Played by NCG: Heritage
Reason for a Heritage Golf Club review
I was on a press trip organised by Beachcomber Tours and Heritage was the first course on our three-day golfing tour.
Where is Heritage Golf Club?
It is located in Bel Ombre on the south east coast of the African island of Mauritius.
What to expect
Exhausted from the flight and far from my golfing best, I found the easiest part was soaking up the tropical surrounds.
That’s not to say that this European Tour course should be best left to the pros.
Apart from penal rough that made searching for wayward shots a lost cause, there were plenty of scoring opportunities.
In fact, several in our party recorded scores close to 40 Stableford points. Sad to say, I was not one of them.
After a 12-hour flight from London, a round at @heritageresorts golf course made the long journey all worthwhile #Mauritius #Golf #beachcomberexperience pic.twitter.com/eMAJ3MXa03
— James Broadhurst (@jbroadhurstNCG) November 13, 2017
But it was the lush green undulating fairways peppered with black volcanic rocks and little streams protecting several of the greens that impressed me most about Heritage.
Favourite hole
The par-4 5th is a magnificent risk-and-reward hole, easily reachable for long hitters and it’s even possible for those with less length from the tee to find the green when the wind is blowing.
But beware the steep valley down the left-hand side as you’ll be staring at a daunting chip back up the hill to find the green.
There’s also trouble in the form of three bunkers on the far right side for those who choose to play it safe and lay up.
My best bit
Scrambling for a par on the par-3 15th was the standout moment from my largely poor round.
The hole is a stunningly beautiful short hole. The elevated tee box is above a green which looks like it has been cut from the middle of a rainforest.
It’s a tough ask to not get distracted by the noises from the exotic birds and animals hidden in the trees as you line up a shot.
I found the rough from my tee shot – short and right of the green – but I managed to avoid finding the bunker that snakes its way around the back of the green.
One deft stroke of my 60˚ wedge later and I was tapping in for a very welcome par.
What to look for
The course is home to all sorts of fascinating wildlife. I spotted a fruit bat, monkey and mongoose during the round and I am sure I would be able tick off a lot more if I am lucky enough to play Heritage again.
When I go back
I will indulge in a rest day upon landing in Mauritius before tackling Heritage as I wasn’t at my fully functioning best.
The driver will also make its way out of my bag for the drivable 5th hole. I laid up and immediately felt I was missing out as my playing partner smashed one towards the green. After all, golf is a game to be enjoyed, isn’t it?
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