One&Only Le Saint Géran Golf Club Est. 1970

Unlike many of the grander and more recent 18-hole offerings in Mauritius, the 9-hole resort course of Saint Geran still has the edge in one respect. The doglegging par-4 6th hole is played directly alongside the beach; anything hit too far left will land in a water hazard of oceanic proportions. Played on a well maintained surface of coarser than usual indigenous grasses, Saint Geran exudes a wonderfully tropical feel. Palm trees lightly line the parallel fairways on this par-33 layout, which comprises four challenging par-4s, a good-length par-5 and four shortish, but testing par-3s. The relatively flat, uncontoured terrain, does contain one or two modest elevation changes, which ensures stunning ocean-views in the middle section of the course. If you stray too far from the tightish, palm-lined fairways then quite thick rough awaits, or a second shot that will be blocked by the palms. The notion that "trees are 80 percent air," definitely does not apply to coconut palms; trying to drill your ball through the palm leaves is not a winning strategy. At the short par-3 7th and 9th holes, small ponds provide an added defence in front of the greens. During 2010 the revamp and replacement of all Saint Geran's putting surfaces will continue to maintain the standing of this pleasant 9-hole resort course.