The French island of Reunion sits in the Indian Ocean to the east of Madagascar and is home to a population of nearly a million Creoles. The Portuguese are believed to have been the first Europeans to visit here but it’s the red white and blue tricolour that has flown over the island since the early 17th century.

The island measures only 39 miles by 28 miles and its rugged terrain can be compared to other volcanic islands such as those in the Canaries or Hawaii. The highest point on Réunion, Piton de la Fournaise, rises to more than 8,500 feet above sea level and is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Not as well known as either nearby Mauritius or the Seychelles, Reunion appears to be a dot in the vast Indian Ocean, dwarfed by Madagascar.

With nearly twenty miles of welcoming beaches on its west coast and a host of mountains and forests to be explored further inland, Réunion offers visitors a wide variety of vacation opportunities and there’s some golf to be savoured too. The 18 holes at Golf Club de Bourbon are set in tropical surroundings where a host of other activities including tennis and swimming are available. The 9-holer at Dolf du Colorado makes for a pleasant afternoon, but the best golf course on the island we think is Golf du Bassin Bleu.