Marrakesh Golf Weekend — Atlas Mountains, Morocco

This wasn't a work trip. Four friends, a long weekend, and a plan to play golf in North Africa. We flew in with fairly low expectations — coming from Scandinavia, you don't assume every course will be at the level you're used to. We were wrong.

Into the Medina

Walking through the Medina, feeling the energy of North Africa — that hit me in a way I wasn't expecting. My father is from Egypt, and being this close to that part of the world brought something up that's hard to put into words. The sounds, the smells, the rhythm of the streets. It felt close to home. It felt familiar in a way I hadn't felt in a while. That surprised me.

Fruit stall in Jemaa el-Fna square at night — oranges, pineapple, neon lights

Wicker lanterns and baskets hanging from the ceiling in the Marrakesh souk

Walking through a narrow Medina alleyway at night — old plaster walls

The first walk in. Lanterns overhead, narrow alleys, the smell of the souks.

Saturday evening

At Kabana

Evenings were spent at Kabana — a rooftop bar in the heart of the city. Don't be fooled by the entrance downstairs. Once you get up there, it's a completely different world. We drank local Moroccan wine that was genuinely good. Not what you expect, but that's kind of the theme of this trip — Marrakesh keeps surprising you.

Wide view of the Kabana rooftop at night — orange-lit woven lantern ceiling, full bar, guests at tables

Kabana interior — guests mingling under sculptural pendant lights

Bartender working behind the Kabana bar under copper lantern lights — white apron, low light

Staff member wearing a Kabana branded palm-print shirt — seen from behind

Food spread at Kabana — grilled prawns, dumplings, dipping sauces, wine

Bar bottles under red light late at night at Kabana — Johnnie Walker bar mat, near-empty glasses

Up at Kabana. A completely different world once you make it past the entrance.

Saturday night

Royal Palm Golf

Royal Palm Golf blew us away. Incredible service, immaculate greens, and the Atlas Mountains sitting right there in the background no matter where you stood on the course. You don't quite grasp how powerful it is until you're lining up a shot and realise those snow-capped peaks have been watching you the entire round.

Palm trees framing the Royal Palm Golf fairway with snow-capped Atlas Mountains in the distance

Royal Palm Golf Academy building — terracotta walls, blue sky

Wide Royal Palm Golf fairway — water hazard, a player in blue putting on the green, Atlas Mountains in the distance

Wherever I stood on the course, the Atlas was there in the back.

Sunday morning

Between Rounds

After the round we slowed down. Lunch, a different room, no schedule — the rest of the day stayed easy.

Four friends standing together on a Royal Palm Golf green, Atlas Mountains in the distance, clear sky

Bar interior at night with a large pink crystal chandelier, full liquor wall, leather barstools, upscale Marrakesh setting

Lunch between courses. The pace of the trip stays easy.

Sunday afternoon

Assoufid

Assoufid Golf was equally impressive — same level, great caddies who knew every break on the greens. All of it for around $150–200 with caddy and golf cart. That's serious value for what you get.

Tortoiseshell sunglasses on a golden place mat at a restaurant table

Hanging golden orb sculpture in a clubhouse atrium — globes suspended from a black wire frame

Walkway out from the Assoufid clubhouse — stepping stones, white parasols on both sides, a lone palm in the distance

Assoufid has its own light language. Different course, same level.

Monday morning

Last Tee

By late afternoon we were back on the green for the last tee of the trip. The light dropped, the mountains held their place in the back.

Wide Royal Palm Golf view — caddies and buggies in the foreground, snow-capped Atlas Mountains in the distance

Jimmy in silhouette standing on the tee box, snow-capped Atlas Mountains in the distance, late afternoon light

Last tee of the trip. Late light, the mountains holding the back.

Monday afternoon

Heading Home

We stayed at the Savoy Le Grand — it had the right energy for a weekend like this, easy and no friction. Service could've been tighter in places, but none of us cared. That wasn't what we came for. Marrakesh is one of the best long-weekend trips I've taken. Easy to get to, plenty packed in, and the kind of place you leave already wanting to come back. We came home rested, and ready to put our boots back on.