In December 2010, on the sunny West coast of Mauritius, on Tamarina Golf Course and at five-star Sugar Beach resort, amidst amateur golfers and pros coming mainly from Europe, Germaine de Capuccini was happy and proud to be a sponsor of The Standard Bank Mauritius Open, a major golf event in Mauritius.
The Standard Bank Mauritius Open is a unique golf competition in Mauritius. This golf event enables amateurs to play with international pros. Sugar Beach, a contemporary five-star resort situated at Wolmar on a gorgeous stretch of beach and amidst a lush tropical garden, is home-hotel to the competition. Sugar Beach houses a wonderful spa and hammam: Aura. Germaine de Capuccini has been associated to the hotel since its reopening in 2008 and throughout the past months; through dedicated training programmes and constant interaction, the brand has built stronger ties with Sugar Beach. A press trip with top Spanish luxury media was even organised with the help of Germaine de Capuccini at Sugar Beach in 2010.
“We are so happy to have been able to count on the support of Germaine de Capuccini for the 2010 edition of this golf tournament. Since the reopening of Sugar Beach in 2008, this brand has been very well represented by Lina Estetica. I have understood, from the players’ feedback and from that of their spouses, that Aura, offering Germaine de Capuccini products, was very much appreciated during and after the competition,” says Andrew Slome, general manager of Sugar Beach and tournament director.
Indeed, more than mere branding on the golf course and at the competition’s meeting places at Sugar Beach — which was described as “awesome, sexy and never seen before on greens” — Germaine de Capuccini had extra attention given to the golfers who had recourse to relaxing or sports massages or still spent some time at Aura. Their spouses, accompanying these players who usually play golf for 47 weeks all year round across the globe, were happy to enjoy some days at the beach and at Aura.
“It was the first time we were associated with such an event in Mauritius, and I was extremely pleased to see how players welcomed our presence as we tried to meet some of them and give some advice on products that can be used to either relax or soothe away aching bodies. And their partners were equally delighted to indulge in blissful treatments at Aura Spa. We did some extra branding at Aura and sales went up during the competition. For us, it is an initiative that we are going to reconduct,” says Shabana Elias, director of Lina Estetica.
Results
The Standard Bank Mauritius Open 2010 saw some 100 players participating in the event, among whom 27 were international and local pros. The Standard Bank Mauritius Open 2010 ended on Saturday 18 December with an exciting finish on Tamarina Golf Course. For the pros competition, the winner was French golfer Damien Perrier, with Swiss golfers Raphaël de Sousa and Julien Clément behind him. On the amateurs side, the winner was young Benjamin Kedochim, from Reunion Island, who showed his entire prowess during the whole competition. The organisers of The Standard Bank Mauritius Open were extremely happy about this year’s event. Most of the international pros present at The Standard Bank Mauritius Open 2010 come from Europe’s top pro circuits: European Tour PGA and Ladies European Tour; Challenge Tour or still Alps Tour. Some came from the Senior Tour also. Local pros also played in the competition.
On Wednesday 15 December, The Standard Bank Mauritius Open 2010 started with the first round, followed by a second one on Thursday 16 December. Amateurs played in Stableford and pros in Strokeplay. On Saturday 18, pros played a third and last round with a wonderful final leg with four of the five first players finishing in a tie. The Air Mauritius Amateur Trophy was held on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 December, in two rounds, for amateurs only. The format chosen was Strokeplay for the first series (men and ladies) and Stableford for the second and third series (men and ladies).