Above: Aerial view out to the indian Ocean with the 16th and 17th holes below
I am playing in the Mauritius Constance Amateur Trophy, while also watching the MCB Mauritius Legends event this week and after warming up on the wonderful range they have at the Links course I am standing on the elevated 1st tee looking down the fairway and the amazing backdrop of the hills in the distance. The fairway has a bunker on the right and black rock on the left, right in the landing zone! This is a practice round before the competition starts tomorrow so I smash my driver aiming at the back rocks and let it fade back into the middle of the fairway. I didn’t realise the green was raised but I make my chip and putt par and head to the 2nd tee.
More amazing views greet me from yet another elevated tee, but it is the second shot that will get you thinking. At 560 yards – there are four teeing options to choose from ranging from 6,498 to 4,621 yards so choose your option carefully – you really need to get a good drive away, then it is all risk and reward. Do you go for the carry over the small hill, black rock and tree to another raised green or try for the chip and putt birdie? That is the option I go for – without making the birdie!
Water comes into play on the 3rd hole with water down the left, which you will also need to carry to hit the green. The 4th is all about strategy and putting your ball in the right area to get the right angle on this sharp uphill dogleg right. Another wonderful elevated tee greets you at the 5th, which is followed by a beautifully designed dogleg-left par 5, with more risk and reward for the second shot, with the green being protected by more black rocks and sits below the fairway.
The first of the two par 3s arrives at the 7th and at only 139 yards, it gives you a great birdie opportunity as long as you carry the bunker protecting the front of the green. But the 9th is a whole different story. Played uphill to a two-tiered green that has a steep step and runs from back to front, it may only be 160 yards, but par here is definitely your friend.
Left to right: 2nd, 10th and 12th holes
Hitting the back nine, these amazing elevations and stunning views just keep coming, starting with the par-5 10th hole. Water comes into play on the par-3 11th, on the tee shot, but also has a bunker at the back so you need to club right here. There is also water to carry on the par-4 12th on the tee shot and to the right of the green. The 393 yard, par-4 13th has another carry to an island green, which is then followed by the 148-yard, par-3 14th, again played over water with more water if you miss the green to the right.
Above: Bunkering at the 4th hole
It is a shame they have taken the back tee on the 15th out of action, but as you can see on my video, I filmed from the original back tee, which has black rock to carry from the tee shot. The 16th is all about strategy and making sure you are far enough left to take the tree out of play so you have a clear angle of attack at the pin.
The 17th is all risk and reward with your drive – depending on teeing option – to carry the black stone and bunkers, but at 312 yards you can get very close to the green and for the longer hitters, make the green. Stepping onto the 18th tee with more black rock in front of me, there’s another tree protecting the right-hand side. You have to be out left to be able to attack the green, which has water protecting the front.
Above: Black rock carry from the back tee on the 15th
Sitting in the bar looking out on those amazing countryside views of Mauritius I really can’t think of a weak hole on the course. Rodney Wright and Peter Alliss have certainly done a wonderful job and added another gem of a course to this amazing island. Above: Clubhouse and putting green
