There are a few corners of the globe that golf hasn’t managed to infiltrate, so it’s perhaps not surprising that Morocco, one of the world’s more westernised Muslim countries, has been bitten by the golfing bug. Marrakech is spearheading Morocco’s bid to become a serious golf destination, with a dozen championship courses. It’s fair to say this has little to do with finding the next Rory McIlroy – Moroccan youth only has eyes for football – but more with attracting the growing ranks of travelling golfers who will go almost anywhere for guaranteed sunshine and a half-decent links.
Morocco is not a newcomer to golf, with a proud connection to the Royal & Ancient game that stretches back almost a century. But it was only in the 1980s and 1990s, during the reign of the late King Hassan II, that golf gained a more serious commercial footing, at least where tourism is concerned, with more than 20 courses built around the main centres Agadir, Casablanca, Tangier and Marrakech.
The current king Mohammed VI, while not a golfer himself, has continued where his father left off, with a long-term golf tourism development strategy that has seen a tranche of openings take the current tally of courses closer to 40, and added a touch of luxury to Morocco’s appeal as a golfing destination.
With many of the layouts built around five-star spa resorts and high-end property developments, these new venues unashamedly aim to attract more affluent golfers to the country, and with yet more luxury resorts in the pipeline, that trend looks certain to continue in the next five to ten years.
While resorts along the Mediterranean coast have always been a Mecca for holidaymakers, it is Marrakech that is currently blazing the trail for tourism in Marrakech’s golf courses boast stunning views of the snowcapped Atlas Mountains 134 Morocco, with the walled ‘Red City’ proving to be a magnet for those looking to experience the mix of bustling souks with five-star resorts and boutique riads. Golf is integral, and by the end of 2015 there will be at least 14 courses open for play within Marrakech’s city limits.
While visitors from France make up a large percentage of the golfing population – French is Morocco’s second language – a growing number of Brits are cottoning on to Marrakech’s appeal as a winter destination, with daytime temperatures from November to February generally around 20 degrees. The summer months are searingly hot (35 degrees plus), and green fees are priced accordingly for mad dogs willing to brave the heat.
Royal Golf Marrakech, Palmeraie and Amelkis have long been part of the city’s offering, but in the past few years they have been joined by new clubs such as Samanah, Marrakech Golf City and Al Maaden, with bigname architects such as Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Kyle Phillips adding to their appeal. Last year saw the highly anticipated opening of Assoufid, a desert-style course with its own Rocco Forte Collection hotel on site, while Colin Montgomerie got in on the act, opening of The Montgomerie Marrakech in May. This year a sister club to the Palmeraie, the PalmGolf Ourika, will open its doors, taking the golf offering to well over 220 holes.
Like all the new venues, Ourika is built around a vast property development, with the cost of construction hopefully outweighed by deposits from eager investors. As the land around Marrakech is flat as a pitta bread, all of the golf courses boast stunning views of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, they are also dotted with palm trees and water features, and are handily located within a 10-20 minute taxi ride of Menara airport or the city centre. All of which makes for easy transfers and sightseeing trips, especially as many hotels lay on free shuttles to the main attractions.
While many non-golfing tourists choose one of the 800-plus privately-owned riads for which Marrakech is renowned, most hardened golfers will prefer to be much closer to the action, and are spoiled for choice for accommodation options in the golf resorts.
The Palmeraie Golf Palace is a popular golfers’ hangout, located 15 minutes north from the city centre in secluded palm groves that are ideal for concentrating on your swing. The five-star venue has a range of rooms and suites right next to the 27-hole course, while a wide choice of restaurants, bars and leisure facilities make it the perfect place to relax and unwind between rounds and trips into the city.
Marrakech itself is everything you’ve read and a lot more – a vibrant, a bustling cultural hub, that leaves your head spinning with sights and smells. Although just a three-hour flight from the UK, its rare blend of history, culture, architecture, cuisine, shopping and nightlife are a world away on all levels.
It comprises an old fortified city (the medina) surrounded by a number of more ‘trendy’ districts, where Morocco’s elite and Europe’s hipster travellers – don’t call them tourists – gather around rooftop infinity pools at boutique hotels to drink in the Marrakech vibe. At ground level, market traders (the stall kind) seek your attention with ever-more inventive sales techniques in the maze of backstreets off the spellbinding Djemaa el Fna square, which bustles with fruit sellers, snake charmers and musicians by day, while at night, food stalls open to create a huge open-air restaurant, where waiters stop just short of fighting for your custom. I bartered lamely for lanterns made from recycled tin cans, a leather manbag and some frankincense, and left happy despite probably paying over the odds.
Away from the city’s chaos, those with a taste for the outdoors beyond the fairways can indulge in skiing, hiking, hot air ballooning and 4x4 driving, all available a 90-minute drive away in the Atlas Mountains. Lake Lalla Takerkoust, 20 miles south-east of Marrakech, offers watersports including jet-skiing, waterskiing, kite-surfing and wind-surfing.
With plenty of low-cost flights and no time difference, Marrakech could soon be rivalling southern Spain for long-weekend golf breaks, although it’s worth staying a little longer to experience the choice of courses, and to hone your negotiating skills in the markets.