Mogador - breezy Scottish links in the desert
Gary Player's gem of a Moroccan course reviewed
The magnificent course at Essaouira (pronounced 'es-werra') is the latest destination to put a flag in the burgeoning Moroccan golf map. Designed by the legendary Gary Player, this 18-holer at the Sofitel Mogador Golf & Spa is fast gaining a reputation as reminiscent of Scotland's breezy links.
As yet, there are no direct flights from the UK to the town's little airport 15 km from Essaouira’s magical medina, but its star is on the rise and rumour has it that Ryanair may launch a service soon.
However, with plenty of UK-to-Marrakech flights already operating, getting to this outpost is easy, with a relaxed two and a half hour, £7 drive in coaches that run hourly from Marrakech’s new train station.
Essaouira’s first golf course is quite a stunner and just 3km from the ancient medina. Mogador Golf follows the route of the region’s virgin coastline and the views down to the Atlantic are the stuff of which National Geographic documentaries are made.
“I'm blown away by the beauty of what we have created here, " says Player, who also designed this week's European Tour destination in Bulgaria at Thracian Hills. "My greatest hope is that the course increases tourism and creates jobs for the warm and gracious people of Morocco”
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