Beginner golf in Morocco: lessons, short courses and first green fees
- 09 October 2026
Yes, Morocco works well for beginners, as long as you start at the right club. Book a lesson or a short course first: a 90-minute introduction costs 300 MAD at Royal Golf Marrakech, and several clubs have a 9-hole or par-3 layout. Then check the handicap rule before booking a full 18 holes: Assoufid caps it at 35, Golf de Mogador wants an official handicap below 36, and the Royal Palm course asked for 28 or better (club website offline on 16 October 2026).
Why Morocco is a good place to learn
Three things help a new golfer. The winter weather is reliable: from November to March, average highs in Marrakech run from 19 to 24 °C, and in Agadir from 21 to 24 °C (World Meteorological Organization normals, 1991 to 2020). Many clubs run their own academy, with published prices for first sessions. And there is a choice of short courses, so you do not have to start on a championship 18.
The main trap for a beginner is the handicap rule: some clubs will not let you onto their main course without a certificate. Read the rule on each club’s rates page before you book a tee time, and bring your certificate if you have one.
Your first lessons: what the academies charge
These are the beginner formats with a published price on the club’s own page, read on 9 October 2026. Prices are in Moroccan dirhams (MAD).
| Club | Beginner format | Published price |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Golf Marrakech | Introduction session, 90 minutes | 300 MAD |
| Royal Golf Marrakech | “Premiers Swings” beginner course: 3 mornings, 9:00 to 10:30, 10 people maximum | 1,750 MAD |
| Atlas Golf, Marrakech | Introduction, priced by group size | 400 MAD for 1 to 4 people, 300 MAD for 4 to 8, 200 MAD from 9 |
| Samanah, Marrakech | Discovery morning for one: welcome tea, kit provided, 2 hours on the range, lunch | 900 MAD |
| Samanah, Marrakech | The same morning for two | 1,500 MAD |
| Royal Palm, Marrakech | Private lesson, 1 hour | 1,000 MAD |
| Golf des Dunes, Agadir | Introduction course: 5 days, 2 hours a day, 6 people maximum, from age 11 | No current price (rates page dates from 2019) |
Atlas Golf does not say whether its introduction price is per person or per group, so confirm it when you book. At Royal Golf Marrakech the academy splits players into four levels: introduction, beginner (handicap index 53.5 to 36), improver (36 to 19) and elite (below 18), with no more than 10 pupils per professional. Its “Intensif Plus” course, three hours a morning for six people at most, includes 9-hole rounds with a pro and gives the option of sitting the Moroccan “carte verte”.
In Agadir, Golf de l’Océan runs a training centre built for groups and teachers with their pupils, with a 4-hole school course and an unlimited-balls option. Golf des Dunes says beginners can play their first rounds in under a week on its five-day course. For a full comparison of programmes, see our guide to golf lessons in Marrakech and Agadir.
Short courses for your first rounds
A 9-hole or par-3 course is the best bridge between the range and a full round. These are the shortest layouts we can document.
| Course | Layout | Published 9-hole visitor rate |
|---|---|---|
| Al Houara, Tangier | 9-hole par-3 course (par 27) beside the 18 | 250 MAD; a half set of clubs for the par 3 costs 200 MAD (2026 list) |
| Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, Rabat | Green course: 9 holes, par 32, 2,170 m, described by the club as designed for a shorter round | 300 MAD (club’s 2025 rates, still displayed) |
| Atlas Golf, Marrakech | 9-hole course | 450 MAD; summer rate 300 MAD |
| Royal Golf Marrakech | New Course (Menara), 9 holes, par 36 | 700 MAD for 9 holes |
| Samanah, Marrakech | 9-hole pitch and putt next to the 18 | No price published |
| Tazegzout, Taghazout Bay | 9-hole course (par 36) next to the 18 | No price published |
| Marchica Golf Academy, Nador | 9 holes designed by Ron Garl, with a large practice area | No price published |
The cheapest of these is Al Houara‘s par-3 course in Tangier. In the capital, the Green course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam is a proper short course rather than a pitch and putt; note that the club is closed on Mondays. In Marrakech, Atlas Golf is the natural first 9 holes.
New to golf, or travelling with someone who is? We build the trip to measure: courses, tee times, accommodation and transfers.
Handicap rules: where a beginner can and cannot book
Several Moroccan clubs set a handicap limit for their main course. This is the rule that catches most first-timers, so check it before anything else.
| Club | Published rule |
|---|---|
| Royal Palm, Marrakech | Valid golf licence and handicap of 28 or better |
| Assoufid, Marrakech | Maximum handicap 35; certificate shown at reception before paying |
| Golf de Mogador, Essaouira | Official handicap below 36, with proof, before any tee time |
If you are a complete novice with no handicap, the safest plan is lessons and short courses first, then a full round only where the club confirms in writing that you can play. If you already hold a handicap index at home, bring the certificate: Assoufid and Mogador both say they will ask for it.
Dress codes are written down, so read them too. Atlas Golf, for example, bans collarless tank tops, tracksuits and sports shorts. For the full picture, see our guide to handicap, dress code and caddies in Morocco.
First green fees and extras
When you are ready for 18 holes, the published visitor rates in Marrakech run from 600 MAD at The Tony Jacklin to 1,350 MAD at Al Maaden in its high season (5 September 2026 to 30 June 2027). In summer, Atlas Golf shows 500 MAD for 18 holes, and Al Maaden drops to 840 MAD between 1 July and 4 September 2027.
| Item | Example | Published price |
|---|---|---|
| Green fee, 18 holes | The Tony Jacklin, Marrakech | 600 MAD |
| Green fee, 18 holes | Atlas Golf | 650 MAD (summer 500 MAD) |
| Green fee, 18 holes | The Montgomerie | 700 MAD |
| Club hire, 18 holes | Assoufid, Royal Golf Marrakech, Atlas Golf | 400 MAD |
| Club hire, 9 holes | Atlas Golf | 200 MAD |
| Caddie, 18 holes | Atlas Golf | 120 MAD |
| Forecaddie, 18 holes (compulsory) | Royal Golf Marrakech | 200 to 300 MAD per caddie, cash, by group size |
Two tips for a first round. Hire clubs rather than buying a set before the trip; Assoufid, Royal Golf Marrakech and Atlas Golf all publish a hire price. And make the most of the caddie, compulsory on every Moroccan course since a federation circular of May 2025: a good one keeps the pace up and tells you where to aim, which matters more to a beginner than to anyone. For more price comparisons, see the cheapest golf in Marrakech.
When to go and what to bring
For learning, the cooler months are best. Marrakech averages 23.1 °C in November and 19.1 °C in January, but 37.7 °C in July and 37.4 °C in August, which is hard work on a range. On the coast, Essaouira’s average highs stay between 18 and 23 °C all year, but it is windy, which makes a first lesson harder. Agadir, with highs of 21 to 24 °C from November to April, is the gentlest compromise.
- Passport: UK passports need an expiry date at least 3 months after arrival; Ireland advises 6 months of validity for Irish passports. Check the entry stamp.
- Cash: forecaddies at Royal Golf Marrakech and Royal Golf de Cabo Negro are paid in cash.
- Handicap certificate: if you have one, bring it.
If you would like a first golf holiday built around lessons, short courses and one or two easy 18-hole rounds, our golf holidays in Marrakech can be planned around your level.
Tell us your level and we will match the courses to it. We build the trip to measure: courses, tee times, accommodation and transfers.
Frequently asked questions
Can a complete beginner play golf in Morocco?
Yes, starting with lessons and short courses. Royal Golf Marrakech offers a 90-minute introduction for 300 MAD and a three-morning beginner course for 1,750 MAD, and several clubs have a 9-hole or par-3 layout.
Do I need a handicap to play golf in Morocco?
For some main courses, yes. Royal Palm asked for 28 or better with a valid licence (club website offline on 16 October 2026), Assoufid for 35 maximum with a certificate, and Golf de Mogador for an official handicap below 36. Check the rule before booking.
How much is a beginner golf lesson in Marrakech?
Published prices range from 300 MAD for a 90-minute introduction at Royal Golf Marrakech to 1,000 MAD for a one-hour private lesson at Royal Palm. Samanah’s discovery morning, lunch included, is 900 MAD.
Can I hire clubs as a beginner?
Yes. A full set costs 400 MAD for 18 holes at Assoufid, Royal Golf Marrakech and Atlas Golf, and 200 MAD for 9 holes at Atlas Golf. Al Houara rents a half set for its par-3 course at 200 MAD.
What is the cheapest short course for a first round?
Al Houara’s 9-hole par-3 course in Tangier is 250 MAD for visitors on its 2026 price list. The 9-hole Green course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam is 300 MAD on the club’s 2025 rates.
Plan your golf trip in Morocco
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