Morocco vs Turkey for a Golf Holiday
Two of the great winter sun escapes for travelling golfers, and two very different trips. Morocco pairs a handful of characterful courses with the snow capped High Atlas and the buzz of Marrakech. Turkey's Belek is a dense strip of modern resort courses sold as all inclusive packages at sharp prices. Here is the honest head to head, verdict first.
Photograph: Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, World Amateur Tour, via Google
The verdict
For a focused golf week at the best value in the comparison, Turkey edges it. Belek packs a dozen tournament grade courses into one pine fringed strip on the Mediterranean, almost all attached to five star all inclusive resorts, with buggy, food and drink folded into a single price that is hard to match. For a group that wants to play every day and pay once, it is one of the smartest trips in the shoulder seasons.
But Morocco is the more memorable trip, and the better choice if golf is half the holiday. Marrakech sets a small, characterful field of courses, from Jack Nicklaus's Samanah to the award winning Assoufid, against the High Atlas and one of the world's great cities, with the historic Royal Golf Dar Es Salam a short hop away in Rabat. Pick Turkey for value and a self contained golf week. Pick Morocco for scenery, culture and golf you can wrap a city break around.
Head to head
| Morocco (Marrakech and Rabat) | Turkey (Belek) | |
|---|---|---|
| Signature courses | Assoufid, Samanah (Jack Nicklaus), Royal Golf Dar Es Salam Red Course, Al Maaden, The Montgomerie Marrakech, Royal Golf Marrakech | Regnum Carya, Montgomerie Maxx Royal, Cornelia Faldo, Gloria New, Sueno Dunes, Lykia Links |
| Style of golf | Desert and oasis parkland under the High Atlas, mature eucalyptus parkland, plus Robert Trent Jones cork forest at Rabat | Modern, manicured resort parkland through umbrella pines; one genuine links at Lykia |
| Green fees, 2026 | Indicative roughly 450 to 1,100 Moroccan dirham per round, around 45 to 105 euro | Indicative roughly €69 to €219 per round; many courses bundled into all inclusive packages |
| Flight from UK | Around 3 hours 30 to Marrakech; the slightly shorter hop, easy to pair with a city stay | Around 4 hours to Antalya; outside the EU, longer transfer culture |
| Best season | October to April; warm, dry winters with the Atlas under snow, very hot midsummer | March to May and late September to November; hot midsummer |
| Beyond golf | Marrakech medina, souks, riads, Atlas day trips and desert; a true cultural city break | All inclusive resorts, spas, Roman Aspendos and Side nearby; less walkable beyond the gates |
| Who it suits | Couples and groups wanting fewer rounds, big scenery and a city break alongside the golf | Groups and societies wanting maximum golf and value in one resort bubble |
Course facts and indicative fee ranges verified June 2026 from course and operator listings; fees vary by season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Who should pick which
Pick Morocco if
You want golf wrapped in scenery and culture, not a resort bubble. Marrakech pairs a small, characterful field of courses under the High Atlas with one of the world's great cities, riads, souks and Atlas day trips, and the historic Royal Golf Dar Es Salam adds a Robert Trent Jones classic over in Rabat. It suits couples and groups happy to play four or five rounds and spend the rest of the time exploring, on the shortest flight in the comparison.
Pick Turkey if
You are travelling as a group or society and want the most golf for the money. You like the idea of an all inclusive base where green fees, buggies, food and drink are one price, you are happy with a four hour flight, and you want a string of immaculate, big resort courses within a short transfer of each other. Belek in spring or autumn is one of the best value golf weeks in Europe.
Plan your golf trip
Marrakech, Belek or a question of which suits your group. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge builds the tee times, transfers and base, and costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Morocco vs Turkey questions
Is golf cheaper in Morocco or Turkey?
Turkey's Belek is usually the better value for a full golf week, because most courses are attached to five star all inclusive resorts where green fees, buggy, food and drink fold into a single price. Indicative 2026 green fees in Belek run roughly 69 to 219 euro per round, while championship rounds in Marrakech are indicatively around 450 to 1,100 Moroccan dirham, roughly 45 to 105 euro. Morocco rounds can be cheaper on their own, but Turkey's package model tends to win on total trip cost. Always confirm current prices directly before booking.
Is Marrakech or Belek better for golf?
Belek has the denser cluster of modern, tournament grade resort courses and the best all inclusive value, ideal for a focused golf week with a group. Marrakech offers fewer but characterful courses set against the snow capped High Atlas, paired with one of the world's great cities. Choose Belek for concentration and value, Marrakech for scenery, culture and a golf trip you can wrap a city break around.
When is the best time to play golf in Morocco or Turkey?
Both are winter sun and shoulder season destinations. Marrakech plays best from October to April, with warm, dry days and the High Atlas under snow; midsummer is very hot. Belek is at its peak from March to May and late September to November, with hot midsummer. For a single window that suits both, target spring or autumn. Always confirm directly before booking.
How long is the flight from the UK?
Marrakech is around three and a half hours from London, while Antalya, the gateway to Belek, is around four hours. Both work for a week; Marrakech is the slightly shorter hop and pairs naturally with a city stay, while Belek suits a resort based golf week.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.