When it comes to knowing the contours of the nine-hole, Gary Player–designed golf course at One&Only Le Saint Géran in Mauritius, no one is quite on par with caddie master Ramesh Seeballuck, who more than four decades ago helped plant its palmed-lined greens and fairways and has been their chief keeper ever since.

My pastime growing up was watching the golfers at the Gymkhana Club, the oldest course on the island. Formerly part of a British military base, this is where golf was first introduced to Mauritius in 1844.

I began as a gardener on Le Saint Géran’s course in 1973, two years before the resort even opened, and later became a caddie. Over the years, I have been offered other opportunities at the resort, but I’ve always chosen to stay at the golf course—it’s my home.

Laid out on a peninsula between the Indian Ocean and the Belle Mare lagoon, the course is a beautifully designed par 33. Hole six, for example, has exceptional sea views.

I consider it priceless that I’ve gotten to play with pros like Gary Player and Nick Faldo. But the best part of my job comes with helping guests improve their game.

Golf is difficult because we fail more than we succeed, but I always encourage guests to see their mishaps as par for the course rather than as a reflection on their abilities. —As told to Gabrielle Lipton

This article originally appeared in the June/July print issue of DestinAsian magazine (“Course Work”)