In Marrakech, golf is no longer simply a tourist activity. It has now become an integral part of the city’s property landscape.
Residential developments have grown up around several courses, offering villas, gardens, swimming pools, security and, in some cases, privileged access to a genuine resort environment.
For a buyer looking for a villa for sale in Marrakech, living on or near a golf course can meet several objectives: a main residence, holiday home, long-term investment or rental project.
But not all of Marrakech’s golf developments are alike.
Between the history of the Royal Golf, the residential setting of Amelkis, the positioning of Al Maaden, the wide-open spaces of Samanah and Noria, and the distinctly high-end character of Royal Palm, the choice depends far more on the lifestyle sought than simply on having a fairway in front of one’s terrace.
Marrakech, a true golfing destination
Marrakech is now one of Morocco’s leading golfing destinations.
The city and its surroundings are home to a particularly high concentration of courses: Royal Golf Marrakech, Amelkis Golf Club, Al Maaden Golf, Samanah Country Club, Noria Golf Club, Assoufid Golf Club, The Montgomerie Marrakech, PalmGolf Ourika and the Royal Palm course.
Their shared appeal is often spectacular: the possibility of playing in the Marrakech plain with, when conditions allow, the High Atlas range in the background.
This history is by no means recent.
Royal Golf Marrakech was established in 1927. Its historic course is one of the oldest in Morocco and has contributed to the city’s golfing identity for almost a century.
From the 2000s onwards, the offering expanded considerably with the arrival of new courses designed by several internationally recognised architects.
This concentration is now a genuine advantage for anyone wishing to buy a property in Marrakech : living on a golf development does not mean being limited to the course in front of one’s property. Several golf courses are accessible around the city and offer very different experiences.
Why buy a villa on a golf course in Marrakech?
The appeal of a golf development goes far beyond playing golf itself.
Many owners living on Marrakech’s golf developments only play occasionally, or not at all.
What they are often seeking is the environment these developments create.
More open spaces
Golf developments generally have a lower building density than a conventional urban neighbourhood.
Views are more open, landscaped areas more extensive and the sense of space can be considerable.
A villa directly overlooking a fairway can therefore enjoy views over several hectares of maintained landscape beyond its own garden.
Security valued by second-home owners
Controlled entrances, surveillance and the general organisation of the residences are also an advantage for owners who do not live in Marrakech all year round.
This is particularly attractive for a second home or for a buyer who lives abroad for part of the year.
A readily identifiable address
Amelkis, Al Maaden, Samanah and Noria now constitute genuine micro-markets within Marrakech property.
This recognition matters when it comes to resale.
A buyer who is still unfamiliar with Marrakech may not know all the city’s micro-locations, but may already know some of its leading golf developments.
Rental potential to be assessed carefully
A beautiful villa with a swimming pool in a secure development can appeal to a high-end seasonal rental clientele.
But the presence of a golf course is absolutely no guarantee of returns.
The purchase price, number of bedrooms, quality of the décor, privacy, pool heating, residence regulations, any authorisations that may be required, service charges and management costs can significantly alter the equation.
A golf villa must therefore be assessed individually, rather than on the basis of a theoretical yield applied to an entire neighbourhood.
Amelkis: one of Marrakech’s leading residential addresses
Located on the Ouarzazate road, Amelkis is now one of the best-established names for anyone looking for a villa on a golf course in Marrakech.
Its course, designed by Cabell B. Robinson, comprises 27 holes spread across three loops.
But its property significance lies above all in the maturity of the development.
Over the years, it has built up a highly diverse collection of villas: Moroccan-style properties, more contemporary homes, extensively renovated villas and substantial properties.
Who is Amelkis suited to?
Amelkis may particularly suit a buyer seeking:
- a mature and recognised development;
- a genuine residential atmosphere;
- a main or second residence;
- a secure environment;
- relatively easy access to Marrakech;
- a golf course without necessarily being part of the highly structured world of a hotel resort.
Even so, “buying in Amelkis” is not enough to define a property’s value.
The phase of the development, the plot’s exact position, whether it is on the first or second line, its orientation, views, overlooking properties, build quality and state of renovation can create considerable differences in value between two villas of similar size.
This is precisely why the micro-location must be assessed as carefully as the neighbourhood.
Al Maaden: golf, architecture and proximity to Marrakech
Near Amelkis and the Royal Golf, Al Maaden is another essential address in Marrakech’s golf property market.
Its 18-hole championship course was designed by Kyle Phillips.
The setting is extensively landscaped, while the many bodies of water contribute strongly to the course’s identity.
From a property perspective, Al Maaden’s main advantage is its appealing positioning: a well-structured golf development that remains relatively well connected to central Marrakech.
It offers detached villas with very different standards, sizes and positions.
Cameron is currently offering, for example, a single-storey villa on the first line of Al Maaden golf course, built on a 2,200 m² plot.
This example clearly illustrates the importance of the first line: it is no longer simply the name “Al Maaden” that determines the property’s appeal, but its direct relationship with the course.
Amelkis or Al Maaden?
Comparing the two names alone would make little sense.
Amelkis has a long-established and highly diverse residential market.
Al Maaden has more of a landscaped resort identity and a different overall architectural character.
In practice, an excellent property in Al Maaden will be more attractive than a mediocre villa in Amelkis, and vice versa.
The property should always take precedence over the development’s label.
Samanah: wide-open spaces and Atlas views
On the Amizmiz road, Samanah Country Club offers a different atmosphere.
Its 18-hole, par-72 championship course was designed by Nicklaus Design.
The development benefits from extensive open spaces and an especially strong relationship with the surrounding landscape.
For a buyer who prioritises peace and quiet, views, a sense of space and a setting further removed from urban density, Samanah is therefore well worth considering.
It is also the kind of development that can be particularly well suited to a second home: the appeal lies more in seeking a complete living environment than simple proximity to the centre.
Royal Palm: golf in a highly high-end resort setting
Royal Palm clearly occupies a different position.
The development combines a golf course, Fairmont hotel, Country Club and private residences in a particularly well-managed setting.
Its 18-hole, par-72 golf course was designed by Cabell B. Robinson.
For a property buyer, Royal Palm’s appeal lies less in the golf course considered in isolation than in the concept as a whole: large properties, a high level of service, low density and exceptionally well-maintained landscaped surroundings.
Royal Palm is therefore better suited to a buyer seeking a complete resort-style residential environment and prepared to accept the level of costs associated with this positioning.
Noria: an attractive alternative south of Marrakech
Noria Golf Club is another particularly attractive option.
The 18-hole course designed by Steve Forrest blends several landscape styles and is located in an area offering convenient access to southern Marrakech and the airport.
From a property perspective, Noria may offer a different balance between setting, villa quality and price level from the better-established leading names.
Cameron is currently offering, in particular, a contemporary four-bedroom villa at Noria Golf, providing a concrete illustration of the type of properties available in this area.
What about Marrakech’s other golf courses?
It would be a mistake to limit the city to Amelkis, Al Maaden, Samanah, Noria and Royal Palm.
Assoufid Golf Club
Assoufid offers a particularly well-regarded desert-style course set within a much more natural environment.
Its design deliberately limited intensively planted areas in order to preserve the character of the landscape and reduce water requirements.
Royal Golf Marrakech
Royal Golf represents the history of golf in Marrakech.
Its mature, tree-lined atmosphere contrasts strongly with the more recent courses.
The Montgomerie Marrakech
The Montgomerie is notable for being much more integrated into the city and its urban development.
PalmGolf Ourika
Further south, PalmGolf Ourika also offers a course with wide-open views towards the Atlas.
This variety is precisely what makes Marrakech appealing to golfers: choosing a residence on one development does not prevent you from regularly playing the destination’s other courses.
To understand the logic of the different areas, our guide to Marrakech’s neighbourhoods and developments also allows you to compare locations according to the lifestyle sought.
Villa on the first line of a golf course: should it always be prioritised?
Not necessarily.
The first line generally offers more open views and a greater sense of rarity.
But not all first-line properties are equal.
A property may be too exposed to passing players, lack privacy, have an unfavourable orientation or face a section of the course that ultimately offers little visual interest.
Conversely, an excellent second-line property may offer considerably more privacy and comfort.
Before purchasing, several factors should be examined:
- orientation of the terrace and swimming pool;
- sunlight in winter as well as summer;
- views and overlooking properties;
- distance from the fairway;
- proximity to a tee or green;
- golf buggy traffic;
- vegetation between the villa and the course;
- development regulations;
- level and nature of the charges;
- condition of the building;
- work already completed;
- possibilities for extension or alteration;
- legal status and land title.
The simple mention of “golf view” in an advert is therefore never enough to assess a property’s value.
Golf and water in Marrakech: another issue buyers should consider
Buying on a golf course in Marrakech also means living in an extensively landscaped environment, in a region where water management is a structural issue.
The most recent courses have incorporated various strategies to reduce intensively irrigated areas, select suitable plants and manage water more responsibly.
For a long-term buyer, this deserves to be included in the assessment of the development, alongside charges, security and the maintenance of communal areas.
The aim is not to regard all golf courses as equivalent, but to examine how each development manages its spaces and resources in practice.
Which golf development should you choose in Marrakech?
There is no single best residential golf development.
There is, above all, a development that is more consistent with each individual project.
Amelkis will often suit a buyer seeking a mature and particularly well-regarded residential area.
Al Maaden may appeal to someone wishing to combine a resort setting with proximity to Marrakech.
Samanah is better suited to those seeking peace and quiet, space and scenery.
Royal Palm corresponds to a particularly high level of quality and service.
Noria may offer an attractive alternative for a buyer seeking a contemporary golf setting in southern Marrakech.
Other developments should also be considered according to the budget, the style of property sought and the desired pace of life.
The wrong way to begin a search would therefore be:
“I absolutely want to buy in Amelkis.”
The better question is:
“Which development and which property genuinely correspond to the way I live in Marrakech?”
Buying a villa on a golf course in Marrakech with Cameron Immobilier
A villa on a golf course is a distinctive type of property.
Two properties a few hundred metres apart can differ considerably in value because of their position within the development, the size and shape of the plot, their aspect, views, architecture, privacy or simply the quality of the work carried out.
An effective search should therefore not be limited to properties visible on the main portals.
Part of Marrakech’s high-end market may also circulate discreetly or off-market, when an owner does not wish to expose the property publicly.
Cameron Immobilier assists buyers seeking villas in Marrakech’s leading golf developments and, when a project is sufficiently specific, can initiate a search beyond its published portfolio alone.
You can view our villas currently for sale in Marrakech or entrust us directly with a property search mandate.
The aim is not to arrange as many viewings as possible.
It is to identify the right property, in the right part of the development and at a price consistent with its true market value.
