WHEN we think about playing golf Spain and Portugal immediately spring to mind, but Morocco has much to offer golfers with courses that are in peak condition and lack that tired feel of overplayed courses in other countries.
Earlier this year I was lucky enough to head to the country’s capital Rabat for a week of wonderful golfing experiences including attendance at the 48th edition of the Hassan 11 trophy. This was played on the magnificent Royal Golf Dar Es Salam course.
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It was a truly unique experience because the Pro-Am was so relaxed I got to get up close and personal with many of my golfing favourites.
Among these were John Daly, as eccentric as ever, sitting in his buggy listening to loud music, Colin Montgomerie, whom I met so often with my friend he christened us his golf groupies, the gentlemanly Thomas Bjorn, who gave me a lesson in how to take selfies and of course, my very favourite, the cigar-smoking Miguel Jimenez.
The last time I saw him was at a JP McManus charity event many years ago, where on the practise green I saw him stop, take out the cigar and get his caddy to go over to the kids watching him in awe to collect their programmes, caps and balls, which he signed with relish.
It was a memory I carried with me so when I was watching him practising in Rabat, I caught his eye and over he came to chat and stood for the obligatory selfie.
Those players were dubbed “The return of The Champions” and it was great to see Bjorn coming second in the prestigious tournament to a younger Argentinian Ricardo Gonzalez who won with a score of -10 and Thomas so close at 9 under.
Running in conjunction with the men’s tournament was the Lalla Meryem Cup which was won by England’s Bronte Law who had a final round of 64 bringing her from behind to clinch the title on 9 under to take her third Ladies European Tour title (LET).
Morocco is so accessible with flights from Ireland and London, if like me it’s easier to fly into London from Cork Airport and onwards to many destinations.
Flight time is as quick as going to the Canaries and when you arrive everything runs like clockwork.
The Royal Golf Dar Es Salam course has been described as one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world and it is easy to see why.
The course complex consists of three courses with 45 holes on 440 hectares in the heart of a cork oak forest. It is so relaxing because of its proximity to nature with beautiful trees and magnificent colourful flowers everywhere.
There is a swimming pool, a superb restaurant and a clubhouse but it is the breathtaking beauty of the place that leaves one full of wonder and awe.
I have to admit I have played many of the top course at home and abroad but this one just left me wanting to return.
The signature hole is definitely the 9th with a semi island green par 3 that makes it so challenging to land the ball on the green and not in the water.
The bridge over the water was covered in beautifully scented flowers adding to the experience of the onlookers.
I thought Morocco was a relative newcomer to the golfing world, so I was surprised to learn that Golf has existed in The Kingdom since the beginning of the 20th century.
Green fees are much lower than in Europe with fees starting at E33 depending on the time you want to play while on the other Rabat course the Colin Montgomerie designed Rabat Place Des Nations fee start from E59. On Irish and European course of similar standard and quality you would pay upwards of E150.
There is much to see and do in Rabat which is one of the cleanest cities I have been in with teams of workers picking up rubbish along the roads and in the city.
It is a city that is environmentally friendly thanks to the progressive King and Queen and so the Capital has many beautiful parks and open spaces. It has the Atlantic Ocean on it’s doorstep and of course pristine beaches that run to the neighbouring city Cassablanca.
Rabat is a city that embraces modern vibes but also honours its rich history and past as is evident in the many One of the big attraction is the Kasbah des Oudayas, a fortified enclosure on the shores of the Atlantic, which dates back to the 13th century. Here there is beautiful architecture and surrounding gardens.
The city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its many monuments and historic places, even more than Casablanca.
Iconic and historical places to visit include The 12th Hassan Tower one of the most famous sites in the Kingdom. In front of the tower is the mausoleum MohammedV dedicated to the late monarch who was much loved by his people. Also here are the tombs of his sons, his successor King Hassan II Prince Loulay Abdellah.
No visit to a Moroccan city is complete without a visit to the Souk and the one in Rabat is much more sophisticated and more enjoyable to visit as visitors are not harassed to buy but the amount of goods on sale is astounding and the quality is very evident.
Many of the crafts people can be seen at work and I visited a leather area where the very best of leather bags, belts, and other items were being made by skilled leather workers.
It’s not surprising that Rabat is the Cultural Capital of the Kingdom as it has 20 centuries of history to reveal to visitors.
I felt I only touched the surface of this wonderful, vibrant city and a return visit is a must.
Ann flew from Cork Airport to Heathrow with Aer Lingus where I travelled on to Morocco with Royal Air Moroc to Casablanca.
I stayed in the five star Sofitel Jardin de Roses.
FIVE MORE WINTER SUNSHINE SPOTS
HERE are five more destinations to soak up the last of the year’s sunshine.
- Gran Canaria is just one of the very many options, boasting a “very mild winter” each year. Located on one of Spain’s Canary Islands, off northwestern Africa, Gran Canaria is well-known for its black lava and white sand beaches.
And steady temps of 22C throughout the winter. - The Cyclades island in the Aegean Sea looks like a place straight out of a fairytale and even has flights for less than €90 from Dublin Airport.
Santorini, located in Greece is calling your name as the peak tourist season comes to an end but the hot sunshine isn’t.
Roam the peaceful black-sand beaches or stroll the streets of one of Santorini’s charming villages. - Tuscany stretches from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Apennines and is located in west-central Italy.
With breathtaking beaches, Mediterranean islands and highs of 23C in October, this European spot has something for everyone. - The island of Sardinia in Italy is home to nearly 2,000km of stunning coastline. With average highs of 23C throughout October this is the prime month to visit and avoid large crowds.
It’s a great time of year to swim in the sea, with the water at an average temperature of 22C. - Cordoba in southern Spain is the capital of the province and the ideal place for an autumn getaway.
The city enjoys temperatures from 18 to 24C even into the month of October, so visitors can soak up the last of the sunshine.
And it’s just three hours from Dublin Airport with Ryanair operating regular flights to the city’s closest airport in Malaga for just €24.99.
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