Mauritius is a world renowned vacation paradise and outside of the obvious attractions of the sunshine, palm-fringed beaches and crystal blue waters, that make it such a popular destination for family holidays, are its golf courses.
The south of the island is away from the bustle of the capital Port Louis in the east and Grand Bay to the north.
This region is only a 1 hour and 20 minute transfer by road, from the international airport, through one of the most scenic and unspoiled parts of the island and is home to the Heritage Resort in Bel Ombre.
Mauritius is a cultural melting pot and the translation of the French bel ombre into English – beautiful shade or shadow – underlines the strong francophone influences on the island.
Heritage Bel Ombre is set in 2 500 hectares of gently sloping grassland and is home to the Heritage Golf Club, a beautifully designed and manicured 18-hole championship golf course which will be hosting a European Tour event – the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open from 5 to 8 December 2019. Heritage GC continuing to host such a prestigious event is in no small part due to its having won the prestigious award as the ‘best course in the Indian Ocean’ for the past 5 years.
The other exciting news is that a second course, which will have Louis Oosthuizen as its co-designer with Peter Matkovitch (who also designed Heritage GC), is currently under construction.
The resort’s facilities are truly comprehensive and all have a very Mauritian feel.
In combination with a choice of 2 luxury hotels on site – Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort and Heritage Awali Golf & Spa Resort, both of which are in Small Luxury Hotels of the World’s exclusive portfolio – Heritage Bel Ombre offers just about every amenity a vacationer would need.
The ‘menu’ ranges from 12 restaurants and 8 bars, to 2 spas fitness centres centres, a boat house, activity centres for both tots and teens through to a range of beach related activities.
We shall need to travel inland from Heritage Bel Ombre to get to Avalon Golf Estate, which is the island’s highest altitude golf course and one of the few inland layouts.
The estate provides its homeowners with a unique residential opportunity including a magnificent modern clubhouse complete with a restaurant, bar 1/2 way house and pool area.
Although Avalon is inland, the ocean is never far away and the views from the magnificent golf course are quite superb and on a clear day the southern coastline and the blue waters of the Indian Ocean can been seen from all 18 holes.
The course was also designed by Peter Matkovitch, but presents an entirely different type of golfing challenge to that posed by Heritage GC.
From a golf perspective the Golf Bliss package, that is available to all guests residing at Heritage Resorts, golfers have access to the courses at Tamarina, Paradis, Heritage and Avalon making this the most cost-effective solution to playing these courses.
Read more from Regional Editor, John Cockayne in this first edition of Destination Golf- Southern Africa & Indian Ocean;