PRESSBOOK MCB TC 2023

TRAVEL MAURITIUS

Photography: Getty Images

The stunning Constance Belle Mare Plage wasn’t a bad place to work from for the week!

LINKS GOLF COURSE

B eyond its renowned beaches and golfers seeking an unforgettable blend of challenging courses set against breathtaking backdrops. I was lucky enough get a first-hand taste of this last month after receiving an invitation to the MCB Tour Championship – Mauritius, the season-ending Legends Tour event, at the stunning Constance Belle Mare Plage resort. Spanning 2 kilometers of pristine white sandy beach, this hotel epitomizes paradise. First impressions hold significant weight, and the welcome at the resort was nothing short of exceptional. As I stepped out of the car arranged by the hotel for my airport transfer, vibrant culture, this tropical paradise has quietly emerged as a haven for

and trees, its lack of length still poses a challenge for players who try to take the course on from off the tee and rewards those who favour accuracy. The greens aren’t particular generous so you need to pay close attention to your yardages. The front nine is marginally the easier of the two nines with slightly wider fairways, so make sure you seize the opportunity to iron out any tee shot issues you may have and don’t be worried about the odd mulligan. The back nine is more dramatic as you navigate the mangroves off the tee, and sometimes with your approach shots. Have your phones and cameras to hand for the picturesque par-3 17th that plays into the wind, so it’s always worth that extra club to save your ball from an early bath.

Just a five-minute shuttle ride from the resort but standing on the first tee you could be in another country at the Links Golf Course. Using the volcanic topography to full effect the course is poles apart from the Legend. The wide-open rolling fairways are inviting for golfers who enjoy opening their shoulders and letting it fly. The undulating hilly landscape leaves you with a number of elevated approach shots to generous greens but don’t get too confident as the back nine has a couple of treacherous holes over water that can catch you out. EXCURSIONS If you ever get tired of playing golf – believe me, you won’t – the team at Constance Belle Mare Plage are on hand to keep you entertained with a wide range of activities

from a visit to their huge wine cellar and a dip in one of the many pools to scuba diving from the boathouse and a full body massage in the spa. I went on the snorkeling trip to discover the fascinating multicoloured world of the Indian Ocean beneath the crystal-clear waters. It was the ideal way to start the day and I’d highly recommend making a booking with the team – if you’re on the half board, full board or all-inclusive package it’s inclusive with your stay, which is a nice touch. I also went swimming with dolphins over the other side of the island, which again was a real bucket list experience. There’s something about seeing majestic creatures in their natural habitat that gives me a real buzz, so it was well worth the 5am alarm to capture them in the flesh.

a receptionist greeted me with a delightful smile, and I was promptly handed a refreshing welcome drink, setting the tone for an unforgettable stay. My room was delightful, boasting stunning vistas of the Indian Ocean from the terrace, a huge bathroom, walk in wadrobe, and was arguably bigger than my apartment in Dubai – how the other half live! I should mention, as an avid football fan, I was pleasantly surprised to learn the TV in my room included the Super Sports package, meaning I could watch my beloved Arsenal in their top of the table clash against Aston Villa from the comfort of my room. But after the result, the less said about that the better. Throughout the week I sampled many of the delightful restaurants on site – the resort

has seven different eateries in total – from delicious fresh seafood at the beachside Lakaze restaurant and gourmet burgers at Deer Hunter to a sublime spread at La Citronelle’s buffet and tapas, paired with maybe one too many wines, at Blue Penny Cellar. They were all so good, I ended the week a few kilograms heavier than when I arrived. Oh well, you only live once and all that! LEGEND & LINKS Now to the serious stuff, the golf. The resort has two courses, the Legend Golf Course and The Links Golf Course, with the seniors ending their season on the former. It’s doesn’t come as any surprise to find the Legend is the harder of the two courses. Interwoven through mangroves

Worldwide GOLF 58

Worldwide GOLF 59