# Golf in Fez: olive groves, Atlas cedars and Morocco's oldest medina > Fez has two 18-hole courses on its doorstep: the Royal Golf de Fès, laid out by Cabell B. Robinson in an olive grove half an hour from the medina, and Oued Fès Golf, designed by Jonathan Gaunt along the river that gives the city its name. About an hour's drive away, Jack Nicklaus's Michlifen Golf & Country Club in Ifrane completes the trip. The best golf is from March to May and in October and November, between days in a medina that has been a World Heritage Site since 1981. - Golf guide • Morocco • Fès-Meknès - Airport: Fez (FEZ), 25 min transfer - Ideal stay: 3–5 nights - Best season: March – May, October, November - Updated 7 October 2026 - URL: https://www.golftripplanner.fr/en/destinations/morocco/fes/ Fez is not a golf destination in the beach-resort sense: you come first for the city, founded at the end of the 8th century by the Idrisids, and for Fès el-Bali, one of the largest historic car-free areas in the world. Golf slips in naturally. In the morning, a tee time among the olive trees south of the city or along the Oued Fès; in the afternoon, the lanes of the medina, the tanneries and mint tea on a terrace facing the hills. The city's two courses are very different. The Royal Golf de Fès, opened with nine holes in 1994 and extended to 18 in 2004, rolls through olive trees at 700 metres above sea level, with the ridges of the Middle Atlas on the horizon. Oued Fès Golf, opened in 2012, is a flat course of woodland, meadow and wetland, built on a floodplain beside the river. Two styles, two quite distinct days. For a third course, head up to Ifrane, some sixty kilometres to the south: the Michlifen Golf & Country Club, Jack Nicklaus's first Signature course in North Africa, is played at 1,650 metres among the cedars. Three to five nights are enough for all three, with a whole day kept for the medina and, weather permitting, an outing to the Roman ruins of Volubilis. ## The courses ### Royal Golf de Fès Architect: Cabell B. Robinson · Opened 1994 · 18 holes · Par 72 At kilometre 17 on the Imouzzer road, south of the city, the course designed by the American Cabell B. Robinson fills a large olive grove at 700 metres. Nine holes opened in 1994, the next nine in 2004. A par 72 of 6,542 metres from the back tees: rolling ground, a few climbs, large bunkers, sloping greens and lakes in play on three holes make it a complete test, tougher than it looks. Old olive trees line the fairways and the peaks of the Middle Atlas close the view to the south. ### Oued Fès Golf Architect: Jonathan Gaunt · Opened 2012 · 18 holes · Par 72 Opened at the end of 2012 on the edge of the city, not far from the royal palace, Oued Fès Golf was designed by the Englishman Jonathan Gaunt on a floodplain of the Fès river. A par 72 of 6,344 metres from the back tees, it alternates between three landscapes, woodland, wetland and meadow, with lagoons either side of the canal and wooden footbridges across the water. The fairways wind between eucalyptus, palms and Aleppo pines. Flat and easy to walk, it suits a first day or an afternoon after the medina. ### Michlifen Golf & Country Club Architect: Jack Nicklaus · 18 holes In Ifrane, about an hour's drive south of Fez, the Michlifen Golf & Country Club is Jack Nicklaus's first Signature course in North Africa. Play is at 1,650 metres, among forests of cedar and holm oak, rocky outcrops and 360-degree viewpoints. The clubhouse, its terrace restaurant and an academy equipped with Trackman complete the set-up. A mountain course, cool while Fez bakes in summer, best combined with a night at the Michlifen Resort. Signature hole: According to Jack Nicklaus himself, the 9th, 17th and 18th are the holes that best reveal the landscape, with the Azrou plain below. Official website: https://www.michlifen.com/fr/golf/ **Concierge tip:** Caddies are compulsory at the Royal Golf de Fès and tee times are booked in advance: we take care of it. Keep Oued Fès for the day you arrive, the Royal Golf for the heart of the stay, and set aside a full day for Michlifen, with lunch at the clubhouse: the Ifrane road does not fit between two visits to the medina. ## Where to stay ### Riad Fès A member of Relais & Châteaux, Riad Fès occupies a restored palace in the Zerbtana quarter, in the heart of the medina. Courtyards of zellige and stucco, a 14-metre pool designed by Christophe Pillet and open all year, a spa, the Gayza restaurant for Franco-Moroccan cooking and a rooftop for a sunset drink over the city's roofs. ### Palais Amani Set in the former home of one of the great families of Fez, in the Oued Zitoun quarter, Palais Amani has 21 rooms. The family-run house also holds a hammam, Les Bains Amani, the Eden restaurant and the Fez Cooking School, whose classes begin at the market. A good choice for living the medina without giving up calm. ### Michlifen Resort & Golf For a night in Ifrane before or after the Nicklaus course, Michlifen Resort & Golf is a five-star hotel in Alpine chalet style, a few minutes from the course. Three restaurants, a spa and the quiet of the cedars: the contrast with the medina is complete, and you sleep in cool air even in high summer. ## Where to dine ### Dar Roumana A guesthouse in the medina, near the ramparts, whose restaurant serves Franco-Moroccan cooking every evening under chef Younes Idrissi: local produce, bistro technique, always a vegetarian dish. Drinks are taken on the roof terrace facing the medina. Booking advised; a porter can meet you at the nearest gate. ### La Maison Bleue On Place de l'Istiqlal, in the Batha quarter, La Maison Bleue still belongs to the Al Abbadi family, descendants of the first owner. Come for traditional Fassi cooking, made to recipes handed down through the generations, then a last drink on the terraces overlooking the medina. ## Beyond golf ### The medina of Fès el-Bali A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981, Fès el-Bali is explored on foot: no cars enter. With a licensed guide, you cross the souks, pass the University of Al Quaraouiyine, founded in 859, and finish on a terrace above the Chouara tannery, where leather is still worked in stone vats. Allow a full day. ### Volubilis and Moulay Idriss On the way to Meknes, Volubilis is an ancient Roman city listed by UNESCO in 1997. Its mosaics remain in place in the houses, the Arch of Caracalla towers over the main street and the basilica is among the finest in Roman Africa. The holy town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, about 5 km away, fits into the same day. ### Ifrane and the cedars of the Middle Atlas Nicknamed "little Switzerland", Ifrane was founded in 1928 and its steep roofs come as a surprise at 1,650 metres. Ifrane National Park protects one of the largest cedar forests in the world, home to Barbary macaques. A walk beneath the cedars makes a fine end to the day after a round at Michlifen. ## When to go Spring, from March to May, and autumn, in October and November, are the best seasons: mild temperatures, green courses and clear light on the hills. Summer is hot, with highs around 34°C in July and August: play early in Fez, or head up to Michlifen, cooler thanks to its altitude. Winter is mild by day but cold at night, and it is the rainy season; snow often falls on Ifrane. ## Getting there Fès-Saïss airport (FEZ), 13 km south of the centre, has direct flights from several French and European cities. Allow about 25 minutes to the medina. Michlifen, in Ifrane, is about an hour's drive away. Fez is also served by train from Rabat and Casablanca. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the best golf course in Fez? The Royal Golf de Fès, designed by Cabell B. Robinson in an olive grove south of the city, is the best known. Jack Nicklaus's Michlifen Golf & Country Club is about an hour's drive away, in Ifrane. ### How many golf courses are there in Fez? Two 18-hole courses: the Royal Golf de Fès, half an hour from the medina, and Oued Fès Golf, on the edge of the city. Michlifen, in Ifrane, is the third course within reach for a day. ### When is the best time to play golf in Fez? From March to May and in October and November. In July and August, highs approach 34°C: play early in the morning or head up to Michlifen, cooler thanks to its altitude. ### How many days do you need for a golf trip to Fez? Three to five nights: one course a day across the three, and a full day for the medina. Add a day for Volubilis if you can. ### Are caddies compulsory at the Royal Golf de Fès? Yes, caddies are compulsory at the Royal Golf de Fès, and tee times are booked in advance. ## Your golf trip: Fez Tee times, suites, transfers and tables: your concierge replies within 24 hours with a proposal shaped around you. https://www.golftripplanner.fr/en/#contact