A Golf Vacation In Paradise: Mauritius Calling

Mauritius is one of the most beautiful islands nations of the world, marked by flamboyance and a relaxed atmosphere at the same time. Studded like a gem in the turquoise blue Indian Ocean, Mauritius is one of the most exotic golf holiday destinations in the world. Although most golf vacationers find it rather hard to choose between its silvery beaches and captivating sea-front golf courses, golf usually wins by a majority.

Situated 1200 miles off the coast of Africa, Mauritius is a maritime wonder with 150 miles of uninterrupted beaches, dramatic coral reefs and picturesque mountains. Can you imagine what a golf travel enthusiast to Mauritius might experience on its golf courses? ‘Pure Bliss’ would be a good answer and invariably a true one.

Tourism is big business and the backbone of the Mauritian economy; people take tourism very seriously as is evidenced in the quality of its resorts & hotels, its warm friendly people and its superbly maintained golf courses. A golf vacation to Mauritius is an experience to remember with its mix of cultures, a rich historical heritage and golf courses that will become the happy places you return to in bad times.

Start off your golf tour of Mauritius with The Bella Mare Plage Golf Club in Poste de Flacq. The club offers two beautiful courses: The Legend and Lemuria; both designed by the South African designer Hugh Biaocchi. The Legend is located on the east coast of Mauritius and forms one of the three Hotel Constance Championship Courses. Set to US PGA regulations, the layout plays 6014 meters for a par of 72. Eighteen holes are featured on wide fairways that end up on impeccably maintained greens and the underlying volcanic terrain makes for a testing round of golf.

Also include the Links Course at Bella Mare Plage in your golf package to get a taste of a Rodney Wright/Peter Allis layout. This 18-hole par 71 course opened to rave reviews in 2002 and is a captivating layout. However, don’t let its apparent innocence fool you because all that rolling terrain starts showing up tricky water hazards on the back nine, making you wonder if your golf vacation isn’t really a working holiday in disguise. Thinking about the hefty green fees you’ll have to play these beauties? Don’t, because all this golf is free! Now, that’s what I call a golf holiday!

The south coast of the island is home to the 18-hole championship course designed by Matkovich & Hayes– the Heritage Golf & Spa Resort. Located in Bel Ombre, this one must be included in your golf package for the sheer beauty of its surroundings. Other courses that would make your golf tour memorable are The Maritim Golf Course in Balaclava, Paradis Hotel & Golf Club on the Le Morne Peninsula, the Gary Player designed Saint – Géran Golf Club in Poste De Flacq and the Mashie Course on the Shandarani Golf Courses in Blue Bay.

The best thing about a golf tour of Mauritius is that you get the most spectacular views of the Indian Ocean, play the most relaxing and equally challenging courses, wallow in luxury at some of the world’s best hotels and pay no green fees because golf is either free or included in your resort package. Packing your clubs already?