A golf holiday in Mauritius, planned from Mont Choisy

The island is 65 kilometres long, the courses are spread around the coast, and the roads are good: no course is more than an hour and a half from Mont Choisy. The climate allows play all year, with a dry, mild winter from May to October that most golfers prefer. Green fees are lower than in Europe for courses of the same standard, caddies are available on several of them, and a non-playing partner has the beach, the pool and Grand Baie while you are out. Four suites in the villa means two couples or a group of friends without anyone sharing a room.

An 18-hole par 72 designed by Peter Matkovich on a former sugar cane plantation, officially opened in 2017, a few hundred metres from the villa, and host of the Mauritius Open in December 2022, December 2024 and from 10 to 13 December 2026. The wind is the main defence and early rounds are calmer and cooler. Double-ended driving range, academy with PGA professionals, pro shop with club hire, buggies included in the green fee and a clubhouse restaurant open from breakfast. Book tee times with the club or through us; in December, January and over Easter, book several days ahead. Our guide to Mont Choisy Le Golf has the detail, and the list of the golf courses of Mauritius covers the others.

Tamarina, at Tamarin on the west coast, is about an hour away: a Rodney Wright design of almost 7,000 metres along the Rempart river with the mountain as a backdrop, dry and sunny most of the year, with a beach club at the end of the round. Avalon, a Peter Matkovich course in the tea country of Bois Chéri, in the south of the island, is also about an hour away: higher, cooler and quieter, with views over the mountains around Grand Bassin. Each makes a natural day out: leave at seven, play, lunch, back at the villa for a swim by four.

On the east coast, the two courses of Constance Belle Mare Plage, the Legend and the Links, and Anahita's course by Ernie Els are about an hour away. Île aux Cerfs Golf Club, designed by Bernhard Langer on an island reached by boat, is the most spectacular round on the island and needs a full day. To the south, Heritage Golf Club at Bel Ombre has two courses, Le Château and La Réserve Golf Links, which alternates with Mont Choisy as host of the Mauritius Open; with the Paradis course at Le Morne, they are an hour and a quarter to an hour and a half away. Pick two or three for the week and keep the home course for the other mornings.

May to October is the golfers' season: dry air, 26 to 28 degrees by day, courses in their best condition, and the lowest villa rates. June to September brings stronger trade winds on exposed holes. November and April are the shoulder months and often the best balance of weather and quiet. December to March is hot and humid with afternoon showers; play early and finish by noon. The courses stay open all year; a tropical downpour rarely lasts more than an hour.

Green fees on the championship courses run roughly from 100 to 200 euros for 18 holes, paid in rupees: about 5,500 at Tamarina, 9,300 at Mont Choisy in 2025 and 10,600 at Île aux Cerfs in 2026, often less for residents of the estates. Some resort hotels include green fees for their own guests. Buggies are included at Mont Choisy and compulsory at Île aux Cerfs in the hot months. Club hire is available on every course for those who travel light. Most airlines count a golf bag as one of your checked bags rather than carrying it free on top; Air Mauritius includes sports equipment in the free allowance up to 23 kg in economy. The bag is safe in the villa's carport. Bring a glove or two more than usual: hands sweat here. A collared shirt, tailored shorts and soft spikes are the dress code everywhere.

Day one: arrive, swim, a late nine holes at Mont Choisy. Day two: Mont Choisy at dawn, Trou aux Biches beach after lunch. Day three: Tamarina, west coast lunch, sunset at Flic en Flac. Day four: rest, catamaran to the northern islands with the non-players. Day five: Belle Mare or Anahita, east coast. Day six: Mont Choisy again, a lesson with the pro if the swing needs it. Day seven: Île aux Cerfs by boat, the round everyone remembers. Evenings at the villa: the pool lit, dinner on the alfresco, a film in the cinema.