fairways & beyond
THE LEGEND GOLF COURSE
It’s easy to see why this superb course at Constance Belle Mare Plage in Mauritius is such an attraction for all golfers. Grant Winter
The Legend Golf Course at Constance Belle Mare Plage, designed by South Africa’s multiple tournament winner Hugh Baiocchi, opened for play in 1994 and was the first championship layout in Mauritius.
Since then golf has boomed on this beautiful island which can lay claim to more than just a handful of top-quality resort courses.
But the Legend course sets a high standard and remains one of the country’s golfing gems. After hosting the Mauritius Open for nearly two decades, for the past 12 years it has been the permanent venue for the annual MCB Tour Championship, the season-ending tournament on the Legends Tour, formerly the European Seniors Tour.
This means the top over-50 professionals from all over the world converge on the course each December. But, as golf director Sébastien Pilot points out, it is also a sought-after destination for amateur golfers throughout the year, and they visit in their numbers from, mainly, Europe and South Africa.
SPOTLIGHT ON...
Golf director Sébastien Pilot and greenkeeper Elvis Catherine
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SPOTLIGHT ON...
Golf director Sébastien Pilot and greenkeeper Elvis Catherine
“Elvis has been looking after the course since way back in 2002 and has done a wonderful job,” says golf director Sébastien Pilot. “He is an integral part of a beautiful team of people working with me.”
Like Catherine, Pilot is also Mauritian. He studied business management at Unisa in Cape Town before returning home to the island where he started to work in the golf course industry in 2004.
“Elvis predates me here, but we’ve grown together over the years and it’s been a wonderful journey. The Legend was the first championship course in Mauritius when people thought it was ‘crazy’ to bring golf to this part of the world. Now it’s extremely popular with golf lovers from around the world, including South Africans of course, and golf is booming all over the island. Elvis has done a wonderful job with making sure the experience for golfers here at Belle Mare Plage is a very special one!”
LEGENDS AT PLAY
Catch all the final-round highlights of the 2023 MCB Tour Championship played at the Legend Golf Course.
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Masses of beautiful tropical trees, including the show-stopping Flamboyant, line the fairways and the holes are challenging and varied as they snake their way through the foliage. It is also a case of water, water everywhere as the errant golfer is capable of dunking shots into the drink (whether it be river, swamp or lake) on all but one of the 18 holes. Having said this, no hole is unfair. If you can hit just a bit straight, you can enjoy looking at the water features and not going into them!
The Legend, and the resort’s other course, the Links (opened for play in 2002 and designed by Rodney Wright and Peter Allis), are always in immaculate condition with much attention to detail, the greens run so smoothly they’re like billiard tables and the birdlife is prolific.
Baiocchi’s superb layout has not been changed over the years, but much bush and foliage has been cut and cleared to make the course less tight and to let in the sun and air to some areas to improve the quality of the grass. Watering the course has never been a problem as this valuable commodity is sourced solely from the abundant natural water occurring on the course.
FACILITIES AND AMENITIES
Everything you need to know about what’s on offer at The Legend Golf Course.
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facilities and amenities
Everything you need to know about what’s on offer at The Legend Golf Course.
Located in the clubhouse, the Deer Hunter restaurant has a superb view of the greens. Offering traditional Indian Ocean cuisine, in an authentic dining ambience, the restaurant is open for continental breakfast with a Mauritian touch for early golfers, and lunch and light snacks in the afternoon. The à la carte/set menu for dinner includes signature venison, with BBQ dishes also available.
There is also a golf academy, driving range, bar, pro shop and changing rooms at the Legend course, plus golfers can rent equipment. The Constance Golf Academy gives guests the full golfing experience, with the instructional programme fitting in with their daily schedule, offering individual and group lessons with professional golf coaches.
Hotel guests can enjoy a complimentary shuttle service to the golf courses and complimentary weekly group golf initiation lessons. Golf bag storage and transfers between the courses available upon request.
Website: https://www.constancehotels.com/en/true-experiences/golf/legend/
FEAST FOR THE SENSES
Get a taste of the ultimate luxurious experience at Constance Belle Mare Plage.
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How challenging is the Legend? “It’s reasonably short but also fairly tight and sometimes it’s best to leave your driver in the bag off the tee box and go with a safety-first rescue or hybrid. It’s a wonderful test, immaculately kept and one of the best courses you’ll come across on Tour. Just stay out of the water!” – Thomas Bjørn, former Ryder Cup captain.
It’s important to hold your nerve towards the end of the round as the par-three 17th requires a confidently struck 145m carry over a small cove, with the Indian Ocean beyond, to a large undulating green where three-putts are not uncommon. The 18th (below) is a classic risk-and-reward par five with water lurking on both sides of the green with most of the right side of the hole protected by a large lake. It can be reached in two long and accurate shots, setting up a birdie or eagle. But drift left or right into the water and bogeys and ugly doubles come into play.
Grant Winter was a guest of Constance Hotels, Resorts & Golf, and was hosted at the luxurious five-star Constance Belle Mare Plage resort in Mauritius.
THE RESORT
Constance Belle Mare Plage is one of the island’s most well-established golfing destinations.
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THE RESORT
Constance Belle Mare Plage is one of the island’s most well-established golfing destinations.
The Legend is one of two golf courses at Constance Belle Mare Plage, with the other being The Links. The Legend Course is located right next to the resort, with The Links a few minutes away, and greenfees are complimentary for hotel guests.
Stretching across two kilometres of a beautiful white sandy beach and set in tropical gardens of almost 15 hectares, Constance Belle Mare Plage is the perfect choice for an unforgettable luxury holiday in Mauritius. Famed for its excellent five-star service, warm atmosphere and lush tropical environment, you will be made to feel welcome at this stunning beach resort from the moment you arrive.
The hotel has 278 rooms, suites and villas, and there are eight restaurants and eight bars on site. There is an abundance of activities and facilities available, including boating, snorkelling, tennis, swimming pools, yoga, a fitness centre, table tennis, volleyball, two spas, a wine room and live music.
Constance Belle Mare Plage sits on the tranquil east coast of Mauritius, around 60km from the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. It’s a one-hour and twenty-minute drive from the airport, initially on the freeway and then on narrower country roads.
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DID YOU KNOW?
The Legend Golf Course at Constance Belle Mare Plage was ranked as the best 18-hole course in Mauritius in the Golfer's Choice Rankings 2023. Acknowledged for its exceptional service, quality, and hospitality, the course has proved itself as a top golf destination.
Constance Hotels, Resorts & Golf