President’s Message

There are dreams that stand the test of time. There are ambitions which, carefully sown, ultimately bear fruit beyond what even their creators might have dared to imagine. The fiftieth anniversary of this tournament is one such achievement.

It all began in 1971. An exceptional course had just come into being, one of the most beautiful in the world, and with it, the steadfast determination of His Late Majesty King Hassan II, may he rest in peace, to provide it with a setting worthy of its stature. An event befitting its distinction. A tournament matching its elegance. Who could have foreseen, then, that this vision would endure for half a century without ever faltering?

Yet therein lies the greatness of one who dared. To create is one thing; to create with such foresight is rare. Fifty editions later, this Trophy stands as living proof that a just ambition, carried forward with consistency, ultimately finds its place in legend.

That legend has also been shaped at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. Over the years, this course has welcomed many of the great names of world golf. Billy Casper holds a special place here: a two-time winner of the tournament, he maintained a strong bond with Morocco. Alongside him, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Severiano Ballesteros, Vijay Singh, Nick Price, Ernie Els, Bernhard Langer, Sam Snead, Sir Nick Faldo, José Maria Olazábal, Johnny Miller, Tom Lehman, Raymond Floyd, Payne Stewart, Pádraig Harrington, and many others have helped establish the Hassan II Trophy and Royal Golf Dar Es Salam as landmark references in the history of international golf. This influence is also rooted in the quality of the venue, which has evolved over time to remain true to its legacy.

The course itself has entered a new dimension. Recently redesigned, this architectural masterpiece now offers an even greater level of challenge; one worthy of the finest professionals who compete here and who, year after year, leave with the sense of having experienced something truly unique.

Yet this fiftieth edition celebrates more than a venue or a record of champions. It celebrates a generation. For this course has witnessed the emergence of young Moroccan talents, promising players forging their path with determination, and who will become, tomorrow, ambassadors of Moroccan golf on both the national and international stage.

Today, the sporting vision has been fulfilled. It is affirmed, robust, and recognized. And this Trophy, more than ever, highlights what Morocco does best: bringing together excellence, ambition, and international influence.

A particular source of pride is the irrigation of the three courses at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam using treated wastewater, establishing a model that is to become the standard for golf courses across Morocco.

To all those who have contributed to this journey over the decades—players, partners, medias, organizers —thank you. You have transformed a dream into an institution.