The magnificent new La Réserve Golf Links will make its international championship debut when it hosts the 2023 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open from 14-17 December, opening its fairways to the leading professionals on the DP World Tour and Sunshine Tour.
As the first and only contemporary links in the Indian Ocean, co-designed by Major champion Louis Oosthuizen and Peter Matkovich, La Réserve Golf Links is the latest and most keenly anticipated offering in Heritage Resorts’ golf portfolio, offering an unparalleled experience of pure golfing drama.
The new course’s professional tournament debut coincides with the 2023 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open now occupying an even more prominent place on the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour schedules as part of a newly created Opening Swing of events that usher in the DP World Tour’s new season.
The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open will be the final tournament on this Opening Swing, with La Réserve Golf Links set to be the stage where two champions are crowned in that week.
Beyond the winner of the tournament, the Opening Swing will also have its own Order of Merit with the leading professional at the conclusion thereof winning an extra $200 000 and, if already a member of the DP World Tour, an invitation into the DP World Tour’s next scheduled Rolex Series tournament as well as a spot in each of the DP World Tour’s Back Nine series of tournaments.
“The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is a source of tremendous national pride and mirrors AfrAsia Bank’s vision to not only affirm Mauritius’ status as a major international financial centre with a robust banking system, but also a vibrant epicentre to invest, work, live or retire. To partner this vision with the exciting news of a new host venue as acclaimed as La Réserve Golf Links reinforces our belief of doing what others said cannot be done, and connecting local possibilities for a global impact,” said Thierry Vallet, Founder Executive of AfrAsia Bank.
La Réserve Golf Links adds significantly to the already world-class golf offering in the south of Mauritius and on the renowned Bel Ombre estate, with Heritage Golf Club having hosted the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open on three previous occasions on its critically acclaimed Le Château Golf Course. This new addition transforms Heritage Resorts into the only 45-hole golf destination in the Indian Ocean, establishing the south of the island as a true home of golf.
“The 2023 edition of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open (ABMO) is set to be like no other,” said Thierry Montocchio, Executive Director and CEO of Rogers Hospitality. “Although we have previously hosted the event, the dramatic setting of La Réserve Golf Links promises to captivate players, viewers and spectators alike. Visitors to Heritage Resorts will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in our distinctive blend of luxury, sustainability, and the inherent beauty of Mauritius, assuring a memorable stay that’s both indulgent and enriching, be that on or off the golf course.”
This will be the fourth new host course in the seventh edition of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open as the tournament continues to support the tourism objectives of Mauritius, with a global broadcast reach in excess of 550 million households showcasing what has become known as “Golf’s Most Beautiful Week”.
“We look forward to hosting the professionals and their families for a week that is indeed a highlight of the golf calendar. The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is a key partner for Mauritius tourism as it brings the eyes of the golf world to our island and showcases our unique blend of spectacular golf courses and outstanding hospitality. We have a history in the game that stretches back over a century, and we are proud to be able to support the constant innovation in this industry that is represented by this tournament, and which reflects Mauritius as an island of energy and adventure,” said Arvind Bundhun, Director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA).
Since its debut in 2015, the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open has also worked closely with the Mauritius Golf Federation (MGF) to grow the game on the island as Mauritian professionals vie for a place in the field.
“The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open creates a strong aspirational effect for Mauritian golfers as they can see in a tangible way, right on their own doorstep, the wonders of this game and the doors it can open for them. The tournament provides key playing opportunities for our local professionals who have qualified to play in it, and at the same time it supports our development drive as we host the annual golf clinic during the event with our young golfers and the visiting professionals,” said Yannick Merven, President of the Mauritius Golf Federation.
The tournament has once again drawn a glittering array of blue-chip sponsors, including AfrAsia Bank, Rogers Group, Rogers Hospitality, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, IBL, Beachcomber Resorts and Hotels, Heritage Villas Valriche, Phoenix Beverages, Jacobs Coffee, Pro Carts and Mautourco.
Image credit: Jacob Sjöman
