Tunisia: This African giant is the next big golf destination

“Whatever you do, don’t tell anyone about Tunisia!” That was the cry from a member of the group of a dozen golfers on their final day of playing golf around the North African superpower.

The group of Brits, like so many of us, had spent the last few years heading to one of the typical, all-inclusive, golf holiday destinations.

Why, then, were they now spending their annual break in Tunisia and not somewhere like Turkey, Spain, or Portugal?

Well, as I found out over the following days, there is a multitude of reasons why golfers looking for a change to their usual golf holiday might just consider hopping on a Tunisair flight to Africa’s most northern country.

Will that band of golfers that we encountered on our trip have Tunisia to themselves for much longer? If what I found is anything to go by, they’re going to have plenty of company in the coming years.

Travel Tales

When I heard that I was jetting off to Tunisia, I assumed that I was in for a long flight. I had envisioned a six-hour journey to get to the seemingly distant lands of Africa. That wasn’t the case.

Flights from London Gatwick to Tunis – the capital city – take a little over two and a half hours. It really is remarkable to think that at 11am I was sitting on the tarmac in London and just after lunchtime, I was disembarking in Tunisia.

It might seem like a small point, but that short travel time could mean you sneak in an extra round of golf or two on your travels.

Sightseeing

While the option of golf that afternoon was on the table, it wouldn’t have felt right to head to Tunisia and not see some of the sights this place has to offer.

A short drive from the airport, the town of Sidi Bou Said was our first stop. This is a place with a distinctly Greek feeling – which stands to reason, since we’re on the Mediterranean coast – and it’s popular with tourists.

Here, we got a taste for what was to come from this wonderful nation. Locals that we encountered were exceedingly friendly and I’m not surprised they carried a smile on their faces, as the views across the coast of the continent from Sidi Bou Said are stunning.

Not just that, but this little quaint town is beautiful too. The colour scheme, which is purely white and blue, is a lovely touch that brings plenty of character to this seaside destination.

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Round One: La Foret

After a day of travelling and being tourists, our group woke up well rested and ready to take on the first of two courses at Golf Citrus the next morning. This club is home to 45 holes and is just under an hour’s drive away from Tunis-Carthage airport.

Golf Citrus has been around since the early 1990s and offers two 18-hole courses. We had been told that La Foret was the finest of the two, so we were excited to get underway, in what was the first round of golf in Africa for many of us.

Thanks to the course being busy, which is a sign that golf in Tunisia is booming in popularity, we started our African golf adventure on the back nine. For those of us in the group who studied French at school, we were quickly able to deduce that this course is named after dense woodland. Let me tell you, La Foret lives up to its name.

A special trip this week. It’s my first time in Tunisia and today we played La Foret @golfcitrus. Just a stunning setting in north east Africa. Not much room for error off the tee either, was happy to donate a couple balls to the jungle…😅 pic.twitter.com/65e0qacVcm

— Lewis Fraser (@lewisfras98) April 29, 2025

It’s a brilliant test and even for someone like me, who can hit the ball pretty straight, (and short) off the tee, it posed a real test of nerve. A standout example of this came at the par-5 17th, our eighth hole of the day. I genuinely had a moment on the tee where I couldn’t quite spot the fairway. After two errant drives, I needn’t have worried about where the short grass was, anyway. Hit the fairway, however, and you’re presented with a chance to pick up a birdie.

It would also be remiss not to mention the eighth hole, which was our penultimate of the day. This is a short par-4 that really does test your accuracy. Despite being short by modern standards at around 320 yards, you’ll be delighted to walk away with a four here. Dense scrubland lines this fairway to the left, while a water hazard to the right stops you from taking direct aim at the putting surface. It certainly had our group engaging our brains, which is a rare thing for golf journalists.

This was an exceptionally enjoyable round and one that tested everyone in our group in the right ways. For the lower handicap golfers it was a challenge in accuracy, while the higher handicap players couldn’t reach a lot of the trouble, so the test came around the well-manicured and well-protected greens.

A perfect place to dust off the clubs from their flight and find your rhythm in Tunisia.

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Tough Grain

If you watch a lot of golf from the PGA Tour, you’ll hear grain referenced often on the broadcast. Playing most of my golf in Scotland, this isn’t something that I tend to encounter too much.

But, in Tunisia, this is a very real and very interesting factor that you need to take into account when trying to make your putts. The greens barely had a blemish on them at Golf Citrus, but what they did have was grass that appeared light in colour from one angle and very dark from another.

If you were looking at your putt and the grass was light, your putt was ‘down grain’ and your ball was going to pick up plenty of speed. If the grass was dark, it was growing into you and you’d need to give it a little extra juice.

This might not sound like much, but on some occasions, it made downhill putts feel like they played uphill, and vice versa. A head scratcher.

Hotel Heaven

After long days on the golf course, having somewhere to relax was essential. We had that in abundance at the Hotel Sindbad in Hammamet.

Home to 145 rooms, the Sindbad was just a short drive from Golf Citrus, so it’s the prime spot for golfers heading to Tunisia. What sets this place apart, in my eyes, is its proximity to the beach.

A short stroll from your room is the beach which looks over the Gulf of Hammamet. I can attest that this is the ideal place for a post-round beer and to even out any dodgy tan lines you might have accrued during your round.

Round Two: Les Oliviers

I spoke to plenty of staff around Golf Citrus and they all agreed that La Foret, the first course we played, was the best on the property. However, I have to say, I absolutely loved Les Oliviers and would probably place it higher.

This course is characterised by generous fairways, where if you miss, you’ll still have a chance to get back in play. While olive trees are plentiful around here, you’ll be unlucky to find yourself completely blocked out by one.

The fifth hole, in particular, caught my eye. It’s a short par-4 and even for me, with a good drive, I was able to get greenside. But, as I mentioned, olive trees can play a part here and that was the case on this tempting hole. Despite being 40 yards away, I had to aim away from the hole with my second shot.

While I say that, this isn’t an overly challenging course. No matter your level of play, you’ll be able to get round here in a score close to, or better than your handicap. And even if you don’t, if you can’t have fun here, you’re probably in the wrong sport.

Another memorable tee shot comes at the par-4 13th, which is arguably home to the best view at Golf Citrus. This hole really does question your bottle. How much off the dog-leg do you cut off to avoid the trees and the struggles that will follow?

The final hole of our Tunisia trip was a memorable one. This short par-5 plays back towards the clubhouse and in our match, my team needed a birdie to secure an unlikely half. My playing partner, who just happened to be former Premier League striker Jay Bothroyd, canned a putt from around 40 feet to secure the four. The celebrations capped off what was a hugely memorable two rounds of golf in Africa.

Yesterday was our last day in Tunisia and we spent the night at the beautiful Hammamet Marina. What a way to end an amazing trip. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/NBoYCgpjcU

— Lewis Fraser (@lewisfras98) May 1, 2025

Sea Food, Eat Food

I’m shocked that it’s taken me this long to mention the culinary delights that were on offer in Tunisia. Sure, this is a golf feature, but the grub on offer is important too.

So, allow me to reminisce about the delights that were on offer in Tunisia.

Prawns, lobsters, monk fish, sea bream and sea bass were all on offer and they were all delicious. If seafood is your thing, you’re in luck.

Oh, and make sure to wash it down with a Celtia, a local beer that is all too easy to drink.

After our final meal, a walk down the Hammamet Medina was in order, to reflect on our sweet trip to Tunisia.

There’s no doubt in my mind this is a golf destination on the rise. It won’t be a secret for much longer.

For more information on Tunisia, visit discovertunisia.com.

Lewis Fraser As bunkered’s Performance Editor, Lewis oversees the content that’s designed to make you a better player. From the latest gear to tuition, nutrition, strategy and more, he’s the man. A graduate of the University of Stirling, Lewis joined bunkered in 2021. Formerly a caddie at Castle Stuart Golf Links, he is a member of Bathgate Golf Club where he plays off four.

Performance Editor