• Guest blog: Shiba goes to Mauritius

    Mauritius golf with Felicity Shiba
    Avalon in the mist
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    Felicity Shiba, @thisgirlsgolfdiary, joined Compleat Golfer recently on a trip to explore Mauritius’ golf courses, luxury and beaches.

    Day 1: Paradise Island

    When you have four full days on an island where the beaches are known for their white sand, crystal clear blue waters and the golf courses are pristine,  you want to try find a balance between the two. Or, on the other hand, just focus on one. Well, I chose the latter …

    Arriving late at night meant it was too late to see a hint of the beauty that everyone was telling me about and the 45 minute drive from the airport to the hotel gave nothing away.

    The Dinarobin Beachcomber Hotel lobby gave everything away – I had officially entered paradise. Waking up at 05:40 to the sound and then view of the ocean was  an absolute treat and then throw in some palm trees for good measure. My 06:00 walk and swim in that welcoming and warm Indian Ocean was the perfect start and a sign of things to come.

    First on the agenda was Tamarina Golf and Spa Boutique Hotel, situated on the sunny west coast of Mauritius.

    What was meant to be 9 holes turned out to be 18, this place is a beauty. Somehow I felt like I was playing in a forest, with challenging tee boxes and immaculate fairways which I would suggest you try keeping to because there are some nasty surprises lurking off of them.

    Day 2: A Golfing Girl’s Dream

    An early morning swim in the Indian ocean, paired with a lovely breakfast at Dinarobin could have been the highlight of the day before heading out to the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open at Heritage. It’s a blistering 30 degrees and I’m ready, mostly excited to be here because we have such a strong South African field. I make a quick check in at the media room to find some familiar friendly Sunshine Tour faces before heading out.

    What can I say, Heritage is everything I expected it to be and more. Set between mountains and the ocean … pristine condition. I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to play here but I’m extremely happy to see it from a spectators point of view. I manage to sit and catch up with the man himself Peter Matkovich about his other courses. Making my trip to Avalon the next day even more exciting.

    It’s moving day and I managed to walk with some of my favourites…George Coetzee, Haydn Porteous, Dylan Frittelli, Louis Oosthuizen and Louis de Jagar, who played a close to flawless game. The day ends with a chat and selfie with a new favourite, the super nice and funny Arjun Atwal. Perfect day.

    Day 3: Palm Trees, Ocean Views and a Win

    06:30 and I’m ready to make my way next door to the Paradis Golf Club, situated on the peninsula of our hotel, for a 07:00 tee time with my travel companion, who has no idea he’s about to become my personal photographer. I’ve been waiting to play this course since we arrived. It really makes you feel like you’re on an island with its stone pines and palm trees. Even with its narrow fairways, its not a difficult course at all, which is great for us absolute amateurs looking for a decent game. We play the back nine because it’s mostly parallel to the ocean and the views are spectacular. We encountered some challenging holes. Thank you SrixonSA for the extra balls. 🙂

    9 holes done and dusted, a swim to cool down and a lovely breakfast before heading back to the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open. It’s the final day, I arrive in time to catch Dylan Frittelli and Louis de Jager at the range. I manage to get in a quick chat and selfies (a must). The guys seem calm and ready for their final round. The golf was just fantastic, ending with a playoff between Frittelli and Atwal and a fantastic win for Frittelli. The trophy was headed to SA.

    Day 4: The Mist Of Avalon

    The drive to Avalon is a beautiful sight seeing adventure. We stop to see the Waterfalls and the Seven Coloured Earths in Chamarel. We drive further up and into the heart of a natural reserve where we find a beautiful Avalon, nestled in the mountains. It’s definitely cooler up here and appreciated. We are met with the most amazing hospitality by management and all staff. I am known for eating my way through any country I visit and Mauritius has not been any different. The food has been beyond incredible so far, Avalons menu does not disappoint.

    I’m in awe, the views are insanely beautiful from the first tee. There’s rain looming in the far mountains and I couldn’t be bothered. We are playing through this one. The fairways are wide, with flower beds on the sides of the cart path, no carts are allowed on any part of the course except the path. It feels like a beautifully manicured mountain forest. To be honest, I can’t tell you which hole was my favourite. I did play a decent round of golf, managing to hit my driver long and straight most times. A rare fit for me. Finishing with a par on the 18th.

    *Shiba was a guest of Mauritius TourismZA and Beachcomber Hotels

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