Le Touessrok Golf Course, Mauritius

LAST MAY, WHEN we visited Mauritius, we were pleasantly surprised to find that it has the unique combination of summer golfing weather(between 20 and 30 degrees) with spectacular seaside golf courses connected to comfortable hotels. It is cool enough to golf all day long while being warm enough for a dip in the endless blue ocean.

Our trip was planned along with a few friends to Le Touessrok golf course, built on its very own island Ile Aux Cerfs, just about a seven-minute boat ride from the mainland, and designed by famous German golf superstar of the 80s and 90s, twotime Augusta Masters winner and ten-time european Ryder Cup team member, Bernhard Langer. I had heard a lot about this island golf course and was eagerly looking forward to it.

The par 72, 18 hole course plays across water on nearly every hole and the back nine brings the Indian Ocean into play on nearly every shot. Golfers have to be prepared for blind tee shots, strong winds, small and undulating greens and outcrops of lava rock in the fairways, making this a challenge that is sure to be remembered both for its difficulty as well as its beauty. Fortunately there are four sets of tees so different players can select the degree of difficulty they wish to take on. For the occasional golfer, I would recommend the white tees as this will ensure they can control the ball better over shorter distance.

The course offers some large waste bunkers which are unmaintained wide swathes of sand that stretch the entire length of the hole in some cases. Golfers are allowed to ground their clubs in these sand traps unlike in conventional sand bunkers.

Besides the golf, we found the entire property of the Sun Hotels’ Le Touessrok complements the golf exceptionally well. What I particularly like about the architecture here (as well as on many of the other resorts on the island) is the natural feel of wood and stone that dominates the décor. This gives a certain feel of Africa and a first real sense you are close to that mysterious and marvellous continent. There is a distinct African influence as well as reminders that the French were the last colonists before the island became independent.

My lasting impression of Le Touessrok is taking the boat out to the course, and playing shots that were all about placement rather than distance. It’s the kind of course I do well on so would really look forward to playing there again soon. I particularly remember the sumptuous breakfast buffet and the one evening, when our golf tournament was over, we partied on the beach till the wee hours of the morning. Certainly, Mauritius in June is a place you could go back to many times over.