Gary Player Design has been awarded a contract to redesign 27-holes at Royal Golf de Marrakech in Morocco.

“This is going to be a really fun and interesting project.” said Gary Player. “We visited Morocco earlier this year and spent time at Royal Golf de Marrakech. It is a beautiful property.”

Royal Golf de Marrakech was founded in 1923 by the Pasha of Marrakech, Thami El Hadj Glaoui Mezouari. France’s only Open Champion, Arnaud Massy, was responsible for much of the course’s design during the 1930s. Now, with an eye to hosting the European Tour’s 2013 Hassan II Trophy tournament, Royal Golf wants create a championship course capable of testing the best golfers in the world. “The course as it is right now is quite nice, but with the changes in club and ball technology over the years some of the holes are too short for championship play,” said Marc Player, CEO of The Player Group.

“Our plan is to protect the integrity of the existing course and incorporate modern design techniques with special attention being paid to environmental sensitivity,” said Player Design president Scott Ferrell. “We are respecting existing corridors and trees as much as possible, but updating the course by adding length where possible, repositioning tees, re-contouring greens and fairways, improving visibility, introducing strategic elements, and implementing today's technology in terms of drainage, irrigation and maintenance techniques. The final course will be playable for all levels of golfers and present a stiff challenge for professionals playing from the back tees.”