Shortlist Dubai: Golf in the Gulf: Heritage Golf Club, Mauritius - award-winning course on the paradise island of Mauritius

Wed 03 July 2019

Once the home of the dodo, you’re more likely to spot eagles, birdies or the occasional albatross in Mauritius thanks to the high-concentration of luxury golf clubs. Many are associated, understandably, with premium hotel resorts and this is widely regarded as the finest.

There are a couple of associated hotels and villa rentals on-site and plenty more within a short distance towards the very tip of the island’s southern-most point.

It comes as no surprise that it has repeatedly bagged the title of the Indian Ocean’s Best Course at the World Golf Awards and even been named among the World’s Most Beautiful Golf Courses.

The courses

Thankfully, for serious players, there is substance to go with the plentiful style. Lagoons, hills, tropical flora – these are not just gorgeous views, but also natural hazards that need to be played around. The same can be said for protected bird species and even deer resident on the rolling green landscape. The 6,277 yards of the men’s course (five different tees are available) offer plenty of challenge beyond snapping amazing Instagram pics.

Look, we’re just gonna come straight out and say it, there are par-3 holes where landing on the green is possible. You might go your whole life and never score a hole-in-one – if you do, you may as well do it on a gorgeous tropical island. There is

also a nine-hole practice course to hack about on.

Facilities and activities

Academy packages are structured around golfing holidays, which is perfect for the international traveller. If you have the time and funds the Albatross package includes ten hours of one-on-one training and is ideal for spreading across a week with a few rounds to play. The approach play and putting area, in particular, is well organised to give the PGA-qualified instructors ample chance to improve your game.

The 19th and beyond

British and French rule influenced Mauritian life for many years before it gained independence and that is evident in the Club House. Part British sports bar, part French brasserie, with the delight of hints that are truly Mauritius, it has a colonial feel. It is not large, but the wide open veranda looks out across the course and hills beyond making it feel enormous. There are burgers, salads and French fries, of course, but if you’ve flown all this way to play golf the least you can do is sample some of the Creole Mauritian dishes.