Review of Palmeraie Golf Palace, by Graeme Harwood

When the Palmeraie Golf Palace opened up in 1993 as the only five star resort hotel in North Africa, someone should have put it on the map. Arriving by car, you’ll eventually locate it in the middle of a Palm Grove, fifteen minutes from the airport (by free pick-up); or from the centre of town, going due North (by free hotel shuttle every hour). Fly over it and there would be no point travelling if you couldn’t see it. The Palmeraie Golf Palace is, in both size and concept, almost a separate suburb of Marrakech.

In common with all out-of-town resort hotels, it wants to give you as little reason as possible to leave it. And, apart from the odd bout of shopping or sightseeing, maybe you won’t - especially when you see what’s on offer. In fact, the list is so mind-boggling I’d advise you to sit down for the next bit. 200 hectares of gardens with plenty of bougainvillea, jacaranda, roses and hibiscus to splash colour and perfume about; four clay tennis courts; five swimming pools; two squash courts; mini-golf; a ten-pin bowling alley; serious health and beauty centre; restaurants serving Moroccan, Italian, Chinese, International, French haute cuisine and Dietetic fare; fourteen conference rooms; 314 bedrooms, all with balcony terrace, sitting room and marble bathroom; a karaoke bar; a Viennese patisserie; a 17-horse stable and riding school; not to mention an 27-hole golf course.

But I must do distinctly more than just mention it because the Palmeraie Golf Palace is very proud of its middle name. The golf course, supervised by Canadian Pro, Stefan Talbot, was designed by the world’s top man, Robert Trent Jones, being only one of three he’s done in Morocco, none other in Marrakech.

Greens, fairways, white sand bunkers and lakes are all aesthetically blended in front of the snowy High Atlas Mountains - all of which can be taken in from the comfort of your electric car. Throw in caddies, a magnificent Club House and access to the other two 27f-hole courses in Marrakech and you’ve pretty much got Golfer Heaven.

Inevitably with a resort hotel of this size - needing incentive, touring and golfing groups etc. (even Mr. P. Diddy’s star-studded birthday bash was staged here) - you won’t avoid the sense that you are just one more cog in a huge wheel. It goes with the territory. I got lost more times in the vast, liveried corridors of the hotel than I’d care to admit, whilst breakfast and back was little short of a work-out.

Double rooms swing a long way in price, depending on the time of year. I would suggest B&B as it leaves you free to try evenings outside the hotel. Golfers and equestrians will need no second invitation to stay at the Palmeraie Golf Palace.