In person, on the course that he designed at the new Four Seasons Golf Club Mauritius at Anahita, Ernie Els does not look as imposing as he does on TV. But his swing—the one that, together with his 6-foot-3-inch, 230-pound frame, earned him the nickname the Big Easy—is as smooth and seemingly effortless as ever. The two-time U.S. Open champion played the 7,580-yard course (the country’s longest) from the tips. Each hole, however, has four alternative tees that, for lesser golfers, can make this new resort layout not so big, and a little easier. Els’ design at the Four Seasons is certainly easy on the eyes, showcasing the natural beauty of Mauritius, an island nation located off the coast of Madagascar in the southwest Indian Ocean. The course runs through fields of sugarcane, around mangrove-lined lagoons, over ravines, and along the coast, offering views of pristine beaches and calm, reef-protected waters. Accommodations Each of the 123 freestanding thatch-roofed villas and residences has a plunge pool, an open-air bathroom with a soaking tub and a glass-walled shower, a fully equipped kitchen, and an array of indoor and outdoor living and Dining spaces. All of the villas are located just steps from a private beach. Rates Rooms from around $350 to $1,050 for a two-bedroom residential villa.
