“Le Touessrok Golf Course occupies its own island, Ile aux Cerfs, surrounded by a spectacular coral reef. Add in the azure blue waters lapping at white sand beaches and the backdrop of an ancient volcanic mountain and I don’t know of any golf sites that compare.”
– Bernhard Langer
Admit it, the ultimate dream vacation for you centers around chasing a little white ball on perfectly manicured green lawns. That’s quite all right as Le Touessrok Resort understands you completely. Situated on a beautiful stretch of sandy coast, with magnificent views of the tranquil Trou D’eau Douce Bay of Mauritius, two idyllic islands can be seen in the lagoon and are home to the resort’s 18-hole championship golf course, voted one of the ‘Top 10 Golf Courses in the World” by Golf World Magazine.
One of the elements that makes golf so different amongst sports is the beauty and variety of its playing fields. These days golf courses come in many shapes and forms – ancient, modern, links land, mountain, ocean, desert and swamp. Unique and unusual sites for golf courses are few and far between but now Le Touessrok has established a golfing land- and seascape that is unlike anything you have experienced before – an island course.
Designed by German golfer, Bernhard Langer, a two-time Masters champion and one of the most successful players on the Champions Tour, he describes Le Touessrok’s course as a par 72 championship course to challenge advanced players, while remaining exciting and playable for recreational golfers. “I have had the opportunity to play professionally on a global scale. Le Touessrok Golf Course occupies its own island, Ile aux Cerfs, surrounded by a spectacular coral reef. Add in the azure blue waters lapping at white sand beaches and the backdrop of an ancient volcanic mountain and I don’t know of any golf sites that compare. Le Touessrok is truly a unique golfing experience with 18 holes of ocean views.”
Dotted with outcrops of volcanic rock, little lakes and gullies, Ile aux Cerfs offers naturally undulating terrain and natural vegetation. Located just a short and gentle five-minute boat ride across the bay from the resort, a private and free ferry service transfers guests from the hotel to the island. Langer says he aspired to design a golfing experience that truly arouses all the senses – from the amazing natural setting to the challenges presented by the course – his goal was to create a game to remember for all who play.
If you’re willing to take up the ‘championship’ challenge and play from the tips be sure to bring your “A” game. Your choices are many and varied with almost every hole offering risk and reward options. But at all times remember that Langer is renowned as one of the game’s most disciplined strategists and taking the safe, more conservative route, will often pay handsome dividends.
Does this mean that the average or resort golfer might find it all too imposing? Not at all. The four sets of tee boxes and varying angles of attack and approach will provide both a stern challenge for the advanced player while still keeping the course playable for the recreational golfer.
Sited on the highest point on the island and overlooking the 18th hole is the clubhouse, which bears the same architectural theme as Le Touessrok Resort and includes a fully stocked Professional Golf Shop, locker room facilities, lounge and 68-seater restaurant – named ‘Langer Grill’ after the designer of the course – and casual bar with 180-degree views of the golf course, mountain backdrop and surrounding ocean. And for those who feel their game might need some fine-tuning there is Le Touessrok Golf Academy and practice area with five target greens, as well as putting and chipping greens. And if your game is not up to scratch on the day, do not worry, just sit back and enjoy the experience: the sheer drama of holes played over mangrove forests, the spectacular sea views, or the more intimate discovery of new and never seen before lush island flora.
