Feature
INDIAN OCEAN SWING
by Mark Sampson
onstance Hotels, Resorts and
Golf boasts hotels across
the Indian Ocean including
Seychelles,
Maldives,
Madagascar, Mauritius and
most recently Zanzibar. Their
properties are chosen for proximity to the
ocean with some of the best beaches on the
planet. Guests can also expect cuisine second
to none and service with a personal touch
that de¿ nes the entire experience. Constance
Belle Mare Plage is located on the east Coast
of Mauritius and is a short sixty-minute
drive from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam
International Airport. From the moment you
arrive the silver lining throughout your stay is
a big smile from all the staff. From the chef,
The Legend course at Constance Belle Mare Plage with the
local Deer enjoying the MCB Tour Championship
concierge, barman or starter at the golf course
a huge smile and what seems to be a never-
ending desire to satisfy your every request
is the norm. The service is supported by a
vast array of restaurants, water sports – both
ocean and swimming pool - tennis courts,
kiddies entertainment area, wellness center,
Spa, bicycles and so the list goes on. The two-
kilometer-long beach with straw umbrellas,
soft incliners and the warm 28-degree Indian
Ocean lapping at your toes is the cherry on
top. The cliché ‘it has something for everyone’
rings true at this resort.
Golf is very much part of the brand offering
and part of the experience they offer with golf
courses in both Seychelles and Mauritius. The
Mauritius property, Constance Belle Mare
Plage boasts two majestic golf courses The
Legend, is a par 72, 6018-metre Hugh Baiocchi
design is anything but an easy resort course cut
out of indigenous forest previously used for
breeding deer with the odd sighting adding
to the uniqueness of the layout. Recent years
have seen a number of changes to the layout
with opening up of the fairways and cutting
back coast bush for ease of play. The resort
34 G o l f P l u s
FEBRUARY
Triumphant Clark Dennis winning the MCB Tour Championship
Mauritius before heading off to the finale in Seychelles
also offers a second option for golfers at the
more open and playable Links course. Shorter
in length with less water and wider fairways
this would be the better option for the casual
golfer. The European Senior Tour now referred
to as the Staysure Tour, (U.K’s biggest travel
insurance provider) made its 10th appearance
in Mauritius in 2018. The title sponsor,
Staysure, a ¿ rst for the tour has been on board
since 2018 making for a new and exciting era
with increased prize money, tournaments and
initiatives guaranteed to elevate it to a higher
status. The latest initiative being an additional
tournament to the MCB Tour Championship
added at the end of the year where the tour
carries on after Mauritius to the Seychelles to
complete the ‘Indian Ocean Swing’. Mauritius
Commercial Bank (MCB) has been a long-
term supporter and partner to the tournament
and with the support of Staysure have made
this a highlight end to the tour. The idea is the
50-man ¿ eld from Mauritius is whittled down
to the top 29 players from the order of merit
The year 2018 saw the 10th playing
of the tournament, the eighth since
MCB came on board, with a one of the
strongest fi elds in history. No less than
three Ryder Cup Captains; Paul McGinley,
Ian Woosnam and Tom Lehman.
Other big names in the fi eld included
South Africa’s David Frost, England’s
Paul Broadhurst, Jarmo Sandelin from
Sweden and France’s Jean van de Velde.
2019
England’s Roger Chapman taking home the
spoils. Winning both the MCB Tour Championship
Seychelles and the Indian Ocean Swing
(with the addition of three lucky picks) to
make up a 32-man ¿ eld in Seychelles.
The year 2018 saw the 10th playing of
the tournament, the eighth since MCB came
on board, with a one of the strongest ¿ elds in
history. No less than three Ryder Cup Captains;
Paul McGinley, Ian Woosnam and Tom
Lehman. Other big names in the ¿ eld included
South Africa’s David Frost, England’s Paul
Broadhurst, Jarmo Sandelin from Sweden and
France’s Jean van de Velde.
Due to possible inclement weather the
tournament started with a two-tee start and the
¿ eld was sent off in three-balls. South Africa’s
Chris Williams started with faultless golf on
the front nine with a total of six birdies to end
on ¿ ve under for the day. He was joined in the
group at ¿ ve under by Paul McGinley, Magnus
Atlevi and Welshman Philip Price. The day
however belonged to last year’s order of merit
winner Clark Dennis who equalled the low
round on the Legend course of 63.
The second day of the tournament saw
Sweden’s Magnus Atlevi shoot the low round
of the day to move within three of the leader.
Having had one win in 2018 already he
would not be overwhelmed by the occasion.
His seven under par round saw him moving
sharply up the leader board. Clark Dennis,
however consolidated his position at the top
of the leader board with six birdies and no
blemishes on the card indicative of his form
and a warning sign to others. Interestingly he
did not arrive in good form but a word from
his son on an old tip from a few years back got
him back into the groove. The ¿ nal day of the
tournament saw England’s Gary Wolstenholme
¿ re off seven birdies and a bogey for a
six under 66 to move up the leader board.
Atlevi the closest contender to Dennis shot