for its 16th-century Portuguese Cistern and fortified town. Up the coast, Royal Golf El Jadida offers a more mature, tree-lined counterpoint.
Further north, Al Houara Golf Club near Tangier is part of a Hilton beachfront resort with panoramic Atlantic views. Tangier itself — where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic — has long drawn artists and writers; the kasbah, Café Hafa, and ferry rides across the Strait of Gibraltar round out a very different Moroccan experience.
Top Attractions
- Portuguese Cistern, El Jadida
- El Jadida fortified medina
- Oualidia oyster farms & lagoon
- Tangier Kasbah Museum
- Cape Spartel & Hercules Caves
- Café Hafa
- Asilah (artists' town)
- Sidi Bouzid beaches
Atlas Mountains — Alpine Golf in Ifrane
The surprise on every Morocco itinerary. Up in the Middle Atlas at 5,500 feet, the mountain town of Ifrane — nicknamed "the Switzerland of Morocco" for its chalet architecture and snowfall — hosts the Jack Nicklaus signature course at Michlifen Resort & Golf. It's a cool-climate, cedar-forested layout with views unlike anywhere else in North Africa.
Pair rounds at Michlifen with excursions to Volubilis (the best-preserved Roman ruins in North Africa), the spiritual capital of Fes and its UNESCO-listed medieval medina, and the Barbary macaque-filled cedar forests around Azrou. Best played May–October; bring a windbreaker even in summer.
Top Attractions
- Fes el-Bali UNESCO Medina
- Al Quaraouiyine University (world's oldest)
- Chouara Tannery
- Volubilis Roman ruins
- Meknes Imperial City
- Barbary macaques at Azrou
- Ifrane Alpine town
- Cedar forests
Featured Accommodations
From the legendary La Mamounia in Marrakech to the Ritz-Carlton beside Dar Es Salam — Moroccan hospitality sets the standard.
Best Time to Play Morocco
Peak Season: March – May, September – November
Spring and autumn are Morocco's golf sweet spot — 70-82°F, dry, sunny, and the courses are perfectly presented. Tee times at Royal Dar Es Salam and the Marrakech clubs fill 4-6 months ahead in these windows.
Playable Year-Round: Marrakech & the Coast
Marrakech and the Atlantic coast play all year. Winters (Dec-Feb) are mild, 60-68°F, with cooler mornings. Summers in Marrakech can reach 100°F+ — book early/late tee times and let the midday heat pass.
Atlas Mountains (Michlifen)
The Atlas courses operate a shorter season — generally May through October. Snow closes Michlifen in winter. Summer is the best time here — the altitude keeps temperatures comfortable even when Marrakech is broiling.
Ramadan Considerations
During the month of Ramadan (dates shift each year), daytime restaurant service is limited, and some cultural sites have reduced hours. Golf courses remain open, but resort dining may be affected. Ask us when booking — we'll tell you whether your dates are impacted.