Mauritius now boasts 10 18-hole golf courses and 3 9-hole courses. While major international competitions regularly contribute to the country’s economic and tourism development, the sport generates local employment and substantial revenue all year round.
A closer look at the industry reveals an impressive number of positions governing the organization of a structure: an average of 60 employees per 18-hole golf course! Reporting to the manager are the operations director, the instructors, the superintendent and his team of gardeners, the receptionist, the machinist, the caddies… And yet, there are no schools or apprenticeships specific to these professions. Many employees are trained on the job, like the caddies, and some even come from the hotel industry. As for directors, stewards, monitors (first level of teaching) and teachers (higher levels), their diplomas have been acquired internationally.
Mauritius’s golf industry is a profitable one… even for the country! A player spends 20% more on the island than a non-golfing tourist, and the direct spin-offs represent around 5% of the tourism industry’s overall revenue. The main sources of revenue are licenses (of course), sponsorships and funds received from the authorities, which are used to finance administrative costs, awards and expenses linked to international tournaments, referee training… and projects such as Golf for All to encourage young people to play.
In 2019, 60,000 of the 1.2 million visitors were golfers. In view of last year’s post-Covid figures – 55,000 golfers mingled with the million travelers – the ratio is more than telling!