Indian Ocean’s first and only contemporary links layout adds to its growing list of global accolades, celebrated for its jaw-dropping aesthetics and pure golfing drama
BEL OMBRE, Mauritius – La Réserve Golf Links, at Heritage Resorts & Golf in Mauritius, has secured further international recognition, adding to its growing list of honors, by earning a place in Golf World’s inaugural Top 100 World X Factor Courses.
This latest accolade further reinforces La Réserve Golf Links’ position as the No. 1 golf course in the Indian Ocean and celebrates the layout among a curated selection of the planet’s most visually spectacular and thrilling golf courses.
Designed to honor courses defined by jaw-dropping aesthetics and dramatic landscapes, the X Factor ranking highlights layouts that prioritise pure golfing drama over traditional architectural subtlety.
Unfolding across a dramatic split-level hillside landscape alongside a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, La Réserve Golf Links delivers an exhilarating setting where every hole offers sweeping Indian Ocean views, far-reaching vistas over tropical bays, elevated tees, and infinity greens set against the horizon.
Highlighting the course’s breathtaking design, Chris Bertram, Top 100 Courses and Resorts Editor at Golf World, described La Réserve Golf Links as a: “Split-level hillside course where the holes on the top tier offer a succession of varied scenes – elevated tees and infinity greens – with the Indian Ocean background the common theme.”
Co-designed by acclaimed course architect Peter Matkovich and Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen, La Réserve Golf Links was inspired by the wild open spaces of traditional seaside links. A two-time host of the DP World Tour’s AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, the layout plays hand-in-hand with nature, transforming former sugarcane fields into rich, rolling grasslands that deliver world-class championship golf in an unrivalled tropical setting.
“To have La Réserve Golf Links recognised in this inaugural global X Factor ranking is a proud moment for our entire team and for Mauritius,” said Raoul Maurel, Chief Operations Officer of Heritage Resorts & Golf. “This list celebrates courses that deliver an unforgettable thrill and jaw-dropping aesthetics. From our elevated tees to the sweeping Indian Ocean backdrop, La Réserve Golf Links was crafted from day one to offer an exhilarating experience of pure golfing drama.
“This recognition is a testament to the ambitious vision of our team and further cements Mauritius, and the Bel Ombre estate, as a must-visit destination for discerning golfers worldwide.”
Earning its place at #89 in the inaugural global X Factor list, this latest distinction builds upon a wider story of international acclaim for the layout. The course was also recently ranked 28th in Golfweek’s Top 100 International Courses (outside the US) for 2026.
Together with the critically acclaimed Le Château Golf Course, La Réserve Golf Links forms a 45-hole championship offering within the 2,500-hectare Bel Ombre estate. Paired with the luxury of Heritage Le Telfair, Heritage Awali, and Heritage The Villas, Heritage Resorts & Golf retains its elite status as a World Top 25 Golf Resort where championship courses, heartfelt hospitality, and immersive experiences come together in perfect harmony.