Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort in Morocco has become the first golf venue outside Asia to join Asian Tour Destinations (ATD), expanding the exclusive network beyond the continent for the first time.

The resort is the 13th venue to join ATD, a network of world-class golf destinations with direct ties to the Asian Tour. The move follows Mazagan’s hosting of back-to-back professional tournaments earlier this summer on the Asian Tour and Asian Development Tour (ADT), strengthening its connection with professional golf.

Located near El Jadida on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, around an hour by car from Casablanca, Mazagan hosted the am green IGPL Bharath Classic on the ADT in May, followed the following week by the am green IGPL Morocco Rising Stars on the Asian Tour. Both events were jointly sanctioned with the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL).

Thailand’s Tanapat Pichaikool won the Bharath Classic, while Sweden’s Charlie Lindh claimed the Morocco Rising Stars title.

Ken Kudo, General Manager, ADT, said: “Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort received glowing reviews from our members, and staff, at both events this year and so it was a natural fit for them join Asian Tour Destinations. It is genuine recognition of the golf club, and we are also delighted they have become our first non-Asian member, which is an impressive milestone. We look forward to working with them in the years ahead and helping them to achieve their goals through their involvement with Destinations, as well as more events there.”

Mazagan features an award-winning 18-hole golf course designed by nine-time Major winner Gary Player. The resort also has 500 contemporary rooms and suites, a luxury spa, outdoor swimming pools and direct access to seven kilometres of sandy beach.

Jacques Claudel, General Manager of Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, said: “Joining Asian Tour Destinations marks an important milestone for Mazagan and reinforces our ambition to position the resort and Morocco on the international golf map. As the first club outside Asia to join this prestigious network, we are proud to create a new bridge between Morocco, Asia and the global golfing community. This partnership will further enhance Mazagan’s international visibility, while showcasing El Jadida and Morocco as a world-class golf and leisure destination to new audiences around the world.”

Through ATD, Mazagan will gain branding, marketing and networking opportunities with other member venues. Members are certified as Tour-calibre facilities capable of operating under tournament-ready conditions year-round.

Asian Tour players can also play and practise at member venues, creating opportunities for club members to interact with professional golfers.

The ATD network currently includes venues across Singapore, Thailand, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia and Cambodia, with Mazagan now its first member outside Asia. -TradeArabia News Service