Every year, thousands of tourists choose to come to Mauritius to indulge their passion for golf. The island attracts golfers from all over the world thanks to the quality of its courses, some of which have breath-taking views of the Indian Ocean.
The early days of golf in Mauritius
Figures don’t lie! Counting ten 18-hole golf courses covering an area of 1,865 km², Mauritius can proudly boast about being an unmissable golf destination...with a long history. Introduced 170 years ago by the British after they took over the island from the French, the first course dates back to 1844! Indeed, the Gymkhana golf club is the oldest in the southern hemisphere and one of the oldest in the world.
Although the course is only 5,600m long (par 68), it is far from being easy to play. The narrow fairways require great precision and the ability for Europeans to adapt to a turf that can easily slow down the clubhead speed! A course to play for its historical stand.
Golf in the south
The next part of this Mauritian golfing escapade will take place from the south of the island at the Heritage Golf Club! The course is one of the host of the DP World Tour event, the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open. Designed by Peter Matkovich amid beautiful greenery, the holes offer diverse experiences and superb views of the Indian Ocean. The group that owns this course will soon open another one co-designed by Louis Oosthuizen, winner of the British Open in 2010, which will further strengthen the golf offer in this region.
In this part of the island, close to Bois Chéri’ tea plantations, discover one of the most recent courses in Mauritius. Avalon Golf Estate overlooks the south of the island and proposes wide fairways with minimalist landscaping. Here, the climate is more humid and cooler than in other parts of the country, giving a very different character to this course a well worth visit.
Let’s go to Le Morne
Located on the southern coastline, the historic Paradis Golf Club was designed in the early 90’s and stretches along the iconic and majestic Le Morne mountain. Bordered by coconut trees, the course boasts a tropical atmosphere to the delight of tourists who are even more charmed when playing seafront holes. A feast for the eyes but also the most challenging ones of this course.
Heading west!
The west of Mauritius has the longest course in the country! Tamarina Golf’s 6,800m course presents the farthest set of tees and a tricky experience with some very challenging holes when played for the first time. Rodney Wright, the designer, has perfectly respected the topography and the nature of the place, immersing the golfers in an unusual “African” atmosphere.
The fairways of North Mauritius
The north of the island only offers one golfing experience to indulge your passion: Mont Choisy. Peter Matkovich has designed a links-type course near Grand Bay (especially for the first 9 holes) which puts your skills to test due to the breeze consistently sweeping across the course. The challenge is to keep the ball in play and avoid the fataks (high grass) that surround the fairways!
Set in the North-East of Mauritius, The Nine is, according to its name, a 9-hole golf course. But actually its unique feature is that they are all Par 3s! The perfect place to work on your iron game and your short game.
East of Mauritius: the Golf Coast!
The east coast of the country is well established as the “Golf Coast”! Indeed, within 20-min radius, four courses offer a choice of golfing experiences and are among the most beautiful of the Indian Ocean.
The Links seduces players alternating between easy and difficult holes with water hazards and dodlegs that could trick you if you are not careful. Don’t be fooled by its appearance, you might have a hard time!
Its big brother, the Legend, is one of the historical golf courses of Mauritius. Host of the European Senior Tour Finals for many years, this narrow 6,000-metre course built on former hunting grounds, will challenge your game with numerous water hazards and back tees.
The Île aux Cerfs course is probably the most scenic of all the courses in Mauritius. Bernhard Langer’s tricky design on this small piece of land in the heart of the lagoon is balanced by magnificent views of the Indian Ocean from almost every hole. To get there, there is no other choice than a short boat ride which sets the mood for the unique golf experience that awaits!
Anahita Golf Club
An unmissable stop of your golfing escapade in Mauritius is Anahita’s 18-hole designed by the great champion Ernie Els. The championship course twice hosted the DP World Tour tournament and boast six holes along the lagoon, including the breath-taking hole 4 and 17, which are among the most beautiful in the Indian Ocean. The wide fairways stretch over 6,800 meters from back tees and give the opportunity to practice your driving skills. However, hitting the greens is not a piece of cake!
This quick overview of Mauritian courses highlights the array and the quality of golf experiences which you may enjoy during your stay or if you live on the island. New courses will certainly reinforce the destination’s reputation as the Eldorado for golf lovers in the years to come!
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