The Links at Belle Mare Plage offers golfing views that may even upset your scorecard

Gunnar Kobin
Mar 26
4 min read

The Links at Belle Mare Plage is for some reason considered a second course but honestly, it was much more fun than Legend Course

There is a very unique frustration that comes with playing golf in tropical locations. You're at a tee box with the Indian Ocean glistening in the sun, rocks in front of you, and a warm easterly wind that does whatever it wants with your ball. Is that a 7-iron or 9-iron? I usually go with the 9. Not that it really matters. Down goes another ball into the rocks, likely a creation of a golf hater.

That was hole 7 for me at the Links course, Constance Belle Mare Plage, Mauritius. I lost two balls in four minutes and my tee shot was lost in one of the most beautiful scenes I?ve ever encountered on a golf course. I will remember it for the rest of my life.

What Kind of Course Is It?

The name \"Links\" may make you think you are about to play on a Scottish course covered in sand and grass with fescue and dunes to play over and around. It is not a course like Carnoustie. Instead you have a course that is a parkland course with rolling and undulating fairways that allows you to play into the afternoon trade winds. As well as the openness to let the winds blow, you have blind approach shots that make you commit to them.

The Links course which is designed by Rodney Wright and the late Peter Alliss opened in 2002, and is a par 71 that plays 5942 metres. It is shorter and a more forgiving course than its older sibling Legend, which was designed by Hugh Baiocchi in 1994. Legend is a course that is carved through a dense native forest, and even though Links is forgiving compared to Legend, Links is more punishing than Legend.

Playing It

The first 9 holes have a lot of openness that will let you see and hit the fairways, and even have elevated tee boxes that will give you a great vantage point to see and hit the fairways. By the end of the first 9 holes, you will see a lot of change. Fewer and narrower fairways will begin to appear, as well as more technical greens, and the decorative volcano rock structures that you saw back on hole 1 and 2 will become obstacles.

It was not until I was there that I came to appreciate the beauty of the black lava formations. The black rock and the bright green mown grass create a beautiful and contrasting picture. On a clear morning it can look strange in a way that makes it look as if it were designed to be beautiful and to create a pleasant playing experience. This beautiful picture does not make losing a ball feel any better, but it does take the edge off.

The 13th and 14th holes of the golf course present the biggest statement of all. With water on both sides, they feel like they create a huge arena that is designed to remove the weak under pressure. I made a bogey on the 18th hole and I actually did not care because it goes alongside the beautiful turquoise water. You'll understand what I mean by this when you see it.

Notes About the Wind, The Greens, And A Few Things I Would Say Honestly

No one warned me enough about the trade winds that blow in the afternoon. Because of them, I had to constantly change the club I was using, going to extremes like 3 club changes. If you can, try to book a tee time in the morning The course will change entirely and the play will be different.

The greens at Belle Mare Plage were noticeably patchy, especially when compared to Legend's more uniform and faster greens. My experience was fine, but worth considering if you're playing both courses on the same trip. The GPS in the carts is pretty helpful considering the distance to the pin and the blind shots.

I visited in November and the days were warm so the golf was fine, however the evenings were quite rainy and there were only a few clear skies. If you have the option, try and book in January to June.

The Hotel — and Why Belle Mare Beat Telfair

I was lucky enough to stay at Constance Belle Mare Plage, and although it is not the most modern hotel on the island, the soothing pastel colors and simple design of the hotel is very homey in a warm, relaxed way. The ambience was nice and you could definitely tell it was a lived-in space and not just a showroom. The food at the buffet dinners was also really good and there was live music at the bar most nights. I sat down to have a drink and the next thing I knew it was already midnight.

I also played the Heritage courses, and stayed at Heritage Telfair, which is south-west of the island. Yes, Telfair is more grand, formal, and polished. But it didn't warm me the way Belle Mare did. For a golf trip, I'd go Belle Mare again without thinking.

The Short Version

The Links is, without a doubt, a second course but don't let that put you off. The unique combination of a volcanic landscape and varied and interesting holes including water, plus the closing holes alongside the lagoon is a great atmosphere. Go with an old pair of balls because of the lava rock, an early tee time is essential, and just be aware that November on the east coast means dodging the rain.

I gave it a sleeve of Pro V1s and I got back a round I will be talking about for a long time. I think we both got what we deserved.