MAURITIUS
Sam De’Ath laps up true island life at the stunning Constance Belle Mare Plage resort, with its renowned local cuisine, tranquil beaches and championship-level golf courses
As a self-confessed fair-weather golfer, the blast of heat and humidity I experienced after landing on the east coast of Mauritius during the first week of December was as welcome as you might imagine it to be. The scenery on the way to the resort was breathtaking, with the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean on one side of the road and towering mountains and peaks overlooking the sugar cane fields below on the other. The tone of this trip was set early and I was loving it.
The beautiful island of Mauritius, situated directly east of Madagascar, is known as a premium holiday location – a once-in-a-lifetime kind of destination to which couples and families flock in order to experience the true meaning of ‘island time’. But I don’t believe enough is said about just how idyllic the golf courses are here and how this should be considered a serious contender for anyone seeking the ultimate golfing getaway.
As a former professional golfer turned amateur once more, my competitive nature still runs high and I was eager to get out on the course with the sun beaming down to take part in the Legends Tour MCB Tour Championship pro-am – the event that had brought me to this magical destination. My rural yet scenic shuttle ride ended with me being dropped off at my final destination, the five-star Constance Belle Mare Plage, 60km from the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International airport. After getting my bearings, my face lit up instantly on noticing there was a golf course a drive and flick with a wedge away from my room for the week. The trip was off to a flying start.
Golf courses to die for
There are two courses at Constance Belle Mare Plage – the Legend, a 6,579-yard championship course right beside the resort that hosts the Legends Tour MCB Tour Championship, and the Links course, a five-minute shuttle ride away. The Legend course is a real test of golf, but thoroughly enjoyable nonetheless. It has tight, winding fairways that work their way through a former hunting reserve and water is present somewhere on every single hole.
The courses are built to USGA specifications and the use of Tifdwarf grass provides immaculate playing surfaces. The Links course is much more user-friendly from the tee, but volcanic rock formations and undulating fairways mean you are rarely offered a clear look at the green when playing your approach shot. My favourite hole overall has to be the signature 166-yard par-3 17th on the Legend course. You drive or walk back to what feels like the most secluded corner of the course to be presented with a mid-iron shot over a small inlet to a semi-island green – the
