I am headed to The Kingdom of Light, Morocco, for the Hassan II Golf Trophy and Lalla Meryem Cup. Morocco is one of my personal favorites and a country I never tire of visiting. The rich culture and architecture, vibrant colors and smells, extremely hospitable people, amazing cuisine, breathtaking vistas and the golf of course plenty of golf. There are 45 beautiful golf courses in different regions throughout Morocco. You can find yourself playing golf by the sea at Tazegout Golf Course in Agadir or in Casablanca at the five-star Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, an 18-hole course designed by Gary Player set alongside the stunning Atlantic Ocean coastline. Fancy majestic mountains, the Michlifen Resort & Golf in Ifrane is in the heart of the Atlas Mountains. This luxury Alpine chalet atmosphere will make you think you are in Switzerland. This 18- hole championship course is the the first Jack Nicklaus Signature mountain course in Africa. “The site in Ifrane and for the Michlifen Golf & Country Club is one of the most scenic, beautiful vistas you will find for a golf experience.” Jack Nicklaus
Morocco is a country is equally rich in golf tradition. The gem in the golf crown is the Red Course at the Royal Dar Es Salam in Rabat which brings us to the Hassan II Golf Trophy. Under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation and the Hassan II Golf Trophy Association, presided by His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid, organize the 48th edition of the Hassan II Golf Trophy and the 27th edition of the Lalla Meryem Cup at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat.
The simultaneous holding of these two competitions on the same site perpetuates a tradition of gender diversity established in 1993 by His Late Majesty King Hassan II, the illustrious founder of both tournaments.
Established in 1971, the Hassan II Golf Trophy and the challenging red course have consistently drawn the elite of professional golfers worldwide. As an eminent fixture on the global golf calendar, this year’s competition is set to host 66 top-tier players from the PGA TOUR Champions Tour. The event will see the return of legendary figures like Colin Montgomerie, Padraig Harrington, David Toms, and Ernie Els, each a past champion, epitomizing the event’s ‘Return of the Champions’ theme.
The Lalla Meryem Cup, a prestigious event on the Ladies European Tour (LET), is set to gather Europe’s top female golfers on the blue course. This year, the tournament will host 108 competitors, including several Moroccan talents. Among them are Ines Laklalech, winner of the 2022 Lacoste Ladies Open de France, Maha Haddioui, a seasoned LET professional of 11 years, and the remarkable young prodigy Sofia Cherif Essakali. At just 13, Sofia made headlines last year by becoming the youngest player ever to make the cut in the tournament.
Follow us on social media @womensgolfday & @frmgolf as I will be sharing the adventure and taking you behind the scenes from the two events and much more.
