Golf in Morocco: the complete guide for a golf holiday

Morocco has quietly become one of the best golf destinations within four hours of most of Europe. You get winter sun, dozens of courses by designers such as Robert Trent Jones Sr, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Kyle Phillips, and a culture that makes every day off memorable. This guide covers the essentials: the regions, the seasons, getting there, and how to plan a trip that works.

Why golfers choose Morocco

• Winter warmth. From November to March, daytime temperatures in Marrakech and Agadir are usually around 18 to 24°C, when courses at home are wet, cold or closed.
• Short flights. Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier, Fes and Rabat all have direct flights from the UK and much of Europe, typically three to four hours from London.
• Quiet fairways. Outside the busiest weeks you rarely wait on a tee, and many clubs still offer caddies.
• More than golf. Medinas, the Atlas Mountains, the desert at Agafay, Atlantic beaches and some of the best food in North Africa are all close to the courses.

The regions at a glance

Marrakech. The busiest golf city, with around a dozen courses within half an hour of the medina. Royal Golf Marrakech, whose first holes were played in 1927, sits alongside modern layouts such as Al Maaden (Kyle Phillips), Assoufid, Samanah (Nicklaus Design), Amelkis and the Fairmont Royal Palm (both Cabell Robinson). Read our Marrakech golf guide.

Agadir. Atlantic weather that barely changes through the year, a long beach, and courses ten to thirty minutes apart: Tazegzout above Taghazout Bay, Golf du Soleil, Golf Les Dunes and Golf de l'Océan. See golf in Agadir.

Tangier and Tetouan. Morocco's oldest club, the Royal Country Club de Tanger (founded in 1914), plus Al Houara on the Atlantic and Royal Golf Cabo Negro by the Mediterranean, with Chefchaouen a day trip away. See golf in Tangier and Tetouan.

Rabat. Royal Golf Dar Es Salam has 45 holes by Robert Trent Jones Sr in a cork oak forest, and its Red Course hosts the Trophée Hassan II. See the Trophée Hassan II guide.

Casablanca and El Jadida. Gary Player's links at Mazagan, plus Royal Golf El Jadida and Royal Golf Anfa Mohammedia, all within easy reach of Casablanca airport.

Essaouira. Golf de Mogador, a Gary Player design among dunes and forest beside a walled port town with a mild climate all year.

Fes, Meknes and Ifrane. Royal Golf Fès by Cabell Robinson, and Michlifen, Jack Nicklaus's first Signature course in North Africa, at about 1,650 metres in the Middle Atlas. Perfect when the rest of the country is hot.

When to go

The main season runs from October to May. Marrakech is at its best from October to April and gets very hot in July and August. Agadir and Essaouira are comfortable all year thanks to the Atlantic. Ifrane is a summer destination. Our month-by-month guide goes into detail, including how Ramadan affects a trip.

Getting there and getting around

Book your own flights so you can use your airline and your points, then tell us where and when you land. A driver meets you at arrivals and takes you to every round, so you never need a hire car. Most courses are 15 to 40 minutes from the hotels we use.

Before you travel: British and EU passport holders don't usually need a visa for a holiday of up to 90 days, but always check your government's latest advice and entry rules.

What it costs

Green fees vary widely by course and season, and the best rates usually come as part of a package. Rather than guess, plan your trip: tell us who's coming, when and roughly where, and you'll get three complete options, with tee times, hotel, transfers and any excursions priced together in your currency.

Tips from the ground

• Handicap certificates. Some championship courses ask for one, so bring proof of your handicap.
• Caddies. Many clubs offer caddies. Tip in cash at the end of the round.
• Buggies. These are worth booking in summer and on hilly courses such as Tazegzout and Michlifen.
• Dress codes. Standard golf dress codes apply, so pack a collared shirt.
• Days off. Make room for at least one: a guided medina, a day in the Atlas or Chefchaouen, or dinner in the Agafay desert.