WAVING fields of sugar cane, palm-fringed beaches, luxury hotels and the endlessly turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean make Mauritius the discerning golfer's exotic winter holiday choice. A 12-hour flight connects you to this exotic island, which lies off the east coast of Africa and with its superb climate, good food and friendly people it offers a very attractive alternative to the Caribbean. The island's golf courses are clustered along the eastern coastline and what they lack in quantity they make up for in quality, offering a challenging game in breathtaking scenery. Ryder Cup captain, Bernhard Langer, designed the spectacular Le Touessrok, an 18-hole championship layout that opened late last year. Le Touessrok is built on the beautiful island of Ile aux Cerfs and is only accessible by boat across a coral lagoon. With small elevated greens, volcanic lava outcropping, testing water hazards and dramatic carries across untamed mangrove swamps, this is pretty challenging golf. But when you stand on the green at the 618 yard, par five 11th (and indeed the par four 12th falling away to the water's edge) with the blue sea behind and the Cat and Mouse Mountain in the distance - all is forgiven. Langer is the latest in a line of golfing celebrities to design golf courses on Mauritius while both Ernie Els and Colin Montgomerie are working on plans for two more championship courses which should open in 2005. It must have been South African Gary Player who started the trend when he designed a simply lovely and easygoing nine-hole golf course at St Geran - Le Touessrok's sister resort. This flattish layout winds between some 4,000 shady coconut palms encountering a few water hazards en route and a wonderful dog leg, par four sixth running alongside the ocean. It was the opening of Belle Mare Plage's two golf courses that really put Mauritius on the map as a golf holiday destination. These courses, The Legend and Links, are still regarded as the island's classic layouts, with the Legend hosting the Mauritius Open each December. Water challenges you on the very first hole of the Legend and from there, its tree-lined fairways run between rocky outcrops and across low-lying flood plains. There are endless rewards of large greens at the end of each hole, magnificent ocean views and a wonderful 160-yard, par three 17th hole to bring you (al-most) home. Peter Alliss designed The Links, Belle Mare's second and less arduous course. However, this rolling layout with its distinctive linksy feel is no easy ride. Accuracy, particularly on the water hazard strewn back nine, is a must if you want to score well. Moving across to the southwest you will find a second links at Le Paradis. Occupying its own secluded, private peninsula in the shadow of Le Morne Mountains, 18 holes here will take you across the entire peninsula from the mountain to the sea, encountering five water hazards along the way. Lotus Supertravel offers seven nights golf and accommodation packages at fivestar Belle Mare Plage starting at £1,229 per person and including return flights and car hire. Tel: 020 7459 2984 or check out www.lotusgroup.co.uk. Chaka Travel have packages from Manchester flying with Emirates via Dubai or with British Midland/Air Mauritius via Heathrow to the following: The five-star plus One&Only Le Touessrok, 12 nights half-board, private transfers and unlimited free green fees on the new course and the nine-hole St Geran course from £2,075 per person. A 12-night all inclusive package at the three-star Le Tropical Hotel costs from £1,199 per person with golf at Le Touessrok costing £175 for a four-round package. Call Chaka on 0289 751 2403 or see www.chakatravel.com for details. | 
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