Marrakech: Assoufid Golf Club

Designed by former European Tour player Niall Cameron, the course rewards thoughtful shot-making rather than simply power. Wide-looking fairways can tempt you into taking on risky lines, while subtly contoured greens demand precise approaches. Every hole is framed by the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, giving the course a spectacular sense of place. Few golf courses in the world have such a dramatic backdrop. Opened in 2014, it’s a course that rewards intelligent play—tight fairways, strategic bunkering, and subtle changes in elevation all come into play. It’s not just about length here (although it stretches over 6,400 metres); it’s about control, course management, and thinking a couple of shots ahead.

What really sets Assoufid apart is the sheer variety in the layout. No two holes feel alike. One moment you’re firing a long iron into a narrow green framed by cacti and palms, the next you’re playing a sweeping dogleg with panoramic mountain views. Unlike many resort courses, Assoufid retains much of the native landscape, with cacti, olive trees, palms and rugged desert waste areas. Only around 45% of the property is irrigated, making it both environmentally conscious and visually authentic. The fairways and greens are consistently praised for their quality, providing firm, fast playing surfaces that suit the desert style.

Despite being only about 20 minutes from Marrakech's Medina, the course feels wonderfully secluded, with very little surrounding development. Being just on the edge of the Agafay desert, this is the one course that really feels like you're in Morocco. Assoufid is challenging without being unfair. Better golfers appreciate the strategic bunkering, elevation changes and firm greens, while higher handicappers can still enjoy the generous landing areas if they choose the appropriate tees. The signature par-3 17th, played across a natural dry riverbed ("shaaba") towards the Atlas Mountains, is one of the most photographed holes in Morocco.