Mauritius

After an interesting journey to Heathrow airport, involving a Virgin intercity train from North Wales, a coach transfer from Watford and a wander round the airport carrying clubs and a bemused expression, I finally found the appropriate check in (thanks to the ever helpful BAA staff) I surrendered myself to the efficient and friendly Air Mauritius staff, who in return fed me, and cosseted me and made my twelve hour, non-stop flight to Mauritius part of the holiday experience.

Once I arrived the ground staff was also courteous and efficient, officialdom was not bad, and soon I was on my way, being driven through sugar cane fields to the Heritage Golf and Spa complex, situated on the South of the island at Bel Ombre.

The welcome was startling, as we drove through the gates a drumming noise started, culminating in a crescendo as we stopped at the main entrance. A very memorable reception; I have been drummed out of places before, but never drummed in. We learned later that this was the hotels way of greeting guests, and pretty soon you knew when anyone had arrived.

Then a welcome drink, check-in formalities completed whilst sitting on a very large and comfortable sofa, and then off to my room, a very welcome shower, and then off to breakfast. What a great way to start the tour.

The hotel with its beach front, its’ numerous pools, and other leisure facilities was playing host to a golf tournament, and so later in the day I visited the Golf du Chateau course to see what I was up against. We journalists were arriving the day before we began play; the professionals arrived a little earlier.

The course was in first class condition, and my play at the practice ground was really very good. I just knew that I was going to play well the next day.

How wrong can you be?

Back to the hotel, and the pre tournament briefing; I found that my tee time was 0800, an ungodly hour for me. I am not a morning person.

Next day I was up bright and early, with only the teeniest suggestion of a hangover, (blaming it on Jet-lag doesn’t really wash, Mauritius is only four hours ahead of the UK) I sallied forth onto the practice ground at 0730, played my best golf of the day, and went to find my buggy and my playing partners. And so play began. Suffice it to say that I saw parts of the course that even the designers probably didn’t know existed, lost a goodly number of balls, kept my temper, just, and had the sort of game best forgotten, but sadly etched in the memory.

Everyone else had a great game, and they were so very patient, offered lots of good advice and were all very kind. But it was to no avail, I had a bad, bad day. The course was great, the greens were fast, and the man with the drinks cart frequently appeared. The sun shone and everything was really very pleasant, if we discount the golf, which was what the scorer did.

Next day was a little better; I didn’t lose as many balls as I had on the first day, and managed a reasonable score, at least by my normal standard. However, because of my first day, and the fact that I am not very good any way, I came last.

Just one note, one hole lay in wait just for me. It was the fifth, a par four downhill, and 291 meter dog –leg with a raised green. What fun. I hit my drive from the green just to a point where a large piece of rock reared out of the ground, and it, of course, hit said mountain, careering off into the tall, sharp, dense grass and was out of bounds. My playing partner hit a similar drive, hit the same rock, bounced the other way and was perfectly placed for an easy approach shot. Me, I finally got there and then watched my putt gather momentum as it rolled round the rim of the hole, and disappear over the edge of a precipice that was lurking at the back of the green. I won’t prolong the agony, mine at least. But that was the sort of day I was having. Notwithstanding that, the course was great and I can’t wait to get back on it, because I know that I can do better.

Not only that, but the views are stunning, the weather great, and the wildlife interesting, and all the staff at the clubhouse very welcoming, efficient, and knowledgeable.

There is also, in the centre of the course, an excellent 9 hole, par 3 course. I did ever so well on this one, and even broke par on the 89 meter 8^th. Boy was I overjoyed.

Wildlife
As you would expect for a course in the tropics there was abundant wildlife, and we were assured this did not involve snakes.

On the course there were many birds, giant snails (which, as my playing partner Kirsty, found out, make a horrible crunching noise when you run over them with a trolley, not a buggy) “It jumped out at me” is not an excuse.

There are also large chameleons, lizards, hares, and a troupe of monkeys who apparently take up occasional residence on the 13^th and 14^th and barrack the players.

With regards to the birdlife, we asked one of the caddies the name of some of the birds, and were enlightened to learn that anything larger than a thrush was a “pidgon”, anything red was a “cardinal”, and everything else was a “petit oisseau”. I finally bought a bird book and found that we had mynah birds, parakeets, shrikes cardinals, and a pink pigeon, crows, sparrows, and kestrels for company.

The club is planning to erect some information boards around the course which will help the golfer to identify the wild-life.

Being journalists we managed to visit the local rum distillery, had a lazy time by the pool with a bar directly beside it, enjoyed visits to the spa for massages and general treatments, and ate superb food. I understand that some of my colleagues found a drink called Rum Vanilla, comprising of a lot of rum, a little vanilla, and some raisins soaked in rum and vanilla. I am led to believe it is quite drinkable, and offers only a mild hang-over to the recipient, after “quite a few”. I had a mild hangover twice.

The hotel cannot be praised enough; it is a great place to get away from it all, and most of all to RELAX. Sadly all good things come to an end, as the cliché would have it, but not before a pleasant flight back across Africa. Then it was freezing Heathrow on Friday evening, the M 25, the train back to North Wales, and memories.

One other thing, the tournament was won by Kirsty Louden, (of Lady Golfer, Peebles, and snail crunching) and I finished. The medal, well, actually, everybody got one, but I am very proud of mine, and determined to do better.

Thanks to Air Mauritius, the Varanda Resorts Group, and to all the friendly management and staff of Heritage Hotel, and the Golf du Chateau.

New Star Asset Management Sponsor Ladies European Tour

NEW STAR ASSET MANAGEMENT SPONSOR LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR (LET) ROOKIES FOR 2nd YEAR

New Star Asset Management today announced the names of the 2008 LET New Star Rookies. Lydia Hall for Wales, Emma Cabrera-Bello for Spain and Vittoria Valvassori for Italy will each wear New Star branded clothing when they compete throughout the season.

As part of its sponsorship of the Ladies European Tour Money List,New Star contributes £50,000 to the annual player bonus pool.The New Star Rookies are given £10,000 each to help them in their first year as professional golfers; the remaining £20,000 is awarded to the winner of the order of merit.

Commenting on this year’s New Star Rookies, Richard Wilson,Marketing Director at New Star Asset Management, said:“The UK, Spain and Italy are all important markets for us and we are delighted to be able to support a player from each of these countries. We wish all of the New Star Rookies success during their first season on the LET.”

Alexandra Armas, Executive Director of the Ladies European Tour, said:“I would like to thank New Star Asset Management for its vision and continued support of the Ladies European Tour and the New Star Rookies. By sponsoring players at the beginning of their professional careers, New Star is helping to give them the best possible start to life on tour.

“We have seen tremendous performances from the rookies over the last few years and we expect to see the level raised again in the coming year.”

For further information on the New Star Rookies, please contact:

Jill Maxwell
PR Manager WSM Sponsorship
Telephone: 020 7590 7520
Email: Jill.Maxwell@WSMSponsorship.com

For further information on New star Asset Management, please contact:

Trina Arthur
International PR Manager
Telephone: +44 20 7225 9574
Email: tarthur@newstaram.com

For further information on the Ladies European Tour, please go to:
www.ladieseuropeantour.com

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
For your protection, telephone calls are recorded and may be monitored. Issued in the UK by New Star Asset Management Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.