Michlifen Golf and Country Club
Jack Nicklaus designed Michlifen at 1,650 metres in the cedar forests of Ifrane, in Morocco's Middle Atlas, and it opened in 2018 as the first Nicklaus course in North Africa. A par 72 stretching beyond 7,300 yards, it is a true mountain course, cool, green and dramatic, a world away from the country's coastal and desert golf.
Photo: Aude H via Google.
The verdict
Jack Nicklaus laid out Michlifen high in the Middle Atlas at Ifrane, at an altitude of about 1,650 metres among cedar and oak forest, and the course opened in 2018 as the first Nicklaus design in North Africa. A par 72 that can stretch beyond 7,300 yards, it plays through cool mountain air over rolling, forested terrain, with the thin air adding useful carry to every shot.
It is unlike anywhere else in Morocco. While Marrakech and the coast offer desert and seaside golf, Michlifen is alpine in feel, set in the Ifrane National Park beside a resort town nicknamed the Switzerland of Morocco. The course is open to visitors and resort guests, and the combination of championship Nicklaus golf and genuine mountain scenery makes it a striking addition to a wider Moroccan trip.
Michlifen Golf and Country Club at a glance
- Opened
- 2018
- Designer
- Jack Nicklaus
- Type
- Mountain
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- Beyond 7,300 yds
- Green fee
- From about 800 dirham
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Michlifen Golf and Country Club and leading course databases. The course was designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 2018, a par 72 that stretches beyond 7,300 yards at about 1,650 metres altitude. Indicative green fees are about 800 to 1,200 dirham by season, with preferential rates for hotel guests. Always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The altitude changes the game, the ball flying noticeably farther in the thin mountain air, and Nicklaus uses the rolling forested land for elevation, doglegs and tempting risk and reward. The greens are large and contoured, well guarded, and the cedar lined corridors demand a chosen line off the tee.
Several holes open onto long views across the Ifrane National Park and toward the Atlas peaks, golf in a setting more alpine than African. From the back tees it is a genuine championship test; from the forward markers it is a pleasure.
It is a cool weather course, a welcome contrast in the Moroccan summer when the coast and Marrakech swelter. Pair it with the great courses around the imperial cities or Marrakech for a trip of real variety.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public and resort; visitors and hotel guests welcome to book, with preferential resort rates |
| Green fee | Indicative about 800 to 1,200 dirham by season (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book through the resort or the club; quieter than the coastal courses, but reserve ahead in peak periods |
| On the day | Walking or cart on a hilly mountain course at altitude; pace yourself in the thin air |
| Getting there | Ifrane, about an hour from Fes, in the Middle Atlas mountains |
| Best months | Spring and autumn for ideal mountain conditions; summer is pleasantly cool, winter can bring snow |
Green fees verified June 2026 and reported about 800 to 1,200 dirham by season, with preferential rates for hotel guests; figures are indicative and change by season and year, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers stay at the Michlifen resort in Ifrane itself, an alpine style retreat in the cedar forest, or in nearby Fes, one of Morocco's great imperial cities. An Ifrane base puts the course on the doorstep and the cool mountain air within reach all summer.
For a fuller trip, pair Michlifen with the historic sights of Fes and Meknes, or travel on to Marrakech for the country's best known courses. The mountains are at their finest in spring and autumn.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Michlifen Golf and Country Club.
Plan a Morocco golf trip
We pair Michlifen with the best of Fes, Meknes and Marrakech and sort the lodging and logistics around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Michlifen Golf and Country Club questions
Who designed Michlifen Golf and Country Club?
Michlifen was designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 2018, a par 72 that stretches beyond 7,300 yards at about 1,650 metres altitude in Ifrane, the first Nicklaus course in North Africa.
Can visitors play Michlifen?
Yes. The course is open to visitors and resort guests, with preferential rates for those staying at the Michlifen resort. Book through the resort or the club, especially in peak periods.
How much does it cost to play Michlifen?
Indicative green fees are about 800 to 1,200 dirham by season, with preferential rates for hotel guests. Rates change, so always confirm directly before booking.
What makes Michlifen unusual?
Michlifen is a true mountain course at about 1,650 metres in the cedar forests of Ifrane, alpine in feel and a cool contrast to Morocco's coastal and desert golf.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.