4 reasons to play golf in Mauritius

4 reasons to play golf in Mauritius

Prestige
Sitting in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar, Mauritius is a paradise island. The golf travel industry’s ‘Destination of the Year for Africa, the Gulf States and Indian Ocean’ has a collection of nine courses, with the latest (Avalon) recently opening after staging the inaugural Mauritius Open in May.

Variety
Each course provides a different experience and although Heritage and Ernie Els’ Anahita are the stand-outs, Ile Aux Cerfs (formerly Le Touessrok) is arguably the most memorable – as you reach the island hosting the Bernhard Langer design by boat. The Heritage and Anihita are modern classics with the former offering a terrific variety of holes with plenty of water to avoid, not least at the driveable risk-reward par-4 9th and thrilling par-5 finale. Anahita, close to Ile Aux Cerfs, runs alongside the ocean and has fast sloping greens and deep bunkers. It is bound to be a stern test for the pros next year. There is also Paradis – plotted under iconic Morne Mountain beside the crystal clear lagoon of the Morne Peninsula – and Tamarina, more of a parkland set-up with a thrilling climax that sees the final green tantalisingly sitting beyond a gaping chasm.

History
Our paradise base was the Heritage Le Telfair, tucked away in the south west of Mauritius in the district of Bel Ombre, one of the most unspoilt parts of the island. Named after Charles Telfair who owned a sugar plantation in the region in the 19th Century, the
French colonial-style hotel sits between the Heritage course and the ocean with mountain backdrops. It has a wide range of activities and facilities while the rooms are top drawer with many close to swimming pools and just feet from the beach. With plenty of restaurants to choose from, the all-inclusive package is out of this world.

Activities
Many activities, such as canoes, pedaloes and glass bottom boat trips, are part of all-inclusive packages. You can also chill out in style in the sumptuous Seven Colours Spa or enjoy an exhilarating 4×4 trip around the nearby Federica Nature Reserve where we spotted deer, wild boar, parrots and giant fruit-eating bats.