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|GOLF
IN THE TRADITION OF A LINKS COURSE
Bel Ombre estate’s second golf course won’t just
provide a stroll through a uniquely Mauritian
landscape. It aims to offer a total golfing experience
with, at its heart, the concept of a links golf course.
“For that, “explains Peter Matkovich, “it’s necessary
to fully understand what is meant by links. Basically
a links course is designed in line with its immediate
natural environment. It incorporates the contours,
dunes and slopes on which it lies. Most of the
time, a links produces holes that are strategically
demanding. We’ve sought to design the Reserve’s
course very much with that in mind.”
The challenges the 18-hole course will present
are going to vary considerably depending on the
strength of the wind and the firmness of the terrain.
They have been very much in the mind of Louis
Oosthuizen, joint architect of the project and, for
many years now, one of golf’s elite players. The
winner of the British Open at St Andrews in 2010
and nine times champion on the European Tour, he
has been working in close collaboration with Peter
Matkovich. “Louis loves links courses and perfectly
understands the philosophy we’re using here. He
likes to bring strategy into his game and even more
into the way he designs the holes. We’ve a shared
vision that will play a major role here in due course.”
Focused on golfing and environmental excellence,
the Reserve’s golf course is scheduled to become
operational in 2021.
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