Governing Golf in Mauritius

The history of golf in Mauritius is closely intertwined with that of the island and its British heritage. Golf was introduced to Mauritius as early as the 19th century and gradually developed, making Mauritius one of the earliest territories in the world to embrace the sport. The creation of the Mauritius Gymkhana Club in 1849 represents a founding milestone in this history and firmly places Mauritius among the pioneers of golf in the Southern Hemisphere. For more than a century, however, golf was primarily played within clubs and communities of golfers, before eventually becoming more formally organised at national level.

It was with the aim of organising, promoting and developing the sport across the island that the Mauritius Golf Federation (MGF) was officially established in 1994. Mr Chidambaram became its first President, before Mr Rajen Ramlakhan succeeded him in 1995 and led the Federation until 2008. This initial period was a decisive one in building the MGF and establishing its presence on the international stage. In 1999, the Federation obtained affiliation with The R&A, the international governing body responsible for the Rules and development of golf, as well as affiliations at regional and continental levels. This recognition enabled the MGF to further integrate Mauritius into the international golf community and provide Mauritian players with new opportunities to participate in regional and international competitions.

In 2009, Dr Roy Chavrimootoo became President of the Federation. His tenure was marked by significant developments in the governance and organisation of Mauritian golf. A new constitution, compliant with the Sports Act, was adopted, leading to an organisation based more strongly on regional structures and clubs. During this period, a National Handicap System was also introduced under the auspices of CONGU, together with the first official ratings of the island’s golf courses. These developments helped bring the practice of golf in Mauritius into line with international standards and provided Mauritian golfers with a more structured sporting framework.

From 2013 onwards, under the presidency of Christophe Curé, the Mauritius Golf Federation entered a new phase of development. The Federation significantly strengthened its presence at regional and international levels and created increasing opportunities for Mauritian players to represent their country. That same year, Mauritius hosted its first major continental event with the All Africa Junior Team Championship, giving Mauritian golf greater visibility and confirming the island’s ability to host high-level international competitions.

This momentum reached an exceptional level from 2015 onwards with the organisation of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open. The tournament became the first event in golf history to be jointly sanctioned by three major professional and international organisations: the European Tour, the Sunshine Tour and the Asian Tour. Beyond its sporting significance, the competition greatly enhanced the international profile of Mauritius and positioned the island as a destination capable of hosting world-class golf events. The tournament progressively became one of the major sporting events in the Indian Ocean and helped strengthen Mauritius’ reputation as an international golf destination.

Alongside the organisation of major events, the Mauritius Golf Federation continued to pursue its primary mission: developing golf for all Mauritians and supporting players at every level. The Federation established and developed its national Order of Merit, enabling the island’s leading players to compete regularly across Mauritius’ various golf courses. It also organises the Indian Ocean Amateur Open, a competition recognised by The R&A and counting towards the World Amateur Golf Ranking, as well as national competitions for seniors and juniors. These competitions play a vital role in identifying and supporting Mauritian talent and providing players with a genuine pathway towards international competition.

The development of junior golf has progressively become one of the Federation’s key priorities. With the support of The R&A and through the commitment of golf professionals based in Mauritius, the MGF has developed a number of initiatives aimed at making golf more accessible to younger generations. The Golf for All programme, launched in 2016, illustrates this commitment to broadening participation beyond the traditional club environment and enabling more children to discover golf. The programme subsequently evolved towards a more school-based approach, facilitating access to the sport while identifying young players with sporting potential.

Mauritius’ representation in international competitions is also a central part of the Federation’s work. Each year, the MGF selects junior, senior and elite teams to participate in various competitions across Africa and the Indian Ocean region. Over the years, these teams have enabled numerous Mauritian players to proudly represent their country and measure themselves against the leading players in the region. This regular presence on the international stage contributes to raising the standard of Mauritian golf while strengthening ties between Mauritius and other golf federations across Africa and the Indian Ocean.

The year 2019 marked another important milestone in the Federation’s history. Mauritius hosted the All Africa Team Championship at Mont Choisy Le Golf. The Mauritian team produced an outstanding performance, finishing second overall. This historic achievement enabled the Mauritius Golf Federation to receive, for the first time, the National Sports Award from the Mauritius Sports Council in the category of “Best Team of the Year 2019”. This distinction recognised not only the players’ performance, but also the work carried out since its creation by the Federation, its leaders, clubs, coaches, partners and everyone involved in the development of golf in Mauritius.

The following years brought new challenges, particularly during the pandemic, but the Federation continued to pursue its mission and gradually resumed its competitions and development programmes. Under the presidency of Yannick Merven, the MGF further strengthened its focus on junior golf, high-level competition and the regional development of Mauritian golf. The strategic partnership established with the Mauritius Commercial Bank in 2024 to support junior golf development represents another important milestone, with the ambition of supporting young Mauritian talents in international competitions and creating the conditions necessary for their progression towards the highest level.

The Federation has also continued to develop its international competitions, notably the MCB Indian Ocean Open, which has progressively become a major event on the regional amateur and professional calendar. In 2026, the twelfth edition of the competition, held at Anahita Golf Club, brought together 93 players representing 14 countries and confirmed the event’s regional and international standing. This development reflects the MGF’s ambition to position Mauritius not only as a leading golf destination, but also as a genuine sporting platform for players from the Indian Ocean region and the African continent.

Today, the Mauritius Golf Federation’s mission extends well beyond the organisation of competitions. It works to structure and develop golf in Mauritius, train and support players, nurture young talent, represent the country on the international stage and promote the values of golf. To achieve this, it relies on a network of clubs, golf courses, professionals, volunteers and partners who contribute every day to the growth of the sport.

More than three decades after its creation, the Mauritius Golf Federation can look back on its history with pride. Established in 1994 to structure a sport that was already deeply rooted in the island’s history, it has progressively accompanied its transformation into a modern, organised and internationally recognised discipline. From its first international affiliations to the organisation of major events, from the development of the handicap system to the nurturing of younger generations, and from national competitions to teams proudly representing the colours of Mauritius, its history is above all the story of an ambition: to make golf an accessible, competitive and sustainable sport, capable of developing Mauritian talent and showcasing Mauritius far beyond its shores.