Marrakech is the busy modern heart of Moroccan golf, a winter sun city where eight serious courses sit within half an hour of the medina, every one of them framed by the snow capped High Atlas. From raw desert minimalism to lakes and land art, here are the eight we rate most highly, ranked, with our verdict on each.
Photograph: Royal Golf Marrakech, Royal Golf Marrakech, via Google
No city in North Africa offers more golf in a smaller radius than Marrakech. Within thirty minutes of the medina sit desert courses, palm grove parklands and water heavy modern layouts by Kyle Phillips, Cabell Robinson, Niall Cameron and Nicklaus Design, all sharing the same dramatic backdrop of the High Atlas. The appeal is the combination: three or four contrasting rounds a short transfer apart, riad nights in the medina and the souks and the mountains within reach.
Every fact here, from designers and opening years to par, was checked at the time of writing. The verdicts are ours, and the order reflects our editors' view rather than any single published list, so reasonable people will reorder the top four, particularly between Assoufid, Amelkis and Al Maaden. Green fees quoted elsewhere on the site are indicative and seasonal, with the winter peak the dearest. If you want these built into a costed trip, that is exactly what our concierge does.
Our pick of the Marrakech courses and the one architects single out. Niall Cameron set Assoufid in raw desert south of the city and left the natural terrain to do the work, a minimalist, sand framed layout with the snow capped Atlas filling the horizon. Voted the best new course in Africa when it opened, it is quiet, stylish and a complete contrast to the lush resort golf nearby. The connoisseur's round in Marrakech.
The establishment course of Marrakech and a long time host of professional and pro am events. Cabell Robinson, the European associate of Robert Trent Jones, built a mature, strategic par 72 of palms, water and well defended greens that rewards placement over power. Set among villas with the Atlas behind, it is more demanding than it first appears and a dependable highlight of any Marrakech rotation.
The most photogenic course in the city, a Kyle Phillips par 72 of roughly 7,184 yards built around large lakes and dotted with contemporary land art. Water threatens on many holes and the closing stretch is a real examination, all set against the High Atlas. Attached to a design hotel and the most modern and visually striking round in Marrakech, a fine pairing with the older parkland courses.
The course that opened Marrakech to golf tourism, set among thousands of palms in the Palmeraie north of the medina. Robert Trent Jones Sr threaded lakes, fairways and bunkers through the grove with the snow capped Atlas behind, and the mature palms give it a character the newer desert courses lack. A relaxed, attractive resort round and a piece of the city's golf history.
The oldest course in the city, in play since the 1930s and long a favourite of the Moroccan royal family. A gentle, beautifully wooded parkland of olive, palm, eucalyptus and orange trees close to the centre, it offers shade and easy walking rather than length. More heritage than championship test, it is a charming, historic round and an easy add to a stay in the medina.
A Nicklaus Design course on the road toward the Atlas, a long par 72 within a luxury residential estate of olive groves and lakes. Generous off the tee and well conditioned, it is a comfortable, modern resort round with mountain views and a quieter feel than the courses closer to town. It helps fill out a Marrakech itinerary that can run to four or five days of golf.
A bold desert style layout from the Canadian duo Neil Haworth and Stephane Talbot, named for the Ourika valley that runs up into the Atlas. Huge, sculpted bunkers and a links influenced openness give it a distinctive look among the city's courses, and at full stretch it is a substantial par 72. The more adventurous of the two PalmGolf courses and a good contrast to the palm grove original.
A modern course on the southern edge of the city, opened in 2014 as part of an eco minded resort of gardens, olive groves and water features. Gentle and generous, it suits players who want an enjoyable, scenic round over a punishing one, with the Atlas in the distance and a relaxed clubhouse. A pleasant, less crowded option that rounds out the Marrakech choice.
Designers, opening years and par verified June 2026. Most courses are attached to resorts or estates where the right stay smooths access and tee times. Course profiles are added across the site as the directory grows. Always confirm visitor access and fees directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Tell us which of these are on your list and roughly when, and whether you want to add the Atlas, the coast or a few riad nights. One concierge arranges the access, tee times and base and costs the trip to the head, with no obligation.
Assoufid, Niall Cameron's 2014 desert course south of the city, is our pick and was voted the best new course in Africa when it opened. The establishment favourite Amelkis, a Cabell Robinson design from 1995, and the photogenic Al Maaden by Kyle Phillips are its closest rivals. Reasonable people reorder the top four.
Marrakech is a winter sun destination and plays best from October to April, when days are warm and dry and the High Atlas is capped with snow. Spring and autumn are ideal. High summer is very hot, often well above forty degrees, so most golfers play early morning or avoid July and August for the cooler months.
Marrakech has roughly eight full eighteen hole courses within about half an hour of the medina, including Assoufid, Amelkis, Al Maaden, the two PalmGolf courses, Samanah, Royal Golf Marrakech and Noria, with more under development. It is one of the densest golf clusters in North Africa, which is what makes a multi course break so easy here.
Yes. All of the Marrakech courses welcome visitor play and most are attached to resorts or estates, so booking the right hotel or riad often secures preferential tee times. Buggies and caddies are widely available. Green fees are seasonal, dearest over the winter peak. Always confirm directly before booking.
Marrakech course openings, the winter season and the booking windows that matter. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course designers, opening years and host events verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.