Tamarina

Unveiled in 2007, the course at Tamarina Golf, Spa & Beach Club was fashioned on the southwest savannah coast of Mauritius, inside the first residential golf estate to open on the island. Thankfully, even though many of the holes are laid out around properties, the houses are positioned a discreet distance from the fairways, allowing golfers to proceed round the course unhindered.

The course was constructed to USGA specification on a 107-acre site and it occupies a beautiful spot next to where the Rempart River reaches the Indian Ocean. The surrounding mountain range – which includes the three jagged peaks of Trois Mamelles – forms a very impressive backdrop to the golfing action.

Highlight holes at Tamarina include a couple of memorable par fives: On the front nine, the 5th (“Yemen”) calls for a demanding tee shot over the River Rempart and on the back nine, the risk/reward 11th (“Snake Eyes”) invites a shorter route over two bunkers in order to allow a simpler approach to the pin.

We received the following comments from golf course architect Rodney Wright:

"Tamarina was developed by Medine Sugar Estate, a leading diversified agri-businesses in Mauritius and it was the first Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS) to be built in Mauritius. IRS projects provide a legal vehicle designed to allow foreigners to purchase and own property in Mauritius.

The course is the heart of a residential/golf/beach resort that lies between Mauritius’s iconic Mt. Rempart and Tamarin Bay, the famous surfing destination. The setting is dramatic, having the look and feel of an African bushveld and Tamarina gets its name from the multitude of Tamarind trees growing throughout this part of the island.

The design brief was to create a true championship golf course that could also be enjoyed by all levels of players and at 7,524 yards from the tips, the challenge is obvious. The secrets to accomplishing the enjoyment part are fairness, variety, the abundance of tee positions and memorability.

We were also to construct the best greens in Mauritius and these were built to the latest USGA recommendations, pioneering the use of “Champion” ultra-dwarf Bermuda grass putting surfaces.

Any golf course designer worth his salt will incorporate the natural features of a site into the golf design and at Tamarina, the site defined the course design! Aside from the large stands of mature trees, three predominant natural features dictated the course design:

Firstly, there’s Mount Rempart, an omnipresent landmark that dominates the landscape and is visible from practically everywhere, providing an unforgettable backdrop for much of the golf course, particularly on holes 3, 4, 6 and 7.

Secondly, the River Rempart cuts a dramatic deep gorge through the property and it cried out to be utilized as a golf course feature! Hole 5, 6 and 18 play across, alongside and up to the river gorge, respectively.

Thirdly, the Barachoise Estuary forms the stunning setting for the “signature” Par three hole 13, which features a twenty-five metre elevation drop from tee to green.

The Tamarina course was a joy to design but the true beauty of Tamarina is the place itself. Enjoying a round of golf there is only part of the experience. From a golf course architect’s perspective, if I’ve captured the character of this unique setting within the golf course design, I’ve done my job."