Morocco is two hours from London and three hours from most of continental Europe. It has mild winters, extraordinary landscape, and golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., Jack Nicklaus, and Kyle Phillips. The greens fees are a third of what you would pay in the Algarve or Costa del Sol. It is one of the most underrated golf destinations in the world, and most European golfers have never considered it.
I have been sending clients to Morocco since 2010. In that time I have played every course on this list, some of them a dozen times, and watched the infrastructure improve year on year. The road from Marrakech Menara Airport to the Palmeraie is now properly signposted. The clubhouses at Amelkis and Samanah are genuinely world-class. The green fee gap between Morocco and southern Europe has never been wider or more in Morocco's favour. Everything below reflects real playing experience in 2025 and 2026 — no press trips, no promotional pricing.
Morocco splits into three practical golf hubs. Marrakech is the main event — five or six courses within 25 kilometres of the medina, a deep hotel market from budget riads to ultra-luxury palaces, and year-round flying options from every major European city. Rabat, the capital, hosts the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam — the country's most significant course — and little else worth flying specifically for. Most golfers visit Rabat as a day trip or overnight from Marrakech (4 hours by the fast train, Al Boraq, which covers Casablanca in 2h15).Agadir is the beach resort zone, with two or three decent courses and green fees that are the lowest in the country.
Royal Golf Dar Es Salam — Red Course
The undisputed flagship of Moroccan golf. Robert Trent Jones Sr. built this in 1971 for King Hassan II on 700 hectares of ancient cork oak forest just outside Rabat. The Red Course stretches to 6,760 metres from the back tees, a par 73 with four par-5s that demand genuine length. The African Open was hosted here multiple times, putting it firmly on the international circuit. Fairways cut through towering eucalyptus and cork, the greens are large and well-paced, and the entire setting has a grandeur that course designers rarely achieve. There is nothing else like it on the African continent. If you play one course in Morocco, this is it.
Best for: Golfers making their first Morocco trip who want to play the defining course of the country.
Golf d'Amelkis
The finest course in the Marrakech cluster and one of the most visually distinctive in North Africa. Jones Jr. worked with the red-earth Palmeraie landscape to create something that feels genuinely Moroccan: ochre fairways framed by olive groves, the Atlas Mountains providing a snow-capped backdrop in winter, and water features that play havoc with club selection. The par-5 ninth, a sweeping dogleg with a lake guarding the green, has been photographed more than any other hole in the country. Amelkis is 27 holes — the main 18 plus a nine-hole layout — and the conditioning in 2026 has improved noticeably under new greenkeeping management.
Best for: Golfers basing themselves in Marrakech who want the best single-round experience.
Samanah Country Club
Jack Nicklaus designed Samanah on 700 hectares of arid scrubland 18 kilometres south of Marrakech. The result is his most interesting African course — wide, strategic, and built for target golf across terrain that rewards precise club selection over raw power. Bunkers are large and deep, often protecting greens from two angles simultaneously. The back nine tightens considerably, with several holes playing across dry riverbeds that become dramatic carries. Green fees have climbed in recent years to reflect the course's growing reputation, but Samanah still undercuts the European courses of equivalent quality. The clubhouse is excellent. Allow three hours to reach the course from Marrakech centre at peak traffic.
Best for: Serious golfers who want a Nicklaus design in an exceptional natural setting.
Al Maaden Golf Resort
Kyle Phillips, the architect behind Kingsbarns in Scotland, brought a different sensibility to Marrakech. Al Maaden plays through olive groves and Atlas cedar landscaping with a more European feel than Amelkis or Samanah — narrower fairways, more defined rough, and a rhythm that rewards course management. The Atlas Mountains frame the 15th and 16th holes in a way that still stops me mid-swing. Al Maaden is attached to a five-star resort with strong accommodation, making it the most self-contained golf experience in the Marrakech area. Green fees are among the most competitive in the city relative to course quality.
Best for: Golfers staying on-site or those who want a European-style layout in Morocco.
Assoufid Golf Club
Assoufid opened in 2014 and is among the most exclusive courses in Morocco — tee time availability is kept deliberately low, giving it a pace and tranquillity that the busier Marrakech clubs cannot match. The Nicklaus Design team used the Atlas foothills terrain aggressively, creating substantial elevation changes rare in Moroccan golf. Several holes play into or out of a natural ravine, and the 17th — a downhill par-3 of 195 metres with the mountains directly behind the flag — is the most photographable hole in the south. Premium-priced but worth it for the experience.
Best for: Golfers who want the quietest, most premium course in Marrakech. Book weeks in advance.
Palmeraie Golf Palace
One of two Jones Sr. designs in Morocco, Palmeraie is the more accessible of the Marrakech courses — set inside the famous Palmeraie palm grove north of the city, it plays flatter and softer than Amelkis or Samanah. The palm trees lining every fairway give it an iconic look, and the water features on the back nine add genuine scoring challenge. Not the most demanding course for single-figure players, but for groups with mixed handicaps it is the most enjoyable round in Marrakech. Green fees are the most competitive among the quality courses here.
Best for: Mixed-handicap groups or golfers adding a relaxed second round to a Marrakech trip.
Royal Golf Club de Marrakech
The oldest golf club in Morocco and one of the oldest in Africa. Founded in 1933 during the French Protectorate, the Royal Golf Club sits 3 kilometres from Djemaa el-Fna square in parkland that has been carefully maintained for nearly a century. It is not a championship test by modern standards — the layout is compact, the course measures under 6,000 metres, and the fairways are generous — but the atmosphere is unmatched. Playing a round here is a genuine historical experience. The bougainvillea-covered clubhouse is worth the green fee alone. Churchill played here. So did several French presidents. Worth a round for the history.
Best for: Golfers interested in history, or those wanting a relaxed round after days on tougher courses.
Golf du Soleil
Agadir is Morocco's package-holiday capital and Golf du Soleil is its principal course — a Cabell Robinson design built across 36 holes in 2012 that has quickly established itself as one of the better-value rounds in North Africa. The Championship 18 is the one to play: long, open, with generous fairways that invite the driver and punish only when you miss the flat, receptive greens. Winter sun, year-round playability, and green fees that would struggle to buy you a bucket of range balls at a comparable European resort make Agadir a smart choice for groups on a budget. Transfer from Marrakech Menara Airport takes approximately 3 hours by road; Agadir Al Massira Airport has direct flights from several UK and European cities.
Best for: Budget-conscious groups, golfers combining golf with a beach stay in Agadir.
When to go for golf in Morocco
The optimal golf window is October through April. Marrakech sits at 460 metres above sea level, which tempers the summer heat slightly compared to coastal cities, but July and August regularly hit 38–42°C. Playing 18 holes in that is possible in the early morning — tee off at 7am and you will finish by 11am before the worst of the heat — but it is not enjoyable. The courses reflect this too: fairways firm out and green speeds become unpredictable.
November, February, and March are the sweet spot. Temperatures sit between 16–24°C, the Atlas Mountains are snow-capped (genuinely spectacular as a backdrop), and courses are in their best condition of the year. Green fees hold steady year-round at most clubs, which means there is no shoulder-season pricing advantage as there is in Portugal or Spain. The main reason to time your trip carefully is weather, not cost.
December and January are colder than most European golfers expect — morning temperatures of 8–12°C are common, with occasional rain. Bring a waterproof layer. The upside is that courses are quietest in these months and the light from around 10am is extraordinary.
Practical planning: what to know before you book
Getting there
Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) is the correct entry point for most Morocco golf trips. Ryanair, easyJet, British Airways, and Royal Air Maroc fly direct from London, Manchester, Dublin, Paris, Madrid, and most other European hubs. Flight time from London is approximately 3h30. From the airport to the Palmeraie hotel cluster is 20 minutes; to the medina is 15 minutes; to Golf d'Amelkis or Samanah is 20–35 minutes depending on traffic.
Getting between courses
You will need a car or dedicated transfer for each round. Public transport between courses does not exist. A private driver for the day costs €40–€70 depending on distances — factor this into your per-round budget. Some hotels near the Palmeraie operate golf shuttles to Amelkis and the Royal Golf Club for guests; ask when booking. Samanah is 18km south of the city on a dual carriageway and is usually 20–25 minutes from the medina outside rush hour. Allow 45 minutes at peak times.
Dress code and customs
Morocco is a Muslim country. Dress modestly when travelling between courses and in the city. On the course itself, normal golf attire applies — most clubs have the same standards as European facilities. Alcohol is served at the better clubhouses (Samanah, Al Maaden, Amelkis) but not universally. During Ramadan, bar service may be restricted even at international-standard clubs; check in advance if this matters to your group.
Currency and green fees
Green fees are typically priced in Moroccan Dirhams (MAD) with euro equivalents quoted for international visitors. Payment by international card is accepted at every course listed above. The Dirham is not freely convertible outside Morocco, so exchange at Marrakech Menara Airport on arrival or use a Wise/Revolut card for the best rates. At time of writing, €1 ≈ 10.8 MAD.
Tee time availability
Marrakech courses are rarely overbooked by European standards, but Samanah and Assoufid run limited daily volumes by design. Book Samanah and Assoufid at least 2–3 weeks ahead in peak season (January–March). Amelkis, Al Maaden, and Palmeraie can generally be secured a week out. Rabat's Royal Dar Es Salam requires separate booking through the Royal Golf Federation and should be arranged before you travel if it is a priority. For a group of 8 or more, coordinate tee times across all courses before finalising flights and hotel bookings — changing courses after accommodation is locked in wastes money.
Where to stay for a Marrakech golf trip
The most practical base for golf is the Palmeraie district, north of the medina. Most golf-focused hotels here offer shuttle services to Amelkis, and the road network gives reasonable access to Samanah and Al Maaden. You are 20 minutes from the medina, which is worth at least one evening for dinner and the Djemaa el-Fna experience.
If the budget stretches, Al Maaden Golf Resort offers on-course accommodation in a five-star villa format with direct access to its own course and a short drive to Amelkis. It is the most convenient single-property base for serious golf. For groups wanting the riad experience plus golf, stay in the medina and budget for daily transfers — it adds cost but the cultural immersion is worth the trade-off for a first visit.
A well-structured Marrakech golf trip plays 4–5 rounds in 6–7 days, leaving time for a half-day in the medina, a day trip to the Atlas Mountains, and at least one dinner in the souk. Morocco rewards the unhurried approach. A schedule that chases six rounds in six days misses what makes the destination special.
The honest verdict on Morocco golf
Morocco is not for golfers who want a fully interchangeable European resort experience. Logistics require more forward planning than the Algarve or Costa del Sol. Course conditioning is occasionally inconsistent — you may encounter slow greens or patchy rough at the smaller clubs, though the top-tier venues maintain high standards year-round. Transfer times between courses are longer than a map suggests when Marrakech traffic is factored in.
But the courses are genuinely excellent. The value gap compared to Portugal or Spain is substantial — you can play four rounds in Morocco for what a single round at Quinta do Lago South costs. The landscape is dramatic in a way that European golf simply cannot replicate. The culture adds something that a week in the Algarve or Dubai does not. And it is two hours from London.
The golfers I send to Morocco almost always go back. It occupies a different space in the memory than a tenth trip to the Algarve. If you have already done Spain, Portugal, and Ireland, Morocco is the logical next move.