Best courses to play in Marrakech

Wonderful bazaars and architecture vie for attention along with luxury golf resorts and world-class courses in the Moroccan city of Marrakech at the foot of the Atlas Mountains.

Tucked away in the more peaceful suburbs are great places to stay and play, and the climate here is Ideal for year-round golf with hot and sunny conditions during the summer months and pleasantly mild temperatures during the winter period.

Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech – 5-star lap of luxury just 20 minutes from the city’s famous central Medina and home to an 18-hole course designed by Cabell B Robinson. The resort offers over 130 lavish villas and suites, a state-of-the-art spa, tennis courts, and outdoor and indoor pools.

One of Robinson’s best designs, this long and weaving course features large water features and presents a test of great variation for every level of golfer. It’s beautiful to look at with the foothills and snowy peaks of the Atlas Mountains in the background.

Palmeraie Rotana Resort – Combining three unique hotels: Hotel du Golf Rotana, Golf Club Rotana and Palmeraie Palace, this 5-star resort complex, just north of central Marrakech, collectively offers one of the largest accommodation capacities in the city, with 640 hotel rooms and suites on offer.

Alongside the luxurious facilities is the resident Robert Trent Jones Sr-designed 18-hole championship golf course. In 2008, Stephane Talbot, a former professional at Palmeraie, added a further nine holes. The undulating palm-tree lined fairways are dotted with several glistening lakes and the peaks of the stunning mountains act as a dramatic backdrop. If you want to stay right by the course, Golf Club Rotana offers charming rooms with an intimate Moorish ambiance and views of the golf course and mountains.

Assoufid Golf Club – Outside of the main resorts, visitors to Marrakech can play at plenty more world-class courses. Just 2km south from the city is Assoufid Golf Club, designed by Scottish golf pro Niall Cameron. It’s undulating and flanked by date palms, cacti, and olive trees as it winds its way through the desert. The incredible mountain views will stop you in your tracks during a rewarding golf experience.

Samanah Country Club – 5km south of Assoufid Golf Club, close to Fairmont Royal Palm, is the Jack Nicklaus-designed Samanah Country Club. Opened for play in 2008, it’s Jack’s first design in Morocco. The course features generously proportioned fairways, with plenty of room for error off the tee. Playing desert golf is a rare treat, but not in Marrakech, and you’ll have the Atlas Mountains in the background.

The Montgomerie Marrakech Golf Club – Close to the city centre, The Montgomerie Marrakech Golf Club is home to a great course designed by European Golf Design and golfing legend Colin Montgomerie. This former olive grove has flourished into a highly enjoyable golf course with elevated tees, lakes and even fountains. At the 1st tee you aim towards the 250-feet high minaret of the 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque, in the city’s medina quarter of the city. The clubhouse is highly popular with burger bars, a SkyBar, restaurant and ice bar.

Noria Golf Club – Close to the small village of Chrifia, in the city’s southern outskirts, Noria is known for its unique signature par-three 8th hole, with an elevated tee and a rectangular Biarritz green between a reflecting pool and a traditional Moroccan bell tower. With typical Moroccan landscapes and architectural features, it really reflects the ambience of the region, while the superb two-storey clubhouse has a viewing tower pointing towards the Atlas peaks.

Royal Golf Marrakech – In the city’s eastern suburbs, this 27-hole club was established in 1933 and extended in 2008 when the Menara 9-hole course was added. The cypress, eucalyptus, palm, and olive tree-lined fairways are largely unchanged from the days when Winston Churchill played the original Koutoubia here. It’s steeped in historic charm and stands up against the city’s newer courses, while the new more open 9-hole course has lakes and floodlights for evening golf.

Golf Al Maaden – Just southeast of the city, this Kyle Phillips layout opened in 2010 and is a fun challenge for all levels with several water hazards and greens surrounded by palm, cypress and almond trees. There’s elevation changes and several raised greens to keep you on your toes. It’s a pleasing Moroccan oasis combined with plenty of nods to the designs of classic Scottish Links.