25 Nov 2014
The countdown to the most prestigious golf competition on Mauritius begins. The final round of the European Senior Tour, which will be played on the Legend Golf Course of Constance Belle Mare Plage, will take place between 8 and 14 December. This announcement was made by the organizers of the event at a press conference, with golf legend Colin Montgomerie, via video conference.
This competition is also an opportunity for Constance Belle Mare Plage to celebrate a very special birthday: It has been twenty years since the hotel organised the very first Mauritius Golf Open in Mauritius, contributing to Mauritius becoming a leading golf destination in the Indian Ocean. Besides Colin Montgomerie, the biggest names of golf in Europe will be participating in the tournament, including Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnan, two former captains and winners of the Ryder Cup. During this competition, a Mauritian will face these heavyweights: Vishnu Seeneevassen a Golf Professional (golf instructor) at Constance Belle Mare Plage has been offered a “wild card' to participate in this prestigious tournament – it is a first for the hotel group.
Jean Jacques Vallet, CEO of Constance Hotels & Resorts, was keen to stress his pride in holding the tournament. “It will be a pleasure for us to welcome the best players in Europe. For 20 years, Constance Belle Mage Plage has been hosting its Open professional golf tournament each December, and during this time we have built a solid reputation in the world of professional golf. Today, this event has become a fixture on the golfers' calendar, for pros and amateurs alike, both in Mauritius and in the rest of the world. Much of the credit goes to our enthusiastic team who give so much everyday, and thanks to them for making our golf courses the most beautiful in the country”.
This opinion is shared by Sebastien Pilot, Golf Manager of Constance Belle Mare Plage. “The Legend was the first 18-hole Golf Course to welcome a competition in the region and our strength is not only the presence of big names on our greens, but also the team members who work hard behind the scenes to ensure an exemplary level of service. Our Greenkeepers, our Golf Professionals and our Golf Mechanics are experts with years of experience. It is the same with our caddies and the Legend and Links are the only golf courses providing caddies to our guests throughout the year. Their expertise is well recognised as now, when other golf competitions are organized on courses on the island, they borrow our caddies from us. And, by the end of the year, at the MCB Tour Championship, we will strengthen our team by employing up to 150 Mauritian caddies”.
Over the years, the team at Constance Belle Mare Plage has grown and progressed. Some, like Vishnu Seeneevassen, started as caddies and are now Golf Professionals. Constance Belle Mare Plage, has offered him a “Wild Card” for his 50th birthday and he will be the only Mauritian to participate in the final tournament of the European Senior Tour this year.
Vishnu Seeneevassen was particularly honored to receive this privilege. "Like Colin, I celebrated my 50th birthday this year, and it is a wonderful gift that Constance Belle Mare Plage has offered me. I could never have imagined having the opportunity to play with the biggest names in golf. I love this sport, but it is not necessarily well known by Mauritians. People have the impression that golf is reserved for a certain elite, it is not so! Everyone can enjoy it and also register themselves at the Marc Farry golf Academy at Constance Belle Mare Plage which has a reduced price for Mauritians. I encourage everyone to come and try golf, a sport through which I learned a lot. I also invite all Mauritians and all golf enthusiasts to come and support me in December! "
Colin Montgomerie has already been declared the winner of the John Jacobs Trophy, and is now very eager to be on the greens of the Constance Belle Mare Plage courses. "This is my first full year in the European Senior Tour and the level of this tour is particularly high. The final round will mark my third visit to Mauritius and my second participation in this tournament, and I must say that the Legend golf course is much more technical than anyone might imagine. It takes a lot of concentration and mastery to place the ball on the right trajectory. If I have any advice for Mauritians who play on the Constance Belle Mare Plage courses and participate in various tournaments it is to have fun and be patient. "
Program of the week of competition:
AIR MAURITIUS TROPHY
LEGEND & LINKS COURSES
Monday 8th, Tuesday 9th and Saturday 13th December 2014
CONSTANCE HOTELS PRO-AM
LEGEND & LINKS COURSES
Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th December 2014
MCB INVITATIONAL
LINKS COURSE
Friday 12th December 2014
MCB TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP / EUROPEAN SENIOR TOUR
LEGEND COURSE
Friday 12th, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th December 2014
For more information, please visit:
A selection of photos and MCB Tour Championship online magazine are also attached:
http://www.constancehotels.com/media/7040/mcb-tour-championship-2014-magazine.pdf
