A canopy covered boat takes you across the lagoon in about 10 minutes. With the first ferry being at 0730 for golfers, this frequent service runs every 30 minutes, back and forth until early evening. Running like clockwork as a transfer awaits your boat to take you back to your hotel.
Landing on the island of Ile Aux Cerfs, the slight wave movement from the rocking boat as it comes into moor allows the sea to lap up against the wooden jetty. Its a calming experience.
Like intrepid explorers its almost as if you’re the first to venture onto the island - well until another motorised transfer picks you up and transports you to the clubhouse on a neatly laid tarmac path. It’s a slick operation and one the locals and hosts have perfected to a tee.
A light bright airy but naturally decorated clubhouse greets you, together with a smiling welcome from the check in ladies in the pro-shop.
Despite being given a tee-time, we were told to go when we wanted, so we waited a little for the rain to subside. This relaxed approach works when there are not many scheduled to play the course, fortunately because of the rain, some were put off and we did get out OK. In fact we dodged the rain whilst we were out, but it did come down again after we finished playing!
With the clubhouse behind you, the first hole is memorable for its flora and fauna, in so far as it was right in front of the clubhouse. Taking in a riot of colourful planting and the odd drop of water too! An achievable drive to a lush fairway. It became evident on hole one that they were having problems with worms, or rather worm casts which sadly marred the overall appearance of the big greens. Not using chemicals and finding a local solution is underway - failing that, grab the witches broom and start sweeping.
It soon became apparent that the Bernhard Langer school of golf course design must have shares in silly string.
Being on an tropical island certainly has it advantages when looking for the ultimate golf course view, but some of the holes were a bit silly or technically difficult - I can’t quite decide.
Daunting as some views were from the tee, when you got into the guts of the hole, some fairways didn’t seem that bad. This didn’t detract from the overall feeling of it being a tight and narrow in places on the course though..
Narrowing by water was obvious at the beginning and less obvious in play - that said we did loose a lot of balls, probably the most we’ve lost on any one golf course before.
Not so much quirky as long, the par 5, 6th, ranges from 490 to 601 meters. A slight dog leg right around a huge bunker on the inside of the hole brings its own challenges in. At handicap 6 its not one to sniff at!
Unusual in its design, and quirky it in its play, hole 10, a par 4 handicap 7 with its tee boxes having a sliding door effect. When the doors were open the tee was wide and as you step through they narrow as the visual effect of the sliding doors close again, before quickly opening onto another tee box as the doors open and close as you make your way forward on the tees.
Bermuda grass does hone your skills in a different way. This deep and often spongy grass grabs the ball then lets it settle, so if you don’t commit to your shot, the ball does respond in strange ways; either flushed so far you marvel at your own strength or sinks further into the spongy grass with you left looking forward incredulously - with hope!
At only around 20 years old, the course is maturing nicely. Usage of the existing trees has helped that feeling of being established beyond its years.
I did like (maybe because I did visit a few of them) the bunkers. Nice gritty sand which the ball pops out with little resistance.
Often the greens appeared smaller, and we were pleased to see that the flag wasn’t always in the centre of the green.
The course was full of surprises, some nice, some not so nice. An idyllic location with the blue sea in view for many holes, calming the soul, even when you’re having a nightmare or just lost yet another ball.
It was tight in places and it was in that regard technically challenging with course management being paramount here.
Hole 15, a par 3, 96 to 167 meters had water all around which wasn’t that visible at ground level. Handicap 13 gives away its no walk in the park - (or on the golf course) with its target, albeit largish target green.
This is a course built and designed by an illusionist. It plays with your senses; the eyes are drawn by the narrowing and planting, the smell of the sea allows you to drift into tropical island mode, before the soft gritty sand responds to the gentlest of touches and brings you back to reality. Even the grass doesn’t always respond as you’d expect.
It is definitely a course one needs to play more than once. Whereupon the lost ball count is hopefully reduced each time you play and as you start to understand the intricacies of its quirky design and unravel the silly string.
Quirky, silly, technically difficult, frustrating, rewarding - all apply at Ile aux Cerfs.
|
|
Sarah |
Steve |
Average/given score |
|
Welcome/Friendliness |
4.5 |
4 |
4.25 |
|
Course condition |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
Course design/layout |
3.75 |
3.75 |
3.75 |
|
Enjoyment/fun |
4 |
3.5 |
4 |
|
Overall |
4 |
4 |
4 |
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This You Tube video and the related social media information has been produced as our honest and unbiased opinion on the day. Golf Guru Group trading as Travel Lifestyle Golf (TLG) did not receive payment for this review, but were hosted to some degree by the venue. TLG can take no responsibility should your experience differ to ours in any way.
2 comments:
That looks tight
It really was in places!
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