Sitting on a lush mountain plateau, the Alpine setting at Crans-sur-Sierre has rightly earned the Swiss resort a reputation as one of the most beautiful golf courses on the planet. Host to the Omega European Masters, the snow-clad Alps and exquisite design ensures Golf Club Crans-sur-Sierre is one of the most popular stops on the European Tour.
In fact, with 40+ staging’s of the tournament to date, Crans-sur-Sierre has hosted more events than any other European Tour venue.
Seve Ballesteros, Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott are just three of the many golfing greats who have fallen under the spell of the mystical Alpine setting.
Of course, there is so much more to Crans-sur-Sierre that just exquisite golf. One of Switzerland’s top ski resorts, there is mile-upon-mile of glorious slopes awaiting in the winter.
Come the summer the buzzing towns of Crans and Montana make for one of Europe’s most chic destinations and the rich and famous, including the late Roger Moore, have long flocked here to enjoy the spectacular setting and buzzing vibe along the mile-long stretch of shops, bars and restaurants.
Severiano Ballesteros Course
Come the warmer months this snow-clad winter wonderland is transformed into the golf lover’s heaven.
Located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, the course at Crans-sur-Sierre must surely be the most spectacular tournament layout on the planet.
Golf has been played at the resort since as early as 1905. Today’s layout, however, can be attributed to Seve Ballesteros who was drafted in 1995 to rebuild the greens and tighten up the layout.
It’s a technically difficult course which requires supreme skill around the tight, fast and sloping greens.
The tip of the iceberg is the iconic 7th hole. As golfers emerge from the 6th hole through dense woodland they are treated to one of the most awe-inspiring views in all of golf.
A fairly short par-4, at just 331 yards, craggy mountain tops sit behind the tee, while the Weisshorn, the fourth highest peak in the Alps, provides a magnificent backdrop to the hole’s infinity green. Go for broke and you may well find the green. Fail to make it and a plunging valley down the right-hand side lies in wait.
Meanwhile, the views won’t be the only thing leaving you with a natural high. The altitude means that the ball travels significantly further, so you can spend the day booming it like a European Tour star.
Jack Nicklaus Course 9 hole
The resort is also home to a nine-hole layout, the Jack Nicklaus Course, which is an immensely fun layout to play.
With the quality of its preparation and the magnificent views over the Valais Alps, the Jack Nicklaus course is more than worth a round. In fact, it is so good that the layout has been voted the best 9-holes in Switzerland on multiple occasions. Although relatively short, it requires accuracy with its narrow winding fairways and strategically placed obstacles.
Snow golf
When the snow begins to fall the golf doesn’t stop at Crans-sur-Sierre. Crans-Montana is the newest stop on the Winter Golf Tour.
In its inaugural year the contest includes a “Winter Golf & Ski Challenge“ where golfers will compete over 9 holes on the Jack Nicklaus golf course, before racing against each other on the pistes in a timed slalom. An extraordinary experience, competitors play with orange balls to specifically prepared and compacted whites, avoiding powdering snow in the process.
Crans-Montana has many beautiful and luxurious hotels that golfers can enjoy and a wide range of restaurant from brasseries to Michelin star restaurant.
