Paradis

On the southwestern corner of Mauritius, at the Paradis Hotel and Golf Club, you’ll find a spectacular golf course that is routed across a narrow peninsula that separates the ocean from a beautiful lagoon. Is this paradise we wonder?

Certainly Mark was suitably impressed when he played Paradis Golf Club, and he originally nominated it as a Gem back in January 2008. Mark commented as follows:

“My wife and I spent our honeymoon staying at the Dina Robin Hotel that is the sister hotel to Paradis and is situated just along the beach. Both hotels are lovely and we highly recommend them, but obviously I'm not recommending the Paradis golf course due to the hotels!

Paradis is on the Morne Peninsula in the south west corner of Mauritius and the course, nestled as it is between the unobtrusive hotels, the beautiful sweeping blue waters of the bay and the impressive Morne Mountains, makes wonderful use of the gorgeous scenery to challenge and inspire the golfer!

The front nine sweeps from the clubhouse away from the bay, twice crossing the marina that provides a further watery challenge before arriving back at the edge of the bay. Of the front nine holes the 3rd and 5th are quality par fives and the 9th is SI1 and has water all the way down the right hand side of the fairway to a green built into the marina.

The magic of the course really takes off from the 10th tee. The course sweeps out and back along the bay, all the way to the headland and then turns back to the clubhouse… nine holes of stunning golf. It’s difficult to pick holes for special mention from these nine, but, if I had to, then the views and challenge of 12,13,16 and 17 would take the plaudits. The green of the reachable par five 16th is a magical place and only those with a very straight and long game should take on this second shot.

Paradis is a great design with testing and consistent greens and excellent hazard placement and Mauritius is a beautiful exotic island in the Indian Ocean with a number of good golf courses, but I think Paradis is a rival to any of them for the No.1 status!”