A Seychelles Golf Holiday

First spotted by the Portuguese, occasionally ravished by pirates and finally occupied and named Seychelles by the French, this archipelago nation is one of the hottest tourist destinations in the world. Set in the brilliant blue of the Indian Ocean, Seychelles has the smallest population of any sovereign state of Africa, yet it is one of the most widely acclaimed groups of holiday islands famous for its beaches, rich cultural heritage and surprisingly for well planned resort style golf vacations.

Seychelles neighbors nearby islands of Zanzibar, Mauritius, Réunion, Comoros, Mayotte and Maldives. Once a British Crown Colony, Seychelles today is an independent Republic and although politics is a hotly debated topic on its 33 (out of a staggering 115) tropical islands, tourism takes precedence over everything else. Its beautiful coral and granite islands offer tourists exotic locales, world class resorts and a host of recreational activities including golf. The country boasts of 4 spectacular courses on different islands and is gaining the attention of golf tours across the world.

Getting to Seychelles is easy as Air Seychelles connects the capital city of Victoria very well with international locations. Once you are in Victoria, get started on your golf travel by taking a short helicopter ride to the island of Praslin or Ile De Praslin as it is known officially, for three 18-hole courses at the Lemuria Resort Golf Course. You can also try Cat Cocos – a high speed catamaran service between Mahe and Praslin – for a 30 minute breathtaking ride in the Indian Ocean to get to Lemuria.

The Lemuria golf course is an 18-hole championship course in Anse Kerlan. Designed by Rodney Wright and Marc Farry, the course at Lemuria runs to 5341 meters for a par of 70 and offers a tough challenge to golfers of all levels. Elevated tees, wide fairways and water hazards that come into play on several holes make this one an absolute delight. Bordering the enchanting beaches of the Small Kerlan Cove and the Great Kerlan Cove, this course must be included in your golf package for its intelligent layout and spectacular scenery. The course charges no fees for residents of the resort and visitors need to pay just $30 for a round.

The next course on your Seychelles golf holiday would be the Le Reef Golf Club on the Isle De Mahe. A 9-hole course attached to The Reef Hotel, this course is an easy one for adept players but pleasant for all. The layout runs across a mangrove swamp and among other hazards are crabs who have often been charged with stealing the balls!