Crans-sur-Sierre
The most famous golf in the Alps, laid out on a sunlit plateau at around 1,500 metres above the Rhone valley at Crans-Montana. Home of the European Masters since 1939 and redesigned by Severiano Ballesteros at the end of the 1990s, it is a par 71 where thin mountain air sends the ball soaring and the Valais peaks fill every horizon.
Photo: Marc via Google.
The verdict
Crans-sur-Sierre is the permanent home of the European Masters, played here every year since 1939 and now run as the Omega European Masters, which makes it the most storied tournament venue in continental alpine golf. The championship layout, the Severiano Ballesteros Course, was reworked by Seve himself at the close of the 1990s and plays as a par 71. It sits on a plateau at roughly 1,500 metres above the Rhone valley, and the altitude is part of the test: the thin air carries the ball noticeably further, so club selection here is its own discipline.
The golf is not the longest you will play, but the setting is unrivalled and the greens, slick and subtly contoured, are where the tournament is won and lost each September. For the travelling golfer this is a bucket list round wrapped in a luxury alpine resort: ride up from the Rhone valley, play in the footsteps of major winners with the peaks of the Valais Alps as a backdrop, and walk the same closing holes you have watched on television. Pair it with the wider Valais and you have a genuinely memorable Swiss golf week.
Crans-sur-Sierre at a glance
- Course
- Severiano Ballesteros
- Redesigned
- Late 1990s by Seve
- Tournament
- European Masters since 1939
- Par
- 71
- Altitude
- Around 1,500 m
- Green fee
- Seasonal; confirm
The tournament history, designer credit, par and altitude verified June 2026 from the club and tournament records; Crans-sur-Sierre has hosted the European Masters since 1939, the championship course is named for and was redesigned by Severiano Ballesteros at the end of the 1990s, plays to a par 71, and sits on a plateau at around 1,500 metres. Green fees are seasonal, with the course open roughly late spring to autumn; rates change year to year, so always confirm current pricing directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The round opens across the plateau with the Rhone valley falling away below and the peaks ahead, and the altitude makes itself felt at once: shots fly further than the yardage suggests, so trusting a shorter club is the first lesson.
The middle holes use the alpine meadow and pine to frame a series of reachable par 4s and tempting par 5s, where the scoring is done. The defence is not length but the greens, fast and cleverly tilted, and the spectre of going long in the thin air.
The closing stretch is the one golf fans know from September, a finish built for drama where eagles and double bogeys both live. It is a fair, exhilarating end to a round you play as much for the theatre and the views as for the card.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Open to visitors outside tournament week; book a tee time in advance, particularly in high summer |
| Green fee | Seasonal and tiered; highest in the summer peak. Confirm the current rate with the club (indicative only, 2026) |
| Booking | Reserve online or through your trip planner; the European Masters in late summer closes the course to visitors that week |
| On the day | Walking or buggy; the plateau is gently rolling rather than steep. Smart golf dress |
| Getting there | At Crans-Montana in the Valais, around 90 minutes from Geneva and reachable by car or the funicular from Sierre in the valley below |
| Best months | Late spring to autumn, when the alpine course is open and conditions are settled; it closes in winter |
Access and visitor practice verified June 2026; the course closes for the European Masters and over winter, and green fees change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with the club or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is Crans-Montana itself, a high alpine resort of smart hotels, chalets and restaurants strung along the plateau, so you can stay yards from the first tee and ride the lifts in summer between rounds.
For a fuller trip the Valais offers more golf and the spa towns of the Rhone valley, while Geneva sits around 90 minutes away for arrivals and a city night at either end. It is an easy region to combine golf with mountain walking, wine and lake scenery.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Crans-Montana and the Valais.
Build a Swiss alpine golf trip
We pair Crans-sur-Sierre with the best of the Valais, sort the resort, the tee times and the transfers from Geneva, and time it to the alpine season. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Crans-sur-Sierre questions
Who designed Crans-sur-Sierre and what tournament does it host?
The championship course at Crans-sur-Sierre is named for Severiano Ballesteros, who redesigned it at the end of the 1990s. It has been the permanent home of the European Masters since 1939, now played as the Omega European Masters each year.
What is the par and how high is Crans-sur-Sierre?
It plays as a par 71 on a plateau at around 1,500 metres above the Rhone valley at Crans-Montana. The altitude carries the ball noticeably further than at sea level, so club selection is a real part of the challenge.
How much does it cost to play Crans-sur-Sierre?
Green fees are seasonal and tiered, highest in the summer peak, and the course is open roughly late spring to autumn. Rates change year to year and the course closes for tournament week, so always confirm current pricing and availability directly before booking.
Where is Crans-sur-Sierre and how do I get there?
It is at Crans-Montana in the Valais region of southern Switzerland, around 90 minutes from Geneva by road, with a funicular up from Sierre in the Rhone valley below. The course closes over winter.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Tournament history, designer, par and altitude verified June 2026; green fees are seasonal, confirm directly. Last reviewed June 2026.