Golf in Morocco: A 100-Year Tradition and the 10 Best Courses to Play (2026 Guide)

Morocco is not the first destination most golfers think of when they picture a winter break — but it should be. The country has been quietly building golf courses for more than a century, has hosted the Hassan II Trophy (one of the oldest invitational events in world golf) since 1971, and now offers more than 40 full-size courses scattered between the Atlantic coast, the imperial cities and the foothills of the Atlas.

For travellers willing to swap Algarve crowds for Atlas Mountain backdrops — and pay 40-60% less green fees than in Portugal or Spain — Morocco is one of the best-kept secrets in golf tourism. This is the guide we hand to every guest who asks: the 10 best courses, what they cost, when to play, and how to actually structure a 7-10 day golf-and-culture trip.

A short history of Moroccan golf

The first course in Morocco was laid out in Tangier in 1914 by British residents — the same year as the opening of the Royal Calcutta Golf Club's modern layout. A second course followed in Marrakech in 1923, and by the time King Hassan II took the throne in 1961 the sport had a royal patron who understood it well.

Hassan II — himself a passionate amateur with a 14 handicap — commissioned American architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. to design what is still the country's most famous course: the Red Course at Royal Dar Es Salam in Rabat, opened 1971 as part of the inaugural Hassan II Trophy.

Today his son King Mohammed VI continues the tradition. The royal family owns or sponsors several of the country's best courses, the annual Trophée Hassan II is broadcast on the European Tour, and a new generation of Moroccan professionals — most prominently Maha Haddioui (the only Arab-African woman on the LET) — is bringing the country fresh attention. Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia, Bernhard Langer and Henrik Stenson have all played the Hassan II Trophy in recent years.

The 10 best golf courses in Morocco

1. Royal Dar Es Salam (Red Course) — Rabat

• Architect: Robert Trent Jones Sr. (1971)
• 7,307 yards, par 73
• 36 holes total (Red, Blue, Green); Red is the headline
• Hosts the Hassan II Trophy
• Green fee: 1,500 MAD weekday / 1,800 MAD weekend (≈ €145–€175)
• The flagship. Tiger Woods, who played here as a teenager, called it "one of the most beautiful in the world". Carved out of a 440-acre cork-oak forest with a 16th-century white-marble fountain on the 9th tee. Storks nest in the cork trees. Bring extra balls — the doglegs around the cork forest swallow them.

2. Royal Golf Marrakech

• Founded 1923, redesigned 2008
• 18 holes, par 72
• The oldest course in Marrakech
• Green fee: 700–900 MAD (≈ €70–€90)
• Less dramatic than the modern resorts but historically the most charming. Set among orange and olive groves with snow-capped Atlas views December–March. Members include Marrakech royalty. Lunch on the terrace is excellent.

3. Amelkis Golf Club — Marrakech

• Architect: Cabell Robinson
• 27 holes, par 72
• High Atlas backdrop on the back nine
• Green fee: 1,200–1,400 MAD (≈ €115–€135)
• Hosts the Trophée Hassan II in years when it's not held in Rabat. The clubhouse and adjoining Sofitel Atlas Mountain Hotel are excellent. Stay-and-play packages are usually 25-30% cheaper than booking separately.

4. Assoufid Golf Club — Marrakech

• Architect: Niall Cameron (2014)
• 18 holes, par 72
• Set in the Agafay desert with Atlas peaks
• Green fee: 1,500–1,800 MAD (≈ €145–€175)
• The most architecturally celebrated course of the past decade. No out-of-bounds — the whole course flows continuously through sand and bunkers. Caddies are mandatory and worth every dirham. The 18th-hole sunset shot is the most-Instagrammed in Moroccan golf.

5. PalmGolf Marrakech Palmeraie — Marrakech

• Architect: Robert Trent Jones Sr.
• 27 holes total
• Inside the Palmeraie palm oasis
• Green fee: 700–1,100 MAD
• Built on red-clay terrain with 15,000+ palm trees lining every hole. Hosts the Maroc Open (Challenge Tour). Adjacent to the Palmeraie Golf Palace hotel for stay-and-play.

6. Mazagan Beach Resort — El Jadida

• Architect: Gary Player
• 18 holes, par 72, links-style
• Atlantic Ocean directly bordering 7 holes
• Green fee: 1,200 MAD (≈ €115)
• The best beach-and-golf combination in Morocco. Prevailing wind off the ocean creates a genuine links challenge. Pair with the El Jadida Salon du Cheval in October if you also want to see Tbourida.

7. Tazegzout Golf — Taghazout, near Agadir

• Architect: Kyle Phillips (2014)
• 18 holes, par 72
• Clifftop Atlantic views from every hole
• Green fee: 950–1,300 MAD
• Pairs naturally with surf trips in Taghazout for travellers bringing a non-golfing partner. See our surf guide to Taghazout. Year-round playable.

8. Michlifen Resort & Golf — Ifrane

• Architect: Jack Nicklaus
• 18 holes, 6,700 yards, par 72
• At 1,650 metres altitude — the only mountain golf course in Morocco
• Green fee: 1,000–1,400 MAD
• Plays through cedar forest and grass meadows. Cooler than the coast even in summer. December to February it can snow — the resort has Morocco's only ski lift. Pair with a 2-3 day Imperial Cities trip from Fez.

9. Samanah Country Club — Marrakech

• Architect: Nicklaus Design
• 18 holes, par 72
• Inside a 220-hectare estate 25 minutes from Marrakech
• Green fee: 1,000–1,300 MAD
• Quieter than Amelkis and Assoufid, with strong Atlas views and a top-tier residential development around it. Underrated.

10. Royal Golf Anfa — Casablanca

• 9-hole executive course in the heart of Casablanca
• Green fee: 400–600 MAD
• Quick round before a flight from Casablanca-Mohammed V. Not destination-worthy alone but a useful airport-day option.

When to play in Morocco

Morocco's coastal courses are playable year-round; the inland Marrakech courses are best October through April. Summer in Marrakech regularly exceeds 38°C and most clubs run sunrise-only tee times.

Region	Best months	Climate notes
Rabat / Casablanca	September – June	Mild Atlantic, occasional rain in winter
Marrakech	October – April	Dry, sunny, 18–25°C; chilly evenings Dec–Feb
Agadir / Taghazout	All year	20–28°C year-round, breezier in summer
Ifrane (Michlifen)	April – November	Cool mountain climate; possible snow Dec-Feb
Tangier / north	March – November	Wetter and cooler than the south

Sweet spot for combining all regions: late October through late March. Marrakech is mild, Mazagan is cool but playable, and you can fly between courses in 45-90 minutes.

What golf in Morocco costs

Green fees are still well below European resort prices. Expect, in 2026:

Cost	Range
Top-tier 18-hole green fee	1,200 – 1,800 MAD (€115–€175)
Mid-tier 18-hole green fee	700 – 1,100 MAD (€70–€105)
Caddy (highly recommended)	150–250 MAD + tip 100–200 MAD
Cart	250–350 MAD
Club rental	200–400 MAD
Sleeve of 3 balls (pro shop)	100–180 MAD
Stay-and-play 4-night package (5-star hotel + 3 rounds)	€1,200–€2,000 per person

Caddies are often a better deal than carts — they read the lines, find your ball in palm groves and bunkers, and the wage supports a real local livelihood. Always tip the caddy 50-100 MAD even if you took a cart.

How to package a Moroccan golf trip

Most international golfers fly into Marrakech-Menara (RAK) or Casablanca-Mohammed V (CMN) and stay 7–10 days. A typical itinerary we design for golfing guests:

7-day "Marrakech-only" golf trip

• Days 1–2 Marrakech arrival, riad in the medina, light sightseeing
• Day 3 Round 1 at Assoufid (sunset finish in Agafay desert)
• Day 4 Round 2 at Amelkis (Atlas backdrop)
• Day 5 Rest day or Atlas Mountains day trip (see tours from Marrakech)
• Day 6 Round 3 at Royal Golf Marrakech (historic course)
• Day 7 Departure

10-day "Atlantic and Marrakech" combo

• Days 1–4 Marrakech base. Three rounds: Amelkis, Assoufid, Royal Golf Marrakech. Riad in the medina, afternoons free for souks and Majorelle.
• Day 5 Atlas Mountains day trip — a non-golf day for the body, but unforgettable scenery
• Days 6–7 Drive to Rabat. One round at Royal Dar Es Salam Red Course. Overnight in the capital
• Days 8–9 Atlantic coast: one round at Mazagan, beach time in El Jadida, return via Casablanca for the flight home
• Day 10 Departure

14-day "Full Morocco" golf-and-culture circuit

Add 4 days to the 10-day trip:

• Sahara desert overnight (Marrakech → Aït Ben Haddou → Merzouga → return)
• See our Marrakech, Atlas & Agafay adventure

Where to stay for golf

We typically book:

• Marrakech: Sofitel Atlas Mountain (next to Amelkis), Royal Mansour (in the city, drive 25 min to course), Selman Marrakech (the equestrian boutique)
• Rabat: Sofitel Jardin des Roses (10 min from Royal Dar Es Salam)
• El Jadida: Mazagan Beach Resort (the course is on the property)
• Ifrane: Michlifen Resort (Nicklaus course is on the property)

See our broader where to stay in Morocco guide for the riad vs hotel decision.

Non-golfing partner programme

The biggest difference between a Morocco golf trip and one to Spain or Portugal: your non-golfing partner has more to do. We routinely book:

• Morning at the Majorelle Garden, lunch with friends, afternoon at a Marrakech hammam
• Day at the Atlas Mountains foothills with a private guide
• Marrakech cooking class at a riad (see our cooking class experience)
• Spa day at La Mamounia or Royal Mansour
• Sahara overnight (if the partner doesn't mind a long drive) — see tours from Marrakech
• Tbourida demonstration in October (see our Tbourida guide)

Serious players — Hassan II Trophy week

If you want to play in Royal Dar Es Salam's pro-am during Hassan II Trophy week (typically April), tee times must be booked 6 months ahead through the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation. Limited spots, demand is high. Our team handles the federation paperwork and the on-site hotel & transport for guests who request it.

Tee off in Morocco

We've arranged dozens of golf-plus-culture itineraries for guests from the UK, US, Scandinavia and the Gulf. If you want a quote for a 7-10 day golf trip — green fees, riad / hotel stays, private driver between courses, non-golfing partner programme — contact us and we'll send a sample itinerary within 24 hours.

Frequently asked

Morocco golf FAQ

Practical answers for planning a golf-led Morocco trip.

• 01How many golf courses are there in Morocco?

  40+ full-size 18-hole courses, with most concentrated in Marrakech (8), Casablanca/Rabat (7), Agadir/Atlantic coast (6) and Tangier (3).

• 02Do I need to be a member to play at the Royal Golf clubs?
• 03Can I book green fees online?
• 04Is golf in Morocco cheap?
• 05What language do the caddies speak?
• 06Can I bring my own clubs?