Around 1,200 miles off the Southeastern coast of Africa, and 500 miles east of Madagascar, lies a faint dot on the map affectionately known as ‘the star and key of the Indian Ocean’.
Roughly the same size as Dorset and boasting over 200 miles of stunning coastline, Mauritius is well and truly an embodiment of tranquillity.
From its rolling hills and dramatic mountains set alongside the tropics, to the milky white sand and emerald green shallows that envelop this tiny nirvana, the country holds an allure that can only be fully comprehended upon visitation.
But while these fabled vistas and endless romantic settings draw so many to this tropical haven beneath the equator, its golfing enticements are not to be overlooked.
Its championship architecture and breathtaking backdrops have played host to the MCB Tour Championship for 14 editions, and recently added the Ladies European Tour to its long list of deeply-charmed devotees.
And to the surprise of none who were fortunate enough to attend the inaugural MCB Ladies Classic – Mauritius, the combination of effort from Constance Belle Mare Plage, MCB, and the Ladies European Tour put on an event that will live long in the memory.
Having pined over golfing in the tropics for many a year, I couldn’t believe my luck when offered the chance to cover the MCB Ladies Classic – Mauritius.
After one of the all-time weeks on the road, looked after unquantifiably by the team at Constance Belle Mare Plage, I couldn’t recommend visiting any higher.
As put by the masterful Mark Twain, “Mauritius was made first, and the heaven; and that heaven was copied after Mauritius”.
Constance Belle Mare Plage
Before we make our way to the golfing debrief, it is sensible to start with the hospitality – one that sells itself superbly aside from the irresistible magnetism of the golf courses.
From the first contact made from afar, sitting in a damp and dreary London, you are instantly made to feel at ease by the incredibly hospitable hotel staff.
The journey begins as the great overseas ones typically do – in the air.
A lengthy but direct flight transports you to the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, 50 kilometres southeast of Port Louis (the capital city). During the descent, you are treated to your first glimpse of the tropical mountain range, impressive and verdant set against a brilliant blue sky.
Upon landing, a member of the team at Constance Belle Mare Plage awaits with water and snacks at hand – before setting out across the land to transport you to your lodgings for the week.
After an hour or so’s taxi ride through the hills and down by the water, giving you time to fully examine the many intricacies of the landscape, you are greeted upon arrival by several staff members, ready and waiting to whisk your bags away in exchange for some cooling towels and local percussion.
One of the first views at the hotel comes atop the stairs to the reception, where an open overhang looks out across a large pool, over the inviting sands, and straight into the vast reef just a stone’s throw away.
You have arrived at Constance Belle Mare Plage.
After any lengthy journey, the comforts of a shower and bed to nestle into are almost too much to resist. But at Constance Belle Mare Plage, with a plethora of activities to try out, cuisines to explore, ocean to swim in, and golf to play – rest is the last thing on your mind.
However, a shower seemed essential after 12 hours on board the Air Mauritius flight. So, after examining the ocean view before me, I set out for my room.
The bags had already arrived – an unprecedented efficiency that would soon become a shameful normality – and I began my perusal of the room.
The suite was so large that it opened up into what was essentially a hallway – branching off first into one of its inlets containing a changing room with all the relevant storage spaces, a classical toilet and, in my eyes, the main event – the bathroom.
Never before had I seen one so big. A state-of-the-art shower on one side, a ‘his and hers’ sink unit on the other, and a bathtub so deep that it could perhaps play the role of the magical lake in Harry Potter.
Furnished with all the relevant toiletries, the bathroom was, to me, a thing of beauty, with windows that opened out onto the main portion of the room.
The double bed lay before a gargantuan television, mounted on the wall opposite and with all the channels that one would need. The bed itself was dreamy, inducing the deepest of sleeps each night, aided by its plush pillows and gratefully received air-conditioning.
Further on lies ‘the living area’, with sofas and chairs surrounding one table – opposite to which sat the desk, which was also most welcome.
Outside, overlooking a resplendent view of one of the numerous swimming pools and onto the beautiful beach below, was the terrace – furnished with sofas, chairs, and a table under a thatched roof.
Elsewhere in the room was an abundantly stocked mini bar, with a coffee machine and pods primed for the following morning.
Having showered and settled into my accommodation, I was greeted by a member of the hotel staff with a bottle of Rosé and a box of local fruits. This was going to be a brilliant stay.
Venturing out bravely into the great unknown (ably aided by a number of welcoming hotel staff and occasionally driven by buggy from A to B), I set out to explore the various culinary delights that the premises had to offer.
It soon became apparent that there was a myriad of options, in the form of a collection of 10 restaurants and bars.
What was fascinating about the food at Constance Belle Mare Plage was the unmistakable and infectious love that the staff all had for it. The resort celebrates food as art, even hosting events such as the annual Constance Festival Culinaire, observing guest chefs and special menus.
They pride themselves on the diverse range of dining experiences that they provide, and from my experience, it is completely unique.
The Blue Penny Cellar, for example, situated underneath the main section of the property, is awe-inspiring in itself. Celebrating bistronomy and containing a wine cellar of 35,000 bottles from over 2,300 different wineries, the Cellar is a sight to behold. I took a particular interest in the cold cuts that they had to offer.
La Spiaggia, the site of dinner on our first evening, has to be a highlight. Tucked at the far end of the resort, alongside the villas, the restaurant looks out onto the staggering ocean. The food, while seemingly impossible, equals the view – celebrating the most delicious Mediterranean dishes.
I could go on, giving you a blow-by-blow of the various Epicurean enchantments at Constance Belle Mare Plage, but on one hand I may run out of copy, and on the other, words cannot do it justice.
To put it simply, you are going to eat extremely well at Constance.
Considering that I don’t have space to list all the catering options on the property, I will be hard-pressed to find room to list all the activities on offer at Constance Belle Mare Plage.
Complimentary activities include the likes of glass-bottom boat trips and snorkelling way out into the extensive lagoon wrapped by the reef on the outer reaches, tennis and padel on floodlit courts, a fitness centre including meditation and tai-chi, waterskiing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, kayaking… the list just goes on and on.
The beach itself is remarkable. Enclosed in the resort, the inviting white sand stretches two kilometres down the coastline, dotted with sunbeds and deckchairs to submit to. With all this space, the beach rarely feels crowded – and it is easy to be lulled into an afternoon siesta by the ankle-height waves lapping gently against the shorefront under the afternoon sun.
A number of idyllic pools wait for those less inclined to the sand – set back just a couple of yards from the beachfront. ‘Adult pools’ are available for those who prefer a quiet swim, while other, larger, pools are available for families of all sizes.
In terms of the paid activities, you can receive coaching in the various complimentary watersports as well as racket sports and golf, while catamaran cruises, underwater walks, speedboat excursions, helicopter trips and horse riding make up only a small part of an endless list of options.
Really, everything you could possibly need or desire during your stay at Constance Belle Mare Plage is right at your fingertips. And just a jump over the road lies, for all intents and purposes, the main celebration of my trip – as I imagine it will be for so many others.
The Legend Course
It seems strange that it has taken this long to get onto the matter of golf, but then again, it’s hard just to breeze past the heavenly Constance.
Fortunately, due to the nature of the trip, there was no shortage of golf to be played and competition to be covered.
The Legend course, one of two courses bound to Constance Belle Mare Plage, is a true test of golf.
Designed by Hugo Baiocchi and opened in 1994, the course has worked closely alongside the Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) to host professional golf tournaments. Having hosted 14 editions of the MCB Tour Championship, with a certain Colin Montgomerie winning back in 2015, and recently hosting the inaugural MCB Ladies Classic – Mauritius, the course is primed to perfection.
From the villas, it is less than a two-minute walk to the first tee box, and from the reception on the far side of the premises – perhaps an eight-minute stroll. The point is, the course is very close to the accommodation – a rare feature for a golfing holiday.
Stepping onto the property, you are greeted past reception with a restaurant that has a scenic view of the 9th green and the entirety of the par-5 18th. Kicking back beneath one of the many fans on the al-fresco deck, a cooling beverage in hand while watching golfers wrap up their round against the vast, descending sun – it’s tough not to smile.
The driving range is well kept – with room for around 20 golfers to practice, hitting on a grass surface out into the palm trees, running parallel with the first fairway. The putting green, a hop, skip, and a jump from the range, contains accurate speeds and undulations to those out on the course, and unfortunately felt many a ball race past the hole while I was ‘dialling in’.
Back inside, a locker room befitting the likes of McIlroy and Woods awaits – containing lockers, benches, neatly arranged towels, cooling showers and all other pertinent supplements.
Playing relatively short at a maximum of 6,600 yards, the true challenge of The Legend Course lies in the hazardous waters that surround 14 of the holes.
The Par-72, encased in what used to be a hunting reserve, is sure to provide any golfer with enjoyment.
The spectacular views play only a small part in this fact – the golf itself is magnificent. Each hole is a test of unwavering accuracy, as tee shots become a crucial element of your game. While the waters and surrounding indigenous trees prove difficult, the fairways are wide enough to take a swing with your driver and find yourself with a short iron into a number of holes.
The greens are fast, but not unmanageable by any means, and greenside bunkers can occasionally become a solid location if there is water behind.
The toughest hole on the course is the par-4 fifth, a straight hole playing around 430 yards. A tight fairway, with water both on the left and more dangerously situated on the right, the hole requires one of those typical straight drives before a nervy long iron into a fortified green.
The signature hole comes on the 17th. The par-3 tee shot hits into a semi-island green, with a boundless inlet of the Indian Ocean stretching far out to the left, as jumping fish frolic in the waters close to the tee box. A short-to-mid iron into a well-bunkered green leaves an appreciable flat putt, under an impressive palm tree.
Heading back to the clubhouse on the par-5 18th, the second shot never fails to be an enjoyable one, as golfers are forced to decide whether to flirt with the water – hitting a long iron or wood into the bunkered green – or to lay up around the inviting lake.
Haphazardly, yet typically, I would opt to take on the water – unsuccessful on every occasion. But shaking hands on the 18th green provides a sense of fulfilment that only a long day of golf can provide.
A cold refreshment back on the decking, and you can’t help but feel that this is how golf should be played every day.
The Links Course
A few minutes down the road from The Legend sits Constance Belle Mare’s second golf course, The Links.
A shuttle bus runs from reception every twenty minutes, transporting residents across to this property outside of the direct hotel boundaries.
Like The Legend, The Links isn’t just a golf course. A deck above the pro shop looks out onto the extensive land, beyond the driving range and past the tenth hole, with a formidable mountain range lurking in the distance.
One side of this sweeping platform is the restaurant area, laden with three-course meals and delicious wines, while on the other half is the bar – making full use of the vista in front of it with deck chairs primed for a cooling beer and some peanuts at the end of a round, or for a coffee before setting out in the morning glow.
The course itself is fantastic, in my eyes better than its aforementioned sister course.
The fairways here rise up and down so sporadically that any golfer who is that way inclined wouldn’t need to head for the gym for their daily workout on their return from the course.
The greens are precariously positioned on various ridges, with a few having to be hit into blind from down low in some cavernous fairway.
Many tee shots permit the golfer to fully unleash their driver, with wide sprawling fairways ready and waiting.
The front nine is one of the most prolific front nines in golf, extending out to the right of the property, encompassed by majestic views and glistening waters – with several shots requiring significant carries over these fine lakes.
Plotting strategy, while perhaps slightly less important than The Legend, is still essential on The Links. I enjoyed consulting the course maps from the safety of my buggy, scheming and discussing with my playing partner as to what angle might be best for the second shot.
All this input into scheming, however, might not have matched with the output of my golf itself, but fun was had nonetheless.
Designed by Peter Allis and Rodney Wright, who also aided the renovation of The Legend course in 2016, the Par-71 plays slightly shorter than The Legend.
Its practice fairway is more sizable, and acted as an overflow spot for the professionals during the MCB Ladies Classic – Mauritius, while the putting green sits atop the hill and has a similar view as the one from the upper decking.
The pro-shop is also heavily equipped, while locker rooms emulate those of The Legend.
Similarly enveloped by water on the front nine, but less so on the back, The Links is the perfect course for holiday golfers, and was extremely well received by all who played it during our trip.
Verdict
So here we are. I was hugely fortunate to spend a wonderful week in Mauritius, a nirvana not only for beach-goers and romantics, but for golfers of all abilities.
The golf on offer may be overlooked when comparing it to the white sands and emerald waters of the Mauritian coastline, but I assure you that it should not be.
It provides the perfect blend of challenging layouts and stunning scenery, the undeniable threat of the glistening water remedied by inviting fairways. This is golf in a world untouched by modern-day requirements.
And the hospitality? Unparalleled, from beginning to end, without a single bump in the road – you are welcomed beyond belief.
If you are looking for your next golfing adventure, Mauritius, and more specifically Constance Belle Mare Plage, is the place for you.
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Hector Vickers
Hector is a freelance sports journalist with experience in both print and broadcast journalism. His main body of work comes from following the England men’s cricket team around the world, working with some of the top pundits in the game, whilst interviewing players and reporting on high-profile matches. His long-term infatuation with golf led him to St Andrews last summer, where he spent a month working as a caddy at Kingsbarns Golf Links, studying the tricks of the trade in links golf. He is beginning his golf journalism career as a Contributor for Golf Today, heading back to St Andrews and Kingsbarns to cover the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.