Assoufid Golf Club - Photo: DR

With the Atlas mountains as a backdrop and near the bustling city of Marrakech, this 18-hole desert-style course opened its doors 12 months ago. It aims to offer golfers an impeccably maintained golf course and exceptional levels of service while protecting the integrity of native natural landscapes.

Shortly after its opening, it won the "Best New African Golf Course 2014" at the World Golf Awards and TripAdvisor also awarded it a "Certificate of Excellence 2015".

Supported by a wide variety of associations and hundreds of participants from around the world, OnCourse®, managed by GEO (Golf Environment Organization), is a simple and effective program that allows golf facilities to improve their commercial results and generate a positive, credible and interesting report against a background of commitment to environmental sustainability.

It can be subsequently used by golf facilities to obtain the GEO Certified® label, the golf sustainability standard that rewards the quality of golfing environments around the world.

"For us, the OnCourse® program is another step on the way to developing a golf course in harmony with its natural environment and the local community," said Guy Maxwell, golf director at Assoufid.

Assoufid Golf Club - Photo: DR

To date, four other golf courses in Morocco have registered for the free OnCourse® program, which allows a club to work independently, and at its own pace, in order to assess its existing practices and take the measures required to satisfy six main criteria: nature, water, energy, supply chain, pollution control and community.

Guy Maxwell added: “It is very important to strike a good balance between protecting the environment and providing a precious asset with positive benefits for the local community in Marrakech. This first step made with OnCourse® and GEO underlines our responsibility with regard to the creation of sustainable development which future generations can benefit from. "

Within the framework of a superb 222 hectare resort, which will include a hotel and real estate residences, Assoufid Golf Club is the first creation of Niall Cameron, Scottish PGA professional and former regular on the European Tour.

This golf course has been designed to blend into the existing landscape and encourage the flourishing of native flora and fauna while minimizing water consumption.

GEO (http://www.golfenvironment.org/) is a credible non-profit organization based in Scotland and supported by numerous golf organizations around the world including the R&A, USGA, The Ryder Cup, European Tour, IAGTO and many national golf federations. GEO is currently collaborating with the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism as part of its sustainability initiative, with significant funding from the European Tour.

For more information on Assoufid Golf Club: www.assoufid.com/fr

For more information on the Golf Environment Organization: www.golfenvironment.org