Golf in Rabat at a glance
Rabat is Morocco’s capital, a calm, green city on the Atlantic whose historic quarters are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For golfers, Rabat means one thing first: Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, the most celebrated course in the country. Around it sit Montgomerie Rabat and, on the coast towards Casablanca, Bahia Beach Golf Club at Bouznika.
| Rabat | |
|---|---|
| Signature course | Royal Golf Dar Es Salam: Red (Robert Trent Jones Sr.), Blue and Green courses |
| Other courses | Montgomerie Rabat; Bahia Beach Golf Club (18 holes), Bouznika |
| Pedigree | Hassan II Trophy venue since 1971 |
| Good to know | Dar Es Salam closed on Mondays; caddy compulsory; Red Course max handicap 18 |
| Getting there | Rabat airport, or Casablanca airport by private transfer |
| Best for | A 2–4 night stop on a multi-centre tour; championship golf |
What makes Royal Golf Dar Es Salam special?
If you play one course in Morocco, this is the one. Robert Trent Jones Sr. routed the Red Course through a mature cork oak forest just outside Rabat, and it has been the country’s championship venue since 1971 as home of the Hassan II Trophy. The corridors are tree-lined and unforgiving, the greens are large and firm, and the par 3 played to an island green is the most photographed hole in Moroccan golf.
There are three courses on the estate:
- Red Course: the championship test, with a maximum handicap of 18.
- Blue Course: the course included in most of our Rabat packages, and the one used on our Imperial Cities tours.
- Green Course: a shorter course, good for a relaxed extra round.
Two practical points shape every Rabat itinerary. The club is closed on Mondays, and a caddy is compulsory. We plan your rounds around both and switch to Montgomerie Rabat or Bahia Beach when the calendar demands it. Read more in our ranking of the best golf courses in Morocco, where Dar Es Salam is number one.
Which other golf courses are near Rabat?
Montgomerie Rabat is the usual alternative when Dar Es Salam is closed or fully booked. It is also one of the four competition courses in the Rabat International Golf Festival.
Bahia Beach Golf Club, Bouznika is an 18-hole course on the coast between Rabat and Casablanca. The View Bouznika Hotel & Golf Resort has it on site, which makes it the easy choice for a stay-and-play by the sea.
Where should you stay for golf in Rabat?
- On the golf estate: The Ritz-Carlton Rabat Dar Es Salam 5★ Deluxe, with packages for either the Red Course (max handicap 18) or the Blue Course.
- In the city: Conrad Rabat Arzana 5★, Fairmont La Marina Rabat-Salé 5★, Sofitel Rabat Jardin des Roses 5★, Story Rabat or Villa Mandarine. These include rounds on the Blue Course at Dar Es Salam or at Bahia Beach, with private golf transfers.
- Riads: Riad Dar Soufa and Riad Meftaha for a stay inside the old town.
- By the sea: The View Bouznika, with Bahia Beach on site.
Rabat packages include private airport transfers from Rabat airport. Casablanca airport transfers can be added.
How long should you spend in Rabat?
Most golfers spend two to four nights here: enough for Dar Es Salam plus one other course, and a guided afternoon at the Hassan Tower, the Chellah and the Oudayas kasbah. Rabat then fits naturally into a longer trip:
- Rabat & Mazagan: seven nights, five rounds, pairing Dar Es Salam with Gary Player’s links at El Jadida.
- Imperial Cities Golf Tour: ten nights through Marrakech, Rabat, Fez and Ifrane, with a round on the Blue Course.
Both are detailed on our Morocco golf tours page.
Is there a golf tournament in Rabat?
Yes. The Rabat International Golf Festival is an amateur tournament week open to golfers of every level. It includes five nights in Rabat and four competition rounds: two at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, one at Montgomerie Rabat and one at Bahia Beach, Bouznika. There is also a guided half-day city tour and a gala dinner. Dates and the programme are on our tournament weeks page.
When is the best time to play golf in Rabat?
Spring and autumn are ideal, and the Atlantic keeps Rabat milder than inland Marrakech in summer. Winter is cooler and can be wetter than the south, so for guaranteed winter sun combine Rabat with Marrakech or Agadir. See our month-by-month guide.
Tell us your dates and handicaps and we will plan your Rabat rounds around the Monday closure.