It’s not often you find yourself surrounded by crystal clear blue seas and white sandy beaches encroaching onto the green carpet fairways, but in Mauritius this has become the norm. If you’re not surrounded by idyllic ocean scenery, then you will be sure to find a dramatic mountainous landscape.
I was lucky enough to recently find myself ditching the thermals and seeking the sun on this beautiful island in the Indian Ocean. With a direct flight from London, I was soon checking in at my hotel - the five-star Anahita Golf & Spa Resort, welcomed with a refreshing cocktail and ice-cold flannel.
It was still early in the day (thanks to a great overnight flight), so it was straight onto the course for me – that’s the beauty of the resorts in Mauritius, complimentary daily green fees come as standard in most hotel packages; it would have been rude not to really!
The Ernie Els-designed Anahita Golf Course was first up and certainly did not disappoint winding its way right alongside the oceanfront, offering a great test of golf in perfect conditions. Over the next few days, I managed to squeeze in rounds at Tamarina and Le Paradis to the south west of the island, which served up even more glimpses of the ocean.
As I worked my way over to the East of the island I stopped for two rounds at the hugely popular Constance Belle Mare Plage Resort, which boast two wonderful championship courses - The Links and The Legends Courses. The former famously hosts the European Seniors Tour annually and it is not difficult to see why the likes of Colin Montgomerie are regulars of the event, with an abundance of memorable holes and plenty of water hazards!
And Belle Mare Plage isn’t the only big hitter on the island with the Heritage Golf Club a multiple-time host to the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open on the DP World Tour (European Tour). Le Château Course is known as one of the very best golf courses in Mauritius, and the all-new La Réserve Golf Links by Louis Oosthuizen is guaranteed to attract golfers from all over the world. Le Telfair and Awali are the two hotels on the resort and both offer packages inclusive of daily golf on Le Château Course.
There was just time for one more round before departing these wonderful shores and what better way to finish than with the picturesque and unique Ile Aux Cerfs Golf Course? Unlike any other course I have ever played you must take a boat to Ile Aux Cerfs Island, where Bernard Langer has sculpted what must be one of the most photographed golf courses in the world.
Do not take the beauty lightly, with a course record scarcely breaking par you will have a fight on your hands. Straight off the tee will serve you well (which is easier said than done, especially if the wind starts blowing) and you will need a hot putter on the rapid and fantastically undulating greens. Yet when strolling down the fairway alongside a private and secluded beach with the crystal-clear ocean backdrop – who really cares about the 3-putt on the last!?
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Mauritius might not be the first place you think of when planning a golf trip, but it should be; wonderful hotels with majestic beaches come as standard but the golf is simply stunning. Add to that, superb food and the very best in Mauritian service and you have the complete destination for your next all-inclusive golf holiday.
