Growing up in the U.S., golf was always something I considered. So when the time came, I finally picked up the sport and played a few rounds. Naturally, Morocco was the perfect setting for this.
If you’re unfamiliar with the travel industry, I’ll briefly explain a ‘Fam-Trip’. Tourism boards looking to spread awareness for their destination invite individuals related to the travel industry to come and experience it. These could be influencers, writers, travel agents, or a wide-eyed kid from Maine like me. Thanks to the wonderful people of the Moroccan Tourism Board, I was able to experience this unique opportunity.
Leading up to the trip, I was giddy with anticipation. Before my journey, I had never played a game of golf, been to Africa, or even crossed the Atlantic. I was ready to get my first time in for all of them. On the 16th of February, I departed from Miami to Casablanca for a smooth flight. From the airport, we drove 3 hours south to Marrakech. It was here that I would be spending most of the trip.
The first full-day set the bar high just from waking up. My room had a balcony overlooking a mountain, and towering palm trees filled the space in between. Add the sunrise, and it’s one of the most picturesque mornings you’ll ever wake up to. Hats off to the Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech. After a breakfast of unbelievable pastries, I was ready for my first game of golf. The location was Al Maaden, an excellent course designed by Kyle Phillips. If you ever play Al Maaden, you’ll first notice the gorgeous view of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. I want to say intimidation from the mountains affected my play, but I’m not that naive. My expectations were not high for my first game; the goal I had set was to try to hit the ball straight and get it off the ground. While there were undoubtedly more misses than makes, I had a lot of fun playing. My group was Steve Keating, a writer for Reuters Media, and, Alex Romo, a pro golfer and influencer, and Ed Holofencer, founder of Golf Zoom. These guys offered advice, encouragement, and great conversation. My only highlight of the round was my 30ft bomb on the 18th in front of everyone, including the then-arriving reps of the Moroccan tourism board. Not bad for a first impression. We networked, had a lovely lunch, and even got an exclusive tour of the on-site hotel opening later this year.
While impressive, golf courses, mountains, and stunning hotels had all been stuff I had seen before. I was looking to be wowed and see something truly unique. Thankfully, the Medina of Marrakech went above and beyond. What translates to “Old City” the Medina has a 19 km wall surrounding the area; once inside, it felt like I was in another world. There was almost an electricity in the air, a buzz, an exciting energy. I saw snake charmers, fruit stands stacked to the sky, and bands adding a pulsing soundtrack to the city.
This was just the outside section, though. The inner section had a completely different feel, something that’s difficult to describe; I’ll do my best to illustrate. Picture a labyrinth, vast and winding, and rather than empty, it’s filled with vendors, artisans, and craftsmen of all kinds. You’ll see towers of spices, wood carving, and prices haggled. It’s disorienting in the most fun way possible. Tiny alleys turn into cavernous courtyards. Bustling streets turn into empty areas of complete peace and silence.
Thankfully, our tour guide kept us on track. Otherwise, I would have spent days exploring. The exploration I did have taught me the lesson of not taking anything at face value. Case in point, a seemingly unassuming door we passed by, turned into a luxury Richard Branson Hotel with a swanky rooftop bar overlooking the whole Medina. Believe me when I say the thrill of surprise and discovery makes the Medina special. Go in with an open mind, and you will be delighted with what you find. The hotel, El Fenn, was one of the most romantic hotels I’ve seen. Luxurious rooms with no two alike. Hidden courtyards with cozy fireplaces and the feeling of an old manor full of intriguing history.
The day ended with dinner at one of the most popular restaurants in all of Marrakech, Comptoir Darna, which was the perfect finale for day one. With intimate lighting, we dined on Moroccan Salad, Chicken Tagine, and their famous Mechoui ( slow roasted lamb). I can’t forget to mention the entertainment as well. Comptoir features each dinner service with a live band, performers balancing lit candelabras, and belly dancers, creating an exciting atmosphere. My trip was off to a great start and had no sign of slowing down.
The second day came with my second game of golf. Today’s location was the highly praised Assoufid Golf Club. Once again, the first thing I noticed was the Atlas Mountains. It’s truly stunning, especially when in such a desert-like environment. Assoufid stood out with a fun undulating layout, winding through the hills and palm trees. My play only fractionally improved throughout the round, but this didn’t affect my enjoyment. I had a moment of putting it in perspective. I was getting to do something special that only some get the chance to do. I felt grateful for being granted such an exceptional experience. Unfortunately, there were no bombs from me that day, but fresh orange juice and a tremendous double cheeseburger at the clubhouse consoled me just fine.
The next stop was Samanah Golf Club. Our visit was just for a brief tour, but I still had plenty of time to take it in. This was the first Jack Nicklaus course I’ve been on. While new to golf, I could see why this venue was the first course to host a PGA Champions Tour event. The greens were in great shape despite an ongoing drought, and the golfers I met were really kind. Going into this trip, I was nervous about how other golfers would take to me, an absolute rookie who did not know much. Fortunately, I had nothing to be worried about; people were excited that I was getting involved; they shared their experiences and even offered a few pointers. I’ve always heard that golf is about community.In Morocco, of all places, I was learning the meaning of that.
From Samanah, we checked into our next hotel, theEs Saadi Marrakech. While just as luxurious as the Fairmont, Es Saadi had its unique feel. There is no better descriptor of that than the Persian Villa. The entire building was a rich shade of blue with elegant details in every corner, even a pool just a step away from the bedroom. It was at this moment I realized Morocco was spoiling me. I knew that whenever I returned to Marrakech, I would long for the marvelous hotels I had experienced on this trip.
Before I could even finish that thought, I was at La Mamounia. I had a drink in my hand and was on a tour of an angelic spa. La Mamounia was also home to spectacular gardens, an oasis-like pool, and literally the tallest palm tree ever to pass my eyes. The on-site Moroccan restaurant was where I had dinner, and once again our meal came with live entertainment. This time it was trio playing classic Moroccan songs. I ended up ordering the same thing again from last night because I liked my order at Comptoir so much. There was one difference, though, in my meal. I tried, and enjoyed, the sheep brain. Americans may find the idea of brain for dinner daunting. To that, I say no one will find it interesting that you ate chicken on your trip. Why not try something new?
After ourmeal, we decided to walk back and see the city, which was a great decision. The nightlife in Marrakech has the same level of energy that you would find in Miami on a Saturday night, but Marrakech certainly has its flavor that makes it unique. You can see the influence of French, Spanish, and Arabic culture, creating a vibrant scene of restaurants, clubs, and shops.
The third day started at the Royal Golf Marrakech Club. While it was a cool morning due to the trees blocking the sun, I played my best game of the trip. My contact was more consistent, my putting sense was better, and I started to feel like a golfer. Royal Golf also had the best conditions from what I had seen. With a more traditional ‘down and back’ layout, it felt like a historic course, a ‘golfers’ course, as Ed put it. After our round, we enjoyed lunch on the beautiful terrace they have overlooking the greens and headed back to the city.
Our second tour of theMedina proved to be just as confusing. Even though I was there two days ago, it felt like my first time again. This tour came with the added benefit of seeing the 19th-century Bahia Palace. The first palace I’d stepped foot in. While our visit was brief, the palace’s architecture left nothing to be desired; the gardens, courtyards, and ceilings were meticulously designed.
From the palace, we explored more of the marketplace, and if you recall, I mentioned not taking anything at face value. This was proven again when we visited Dar Es Salaam. From the outside, it seemed like any of the hundreds of little restaurants we hadseen. The only reason why we stopped was because our tour guide mentioned thathe loved to have his birthdays there. Inside was a magnificent high-class restaurant that had been there for over 300 years. This location was also famous for being the set for Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘The Man Who Knew Too Much.’ Ironic because I knew very little about Marrakech, but thatmade the trip all the better. We concluded the day with a rooftop dinner at Terrasse des épices; of course, entertainment accompanied dinner.Terrasse featured aduo of guitarists playing classic American hits. I’ll never forget Marrakech for the most dinners I’ve had with live entertainment in succession. After dinner, we watchedthe sunset over the Medina and returned to our hotel. Sadly, my time in Marrakech was coming to an end.
With so much to take in, there were certainly times when fatigue kicked in. Now, though, being back home and thinking about my experience, I miss that feeling. The excitement of seeing something new every day, start to finish, but in a placewhere you don’t know much. I wasn’t on my phonelooking up reviews of places or trying to plan the perfect day. I was in the moment, asked questions, and left no stone unturned, because what else would I do? Marrakech is a city of vibrancy that is perfect for tourists. So, while it has its relaxing features, it calls upon those who want the thrill of discovery. If excitement is what inspires your travel, make Morocco your next destination.
