Royal Golf Dar Es Salam guide: cork-forest golf in Rabat
Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s Red Course in a Rabat cork forest — home of the Hassan II Trophy and a Roman-columned island green. The courses, visitor play, when to go, and getting there.
Royal Golf Dar Es Salam is North Africa's great golf destination — Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s championship course, commissioned by King Hassan II and carved through a vast cork-oak forest on the edge of Rabat, Morocco's capital. Opened in 1971, its Red Course is famous for a Roman-columned island-green par 3 that predates TPC Sawgrass's, and it has hosted the Hassan II Trophy since day one.
It's an exotic winter-sun trip a short hop from Europe, open to visiting golfers. Here are the three courses, how visitors play, when to go, and how to get there.
Where
Souissi, Rabat, Morocco — in a cork-oak forest
Courses
The Red (championship), Blue & 9-hole Green — 45 holes
Robert Trent Jones Sr. · 1971 · 18 holes · Forest parkland · par 73
Home of the Hassan II Trophy; among Africa's great courses
Robert Trent Jones Sr. routed the Red Course through a dense cork-oak forest, and it remains one of his and Africa's finest — mature, tree-lined and demanding, with water and wildlife throughout. It has hosted the Hassan II Trophy since 1971, a tournament that over the years has been staged on the European, Challenge, Ladies European, Asian and PGA Tour Champions circuits, with a champions list running from Billy Casper and Lee Trevino to Pádraig Harrington.
Its signature is the par-3 9th, played to an island green ringed by water lilies and decorated with columns from the Roman ruins of Volubilis — a water-guarded island hole that predates the more famous one at TPC Sawgrass.
The Blue & Green Courses
Royal Golf Dar Es Salam · 1971 · 18 + 9 holes · Forest parkland · par 72 / 32
The 18-hole Blue Course is more playable than the Red but still a proper test through the forest, with fast greens; the 9-hole Green rounds out the estate's 45 holes and is an entertaining shorter option.
How visitors play Royal Golf Dar Es Salam
The club is open to green-fee visitors — book ahead, and note it's closed on Mondays. A caddie is mandatory (one per player on the Red Course; caddies are standard practice in Morocco). The dress code is standard golf attire — no jeans or tracksuits — and soft spikes only. It's a walkable forest course; take the caddie's local knowledge on the tree-lined lines.
When to go
Rabat's mild Atlantic-coast climate makes this a strong winter-sun option, closer to Europe than the Gulf. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are ideal — warm but not hot, with the forest at its best. Summer is warm and winter mild, so the shoulders are the sweet spot.
Getting there
The course is on the Souissi edge of Rabat, about 15 minutes from the city centre. Rabat–Salé Airport (RBA) is nearest (around 30 minutes), while Casablanca Mohammed V (CMN) is roughly 1–1.5 hours away by road — both well connected to Europe.
How to play it
Pair the golf with Morocco's culture: Rabat is a UNESCO-listed capital, and Casablanca is close by. For a fuller golf trip, head south to Marrakech — home to Royal Golf Marrakech, Amelkis and Assoufid — or the coastal resort of Mazagan near El Jadida. It's an exotic, culture-rich winter-golf trip a short flight from Europe.
What to pack
The kit this trip demands
Rabat golf is mild and bright with cool mornings under the cork oaks — pack for warm sun with a light layer, not heavy weather gear:
Yes — it's open to green-fee visitors. Book ahead (the club is closed on Mondays), and note a caddie is mandatory (one per player on the Red Course), with a soft-spikes dress code. Caddies are standard practice in Morocco.
What is the island green at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam?
It's the par-3 9th on the Red Course — a green surrounded by water and water lilies, decorated with columns from the Roman ruins of Volubilis. It's a water-guarded island hole that predates the more famous 17th at TPC Sawgrass.
Who designed Royal Golf Dar Es Salam?
Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed the championship Red Course, which opened in 1971 after being commissioned by King Hassan II. The estate has 45 holes in total — the Red, the Blue and a 9-hole Green — set in a cork-oak forest.
When is the best time to play golf in Rabat?
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are ideal — warm but not hot. Rabat's mild Atlantic climate makes it a strong winter-sun option closer to Europe than the Gulf; summer is warm and winter mild.
How do you get to Royal Golf Dar Es Salam?
It's on the Souissi edge of Rabat, about 15 minutes from the centre. Rabat–Salé Airport (RBA) is nearest at around 30 minutes, and Casablanca (CMN) is roughly 1–1.5 hours away by road — both well connected to Europe.
