Location: Rabat, Morocco | Ranking: #96
Designer: Robert Trent Jones Sr. (1971) | Type: Forest Parkland | Green Fees: From £80
Editor’s Note: Royal Golf Dar Es Salam is Africa’s greatest golf course — commissioned by King Hassan II, built through a cork oak forest on the outskirts of Rabat and host of the Hassan II Trophy for 40 years. Robert Trent Jones Sr. considered the Red Course his finest work in Europe and Africa. The scale is extraordinary: 18 holes across 175 acres of mature woodland, each occupying its own secluded world. Seve, Faldo and Norman all competed here during the Trophy’s golden era. Exceptional value at current prices.
Travel & Logistics
- Airport: Rabat-Salé (RBA) — 15 mins | Casablanca (CMN) — 1h | Direct flights from London to Casablanca — 3h 15m
- Booking: royalgolfdaressalam.com | Rating / Slope: 75.5 / 140
Championship Scorecard — Red Course
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | OUT |
| Par | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 37 |
| Yards | 420 | 565 | 195 | 558 | 415 | 428 | 192 | 418 | 562 | 3,753 |
| Hole | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | IN | TOTAL |
| Par | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 73 |
| Yards | 425 | 432 | 192 | 558 | 428 | 440 | 195 | 562 | 432 | 3,664 | 7,401 |
Par 4Par 3Par 5
Key Notes & 19th Hole
- The Cork Oak Forest: The estate’s mature cork oak trees create a canopy over most holes — the dappled light in spring and autumn is extraordinary, and the cork harvesting (visible on the tree trunks as russet-coloured exposed wood) is a uniquely Moroccan sight.
- Rabat’s Medina: One of Morocco’s most authentic old cities — the Chellah Roman ruins, the Hassan Tower and the Kasbah des Oudaias are world-class historical sites. Far less touristy than Marrakech; more genuinely Moroccan.
- La Tour Hassan Palace Hotel (5★): Rabat’s most celebrated hotel — traditional Moroccan architecture with modern five-star comfort. Book via Expedia →