SOUTH
The 2,500-hectare Domaine de Bel Ombre
estate was a huge sugar cane plantation when
I first visited Mauritius 25 years ago.
International competition has decimated the island’s sugar
cane industry since then and there are now just four sugar
mills where once there were 250, Bel Ombre’s closing
in 1998. Instead, the estate now encompasses the Peter
Matkovich-designed Heritage Golf Club -
(www.heritagegolfclub.mu) course and two luxury
beachside spa resorts – the Heritage Le Telfair and Heritage
Awali – as well as luxury villas alongside the course.
Tall grasses on several holes mimic the sugar cane that once
grew where this award-winning course now lies, while lakes
and native vegetation including palm trees and flamboyant
trees (fire trees), their seasonal red flowers dazzling against
the greenery and blue sky, add to the challenge and visual
appeal. The Heritage course, host to the AfrAsia Bank
Mauritius Open twice, is laid out on the slopes of the
Savanne mountain range, giving scenic views over the
course to the ocean from elevated tees and greens.
The golf club features an academy and a par-3 course, while
a new 18-hole championship course designed by Major
champion Louis Oosthuizen in conjunction with Peter
Matkovich is due to open in 2021.
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