Mazagan, El Jadida, and Essaouira: Coastal Golf Worth the Detour

If your idea of golf involves ocean spray on the 16th tee and wind strong enough to change a 7-iron into a 5-iron, Morocco’s Atlantic coast has two courses designed specifically for that experience. Mazagan at El Jadida and Golf de Mogador at Essaouira are both Gary Player designs that use the coastline as a playing partner, not just a backdrop.

Neither course is on the standard Marrakech golf circuit, which is exactly why they are worth the detour. The golfers who make the drive report some of the most memorable rounds of their trip.

Mazagan Golf Course, El Jadida

Mazagan is the course that serious golfers travel to play. Gary Player designed it on sand dunes along the El Jadida coastline, and at 6,885 meters from the championship tees, it is the longest course in Morocco and one of the longest in Africa. The layout follows the beach, preserving the natural dune formations and using the wind as a design element rather than fighting it.

Holes 15, 16, and 18 run directly alongside the Atlantic, and on a clear day with the surf breaking below the cliffs, they rank among the most beautiful golf holes in North Africa. The course management is handled by Troon Golf, which shows in the consistently excellent conditioning: fairways are firm and fast, greens are true, and the bunkers are properly maintained.

Mazagan Beach Resort, the five-star property surrounding the course, is a destination in itself. The resort includes a casino, spa, multiple restaurants, a pool complex, and a wide beach. Non-golfing partners have genuine options here. El Jadida’s Portuguese-era fortified city (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is 7 kilometers away and worth a half-day visit.

Golf de Mogador, Essaouira

Mogador is a different beast. Also a Gary Player design, it sits within the Sofitel Essaouira Mogador resort complex on exposed terrain with argan forests and ocean views. The wind at Essaouira is famous (it is one of the top windsurfing destinations in the world), and it makes Mogador a genuine test of shotmaking. On a calm day, the course is scenic and enjoyable. On a windy day (which is most days from April to November), it demands creativity and patience.

The course spans 300 hectares and features multiple holes with ocean views. Conditions are generally good, though not quite at Mazagan’s Troon-managed level. The Sofitel resort offers spa treatments, a pool, and direct beach access. Essaouira’s medina, one of the most charming small towns in Morocco, is a 15-minute drive from the resort.

Royal Golf El Jadida

Often overlooked in favor of its Mazagan neighbor, Royal Golf El Jadida is a Cabell B. Robinson design spread over 120 hectares with the final three holes offering ocean views. Part of the Pullman Mazagan Royal Golf and Spa hotel, this 18-hole par-72 course winds through eucalyptus forest before opening up to the coast. It is less dramatic than Mazagan but less expensive and less crowded. A good choice for a second round if you are staying in the area for multiple days.

Planning the Detour

From Marrakech, Essaouira is 2.5 hours by car or Supratours bus. El Jadida is 3.5 hours via highway, or 1.5 hours south of Casablanca. A practical itinerary: fly into Casablanca, play Mazagan and Royal El Jadida over two days, drive to Essaouira for a round at Mogador and two nights in the medina, then continue to Marrakech for the rest of your trip.

This route gives you three very different golfing experiences (links, coastal parkland, and the Marrakech mountain courses) plus a genuine taste of three distinct Moroccan cities. It is more work than sitting in one Marrakech resort for a week, but it is a far richer trip.