Born in France, Clément Rousseau director of golf at Michlifen Golf & Country Club in Morocco feels very much at home in the French-speaking North African country.

With 15 years of experience working in the golf industry as a PGA professional and as a director of golf, Rousseau relocated to Morocco from his role as golf operations manager at Vattanac Golf Resort in Phnom Penh, Cambodia earlier in the summer.

And he has quickly acquainted himself with his new role at the unique mountain course.

Forming part of the iconic Michlifen Resort & Golf – recognised as one of the region’s finest and most exclusive spa and alpine retreats – Michlifen Golf & Country Club opened for play in 2018 and is located in the historic mountain town of Ifrane, a 45-minute drive from the historic city of Fez and often referred to as ‘Little Switzerland’ due to its Alpine architecture.

Set at an altitude of 1,650 metres, the 18-hole championship golf course is the first Jack Nicklaus signature design in North Africa and is set on a stunning natural site in the ecologically recognised Ifrane National Park, overlooking the Atlas Mountains and expansive forests of cedar and oak trees.

The views are spectacular and the variety of holes make for an incredible golf experience.

“The golf course at Michlifen plays at a high elevation – over 5,400 feet or almost 1,650 meters – so it will be comfortably cool during the peak summer months, when much of the golf will be played,” commented Nicklaus.

“I just think once you take this very special mountain setting at Ifrane, and combine it with what we believe we have accomplished at Michlifen from a design perspective, it makes for a very unique, exciting and fun golf course to play.

“I am one who does not single out holes, and I certainly don’t believe in a signature hole when I have been given the mandate to create 18 equally spectacular holes,” Nicklaud added. “But when assessing these breath-taking views at Michlifen, they are truly taken into full breadth at holes 9, 17 and 18.”

Since moving to Morocco in June, Rousseau has been tasked with managing the golf course in partnership with IMG. And a quick glance at his CV indicates that he is more than qualified for the role.

Fluent in English, Spanish and his native French, Rousseau studied International Golf Business at the University of Poitiers and then went onto study at the PGA School Creps De Vichy earning a Golf Instructor Degree.

He landed his first director of golf role at Sofitel Malabo Sipopo Le Golf in Equatorial Guinea in 2015, and four years later spent a brief period back in his homeland at Golf de Margaux before, in October 2020, moving to the Troon-managed Vattanac Golf Resort in Cambodia.

Responsible for the day-to-day management at the Faldo-designed 36-hole golf destination, Rousseau was managing a team of over 200 (including 150 caddies and 25 staff members) but never really settled in the Far East.

After restructuring the golf operations department, in his own words he was “seeking career advancement and was keen to share [his] experience to face a new professional challenge.”

And for the ambitious 36-year-old, that new challenge came in North Africa.

“I am absolutely in love with Michlifen and am very impressed with the course and how Jack Nicklaus designed it in the middle of the incredible Atlas Mountains,” he said. “After four years of opening, the playing conditions are excellent and the whole team and IMG have done a great job.”

Michlifen provides guests with a unique natural experience where you can see the most incredible array of wildlife while walking through the course, and Rousseau states that golfers who visit Michlifen come for an experience that goes beyond the golf course.

“To be able to play a Jack Nicklaus Signature course on top of the mountains with all the spectacular vistas is something simply unforgettable. Not to mention the amazing hospitality and culinary on offer.

“In Cambodia, golfers have very high expectations in terms of golf course maintenance and are very detailed orientated, and always looking for personalised service,” he said, recalling his time at Vattanac.

“This is an experience that will be very valuable here at Michlifen in that it matches what we are trying to achieve as we aim to continue improving our service standards and amaze our members and guests every time they visit us.

“The majestic clubhouse with the view from the terrace overlooking the 18th green and the Atlas Mountains is definitely one of the most impressive features and helps contribute to a simply unique experience.

“The clubhouse was built using the finest materials and interiors, providing a comfortable place to relax before or after the round of golf in the company of family, friends and business colleagues.

“Morocco is famous for being one of the most welcoming countries in the world and our team is just proof of that. Whether a member, visitor or hotel guest, we can ensure golfers will have a great time with us, on and off course.”

The five-star resort features 71 rooms and suites, as well as a 3500m² spa, and members and guests at Michlifen receive a lot of other benefits as well as the stunning golf course and clubhouse.

“We are blessed to have one of the most well-equipped Golf Academies not only in Morocco but also in the whole of North Africa.

“The Academy features three IMG Performance Studios offering the latest in custom fitting and teaching technology including Trackman, Sam Putt Lab and Sam Balance Lab.

“Michlifen also works closely with the Royal Golf Federation of Morocco, whose mission is to develop and promote the practice of golf and organise and manage competitions,” he adds.

“We are working closely together to help grow the game of golf in this part of Morocco, and we’re actually running two school projects with the local community offering kids from Ifrane and Bensmim the opportunity to try golf and learn more about the game completely free of charge.”

The tuition available at Michlifen is also outstanding and the experienced head professional Saddek Bouhlal has a wide range of experience in teaching players of all abilities including juniors, adults, elite players, and beginners.

There is also particular focus on group lessons for hotel guests, companies as well as schools and universities.

“IMG’s management team oversees Michlifen Golf & Country Club’s development and frequently visit us to support on different areas,” added Rousseau. “Having their support is very important not only for me but for the whole golf team.”

IMG helped Rousseau host the first edition of the Michlifen Pro-Am this year, with him stating: “After two difficult years with the pandemic, we really wanted to give national and international golfers the opportunity to come back to Michlifen and play a fun and exciting Pro-Am.

“We had a number of international teams and were sponsored by several IMG Prestige venues from around the world. Overall, the event was a huge success and will definitely be repeated in 2023!”