Driving ambition
MOROCCAN BREAKS: Escaping the bustle of Marrakech gets easier thanks to a number of new golf courses, says Andy Waple.
EACEFUL and relaxing are not words to describe the old medina of Marrakech, where a cauldron of babbling market traders try to sell a myriad of goods to haggling locals and mesmerised tourists.
Foreigners may feel intimidated by the hubbub, yet after a day or two most tourists lose their apprehension and realise they are in the centre of one of the world’s greatest showgrounds. The theatre of life has no greater stage than the old town and souks of Marrakech.
Its focal point is the famous Jemaa el Fna square, which transforms from a large empty space during the day to a carnival of flaming torches, woodsmoke and the incessant beating of drums that fill the night sky while visitors part with their dirhams to witness snake charming, belly dancing or to be photographed with a monkey on their shoulder.
Organised chaos appears to be the norm in Marrakech and today the city is a blend of the old and new. The historic medina, where 300,000 locals live, is jammed with 4,000 street market stalls selling everything from tanned leatherware to carpets, clothing, belts, copperware to olives, mint, spices and exotic scents such as ambergris. The new area began when the city expanded beyond the defensive walls as a winter retreat for French diplomats and dignitaries as a result of Moroccan colonisation. Soon it became a top destination for high society across the Western world and it remains Morocco’s showpiece attracting international celebrities by the score.
With government policy encouraging more diverse income sources Marrakech is enjoying a boom in golf tourism. Its appeal lies in its mild winters and close proximity to Europe’s golf tourism market making the city an excellent option for golfers.
The handful of long-established courses has been joined by a number of new ones and there are more in the pipeline.
One of the biggest draws that fully exploits Marrakech’s cultural experience