mauritius
Whilst a relative newcomer to golf tourism Mauritius is fast becoming a Mecca for golfing holidays boasting six Championship-quality 18-hole courses. Golfers looking for their next golfing holidays will certainly not be disappointed by the year-around sunshine, great beaches, luxurious hotels and friendly service.
An added advantage of golf in Mauritius is that many golf courses have developed strategic alliances to offer reciprocal deals. This allows golfers to pay more than one course on a visit with relative ease.
Members of our Mahlatini team have played all of the major courses on the island. The general opinion is that the two courses at the Belle Mare Plage are the best in Mauritius. The Legends Course is a tight course with a lot of water and tough scrub and volcanic rock if you venture from the fairways. The 18th is a super dogleg with water all the way up the right - a real risk and reward hole. Also worth a mention is the signature 17th which is a delightful par 3 across a picturesque bay.
The Links course is not as tough off the tee box as the Legend course but with a number of elevated greens and well placed bunkers equally difficult to post a low score.
There are two other courses on the East Coast, the relatively new Ernie Els designed Anahita Golf Course and the very well known Le Touessrok.
Le Touessrok Golf Course is an 18-hole, par-72 course designed by Bernhard Langer. It was recently named 10th best golf course in the world by both Golf World magazine (UK). All 18 holes have views of the ocean - some with glimpses across clearings through the trees; others by coming close to the shore. Guests of Le Touessrok are also welcome to tee off at the lush Gary Player 9-hole, par-33 course at nearby Le Saint Géran.
Anahita The Resort with wide open fairways allows for some fun off the tee. The only problem is that at the clever end the greens are tricky and very well protected by natural features as well as deep bunkers. There are spectacular views all over the course and in particular over the finishing 3 holes.
On the West Coast the course at Paradis / Dina Robin has arguably some the best greens on the island. It is a very walkable course with no hills. On the 16th and 17th hole you are able to catch a glimpse of the whole bay and indeed the entire course is set in stunning scenery with a mountain backdrop. Some have been put off by the state of the fairways however on the whole it offers a great day out.
Also on the West Coast is Tamarina, a course with a real African feel in thorny bush on the driest part of the island overlooking the Tamarin Bay and crossing a river gorge. All in all a great test of golf but at all times very fair. The clubhouse is superb with a great patio area to sit and watch the sun go down over paradise with a cold beer.
In the south west you have the Golf du Chateau course at Heritage Awali and Le Telfair Resorts. The first 5 or 6 holes look down on the ocean and over the hotel and provide some spectacular views. Despite it being a championship course the Golf du Chateau is one which amateurs will find an enjoyable one. It offers just enough risk and reward holes to provide a challenge without major frustration.
You can hire locally and all courses offer known brand name clubs like Callaway and Taylormade. They currently charge around £25 per round for the hire of the clubs. A couple of balls are generally included with these hired clubs and for any more you may be charged. We would advise you to take plenty of golf balls as recycling of balls is a big industry for budding entrepreneurs and we can guarantee you will lose more than usual!
All of the 18-hole courses have practise facilities with range balls to purchase. A few of the courses make caddy cars mandatory and charge for them. Some courses also offer golf trolleys or caddies.
Royal and Ancient Rules of Golf apply and distances are in metres. Some courses offer as many as five different tees to vary the degree of difficulty.
Photography by: Belle Mare Plage, Paradis Resort & Anahita the Resort
Contact Greg at Mahlatini for further information on a Golf Holiday to Mauritius
Weather
The weather in Mauritius is great year-round and during the European school holidays (July / Aug) it is warm (mid to high 20’s Celsius) despite it being the winter season. As the months June – Sept are the low season this means that you can get some excellent discounts. During school holidays there will be plenty of other families at the hotel providing kids with other children to play with.
Almost all hotels in Mauritius accept children and cater for them specifically in providing excellent kid’s clubs where your children (and teenagers) will be kept constantly entertained. This also allows mum and dad to get some well earned relaxation time. There are also babysitting services available in the evenings. As well as this, most hotels offer family rooms, 2 bedroom apartments, villas or at the very least, standard rooms with sleeper beds to accommodate one child.
Travel
The flight to Mauritius from Europe is an easy one with no jet lag and is usually overnight. You are not required to have vaccinations or take anti malaria tablets for a visit to Mauritius unless combined with another country. No visas are required either.
Activities
When you have an active family you are likely to be concerned that there will be enough to do in an island paradise. There is plenty to do in Mauritius, apart from just enjoying the sunshine on the beach or at the pool. All hotels offer a wide variety of land and water sports, many of which are free of charge. There is also plenty to do on the island itself, from excursions to Grand Bay or Port Louis to swimming with dolphins, catamaran cruises, deep sea fishing and even walking with lions!
The sea water is very safe to swim in so you can easily keep an eye on your children from the beach as they frolic safely in the water.
As a whole Mauritius is a very safe country politically so you have no need to be concerned about the overall safety of your family.
Accommodation
Many hotels in Mauritius also offer an all inclusive meal basis which for many families is appealing. This means not having to continuously worry about every drink or snack being consumed by your children going onto a large bill at the end of your stay.
We also feel that Mauritius will particularly suit extended families who wish to spend some quality time together. Grannies, grandpas, kids, parents, uncles and aunts can all be accommodated together in large, self contained villas or residences complete with private pools, kitchens etc. This way the family have the privacy of a home from home environment but can still make use of all the nearby hotel facilities.
Families of adults or teenagers who like golf would particularly suit resorts offering these above mentioned villa type accommodations such as the Belle Mare Plage, Anahita The Resort or Tamarina.
For more adventure for your family why not combine Mauritius with a safari in South Africa or Kenya.
Resorts for Families
Below is a selection of our favourite resorts for families including all-inclusive resorts:
Belle Mare Plage
Legends Resort
Heritage Awali
Shandrani Resort
Le Mauricia
Anahita The Resort
Dina Robin
Paradis
Beau Rivage
Contact a specialist about a Mauritius Holiday
Surrounded by the warm, crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean, Mauritius offers the ultimate tropical paradise holiday. This picturesque island is renowned for the hospitably of the locals, the elegant hotels and some of the world’s finest beaches and lagoons. Mauritius appeals to all types of peoples from honeymooners, to families and golfers. The standard of hotels in Mauritius is exceptionally high. Below are 5 of my favourite luxury hotels on the island:
Le Prince Maurice is the type of hotel that most couples envisage when they imagine a romantic island getaway. It ticks all the boxes: luxurious rooms, fine dining experiences, top class service and a secluded beach. For these reasons as well, the hotel will attract upmarket families and golfers. Classed as a 5 star superior hotel it is protected from the winds in a peaceful peninsula ensuring maximum privacy for its guests. The hotel offers two room types, the junior suite (some of which are on stilts in the lagoon) and villas. There are 9 villas which offer direct beach access and a heated private pool. 3 villas (without private pool) are on stilts overlooking the natural fish reserve. Le Prince Maurice offers incredible value for honeymoons during the winter months with a bride stays free special.
Belle Mare Plage is situated along 2 km of long white sandy beach which is protected by an offshore coral reef, therefore, making it ideal for swimming, water sports and snorkelling. Nominated as "Best Golf Resort", "Best Activity Resort" & "Best Honeymoon Resort" for Luxury Travel Readers Awards 2007 it is easy to see why. The rooms are luxurious and modern; the service is excellent and it is a golfer’s paradise. There are two 18 hole golf courses at the Belle Mare Plage (The Legend and The Links) which guests at Le Prince Maurice can also use.
I loved the choice of restaurants on offer and the size of the hotel ensures that you can find areas all to yourself. While it is great for families I don’t think honeymooners would be put off, particularly as the hotel offers excellent honeymoon specials. If you can stretch the budget I recommend option for the villas – they are out of this world!
Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Spa Resort is a 5 star superior hotel situated on the south west coast. The hotel is a member of the "Small Luxury Hotels of the World" and is infused with the charm and style of a colonial sugar plantation past. The setting is simply stunning and the architecture is entirely unique. I grew up seeing the old sugar plantations in Durban, South Africa and I love these colonial buildings built in this style. Heritage le Telfair is sophisticated and I suppose I would say formal to a point. The decor of the rooms is understated with antique furniture and the gardens are really fragrant. I love the river running through the property and the bar really has to be seen to be believed. It reminds me of the colonial style Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town.
Attached to the Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Spa Resort is the magnificent 18 hole "Golf du Château" golf course which covers 100 hectares. This hotel would suit anyone looking for something unique, and for anyone wanting top class service, exquisite food and luxurious surroundings.
The stylish 5 star superior Dinarobin Hotel Golf & Spa is situated along my favourite coast in Mauritius, the south-west, at the foot of the Morne Mountain. The suite-only hotel is spread along the wide stretch of beach so you don’t feel like everything is on top of you. The service is exceptional and I liked the fact that I could vary my time spent here by going across to the sister hotel Le Paradis and eating out or partaking in their activities. The resort will be particularly enjoyed by golfers (there is an 18-hole course at Le Paradis), however, couples and families will also find a lot to like at the Dinarobin. The family rooms in particular provide outstanding facilities.
In terms of setting and lay out, Les Pavillons Resort is my outright favourite of all the hotels in Mauritius. The mountain backdrop is simply stunning and I love the way the rooms are set back in beautiful lush gardens. The architecture reminds me of Bali. While the rooms possibly wouldn’t be as large or as plush as other resorts would offer, I personally love the decor and the elegant features. It is smaller than most hotels which again would be my personal preference and the beach is heavenly. In my opinion Les Pavillons is the perfect hotel for couples. Its prime location protects it from the trade winds and being on the West Coast it has the most beautiful sunsets.
Contact a specialist about a Holiday in Mauritius