19h00: Welcoming Cocktail at the main Bar of Constance Belle Mare Plage

Professional golfers from the European Senior Tour mixed with their amateur counterparts at the Constance Belle Mare Plage on Monday at a cocktail evening to mark the start of the annual golf week, the highlight of which is the inaugural Mauritius Commercial Bank Open.

Regular visitors renewed acquaintancies with old friends, and newcomers to the golf week were able to experience the unique hospitality on offer at the resort. In a brief interlude to the proceedings, Patrice Binet-Decamps, Managing Director of the Constance Hotels Experience, welcomed guests and wished them an enjoyable and successful week.

He introduced Charles Perring, Deputy Managing Director of the PGA European Senior Tour, who thanked the sponsors for their support and said that he hoped the MCB Open will emulate its forerunner and enjoy 15 years of success at the Belle Mare Plage.

Mauritius Commercial Bank Chief Executive Antony Withers said the MCB was delighted to be associated with the tournament and he praised all the hard work that had gone into its organisation.

He said the new venture marked a real landmark in the development of golf on Mauritius and he looked forward to a long and fruitful partnership with the event. Finally, Hugh Baiocchi, creator of the Legend course over which the MCB Open will be played, offered some words of reassurance as he said: "This is a wonderful place to enjoy your golf. “Play well and you will have a great time. Play badly and you will still have a great time."

Neil webber