Column by Anand Datla
Domaine de Bel Ombre, May 08, 2015: As the Sun peaks out from behind the hillocks that surround the course at the Heritage Golf Club, you would wonder why it took this long for international golf to start this affair with Mauritius. The undulating course flows like a river in spate – rising and falling off the curvaceous topology of this course for the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open – ABMO
The water was meant to protect the fairways, but the glistening bodies that surround this magnificent course serve just as much to add lustre and charm to the spectacular setting.
The golf course on the southwest tip of Mauritius is a heavenly piece of estate that seems to have lain in wait for its wandering subjects. The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open feels like the perfect setting that brings together an intensely competitive field of golfers to a brilliantly idyllic course.
There is a sense of trepidation among golfers, who have come to realise that their march from through the first four holes of this par-71 course is fraught with risk.
But outside the ropes, there is no such stress with the lush green earth, the sight of serene water and the mountains beyond to soothe your soul. Walking this course is as near to spirituality as you might get, without forsaking the world around you.
The first two holes are testy par-4s where the second shot essentially determine if the golfer surrenders an early shot to the course.
The third is a par-3 that measures 196 yards, but this is a hole that isn’t about length. It has its deceptions, making it a tricky adventure for the golfers.
For all the beauty that surrounds this course, it is essential for the players to start their round with a hawk like focus before allowing themselves the luxury of gazing around to fill their senses with the intoxicating sights that surround this course.
The rest of their journey does offer plenty of opportunity for the golfers to steal shots and march toward a low number, but a stiff test awaits them at the 17th hole. Only half the field managed to stay at par or better on this 463 yard par-4 on the first day, with several bogeys leaking off this penultimate hole.
The setting makes for a great week of golf with the beauty surrounding this course doing just enough to heal the golfers from the bruises from this testing course.
