Golf in Switzerland
The most scenic golf in Europe, played on high alpine plateaus beneath the Matterhorn and the Eiger, from the European Masters course at Crans-sur-Sierre to a modern links in the mountains at Andermatt. The courses that matter, the seasons and how to plan it.
Photograph: Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, Marc, via Google
Why golf in Switzerland
Nowhere on earth frames a round of golf like the Swiss Alps. Switzerland holds close to a hundred courses, and the best of them sit on high plateaus and in glacial valleys where every tee shot is played against a wall of three thousand metre peaks. The headline is Crans-sur-Sierre, the European Masters course above the Rhone valley, but the country runs from a links inspired layout in the mountains at Andermatt to the gentle parkland of Bad Ragaz and the lakeside courses of Geneva and Ticino. It is not a high volume golf destination, but for scenery and a sense of occasion it is unmatched.
Switzerland suits the golfer who wants the round to be part of a wider mountain holiday rather than a back to back golf factory. The season is short, the transfers are spectacular and the infrastructure, from the trains to the hotels, is the best in Europe. Pair the golf with the great resorts of Crans-Montana, Zermatt, St Moritz and Gstaad, or with the lakes of Geneva and Lugano, and you have a trip that delivers as much off the course as on it. It rewards the couple, the discerning buddies group and anyone who has played the bucket list links and wants something genuinely different.
The regions
Valais and the Alps
The high country of Crans-Montana, Andermatt, Gstaad and Lenzerheide, home to the most dramatic mountain golf in Europe and the European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre.
Lake Geneva and the West
The French speaking region around Geneva and Lausanne, with mature parkland courses, vineyard views over Lac Leman and the easiest access from the international airport.
The East and Graubunden
Bad Ragaz, the Engadine valley above St Moritz and the southern courses of Ticino near Lugano, mixing spa town parkland with high alpine and Mediterranean settings.
The courses that matter
Crans-sur-Sierre, Severiano Ballesteros
The home of the Omega European Masters, on a plateau above the Rhone valley with views from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc, redesigned by Seve Ballesteros in 1997. One of the most scenic championship rounds in the world.
Andermatt Swiss Alps
A Scottish style course laid out on the valley floor at Andermatt to tournament standard, twice named Switzerland's best course, with the mountains rising sheer on every side and a modern resort at its heart.
Golf Club Bad Ragaz
An immaculate, gentle parkland between two mountain massifs and home of the Swiss Seniors Open, attached to one of the country's grandest spa hotels, the easiest of the great Swiss courses to walk.
Golf Club de Geneve
A handsome, mature parkland on the hill at Cologny just outside the city, a long time host of the Swiss Open and the most prestigious private club in the west of the country.
Golf Club Lausanne
A leafy parkland high above Lausanne with views down to the lake and the Alps beyond, a former European Tour venue and one of the most established clubs on the north shore of Lac Leman.
Engadine Golf Club, Samedan
The oldest golf in Switzerland, founded in the 1890s on the valley floor near St Moritz at over 1,700 metres, a flat, fast running course ringed by the peaks of the Upper Engadine.
Golf Lenzerheide
A high alpine course at around 1,500 metres in the Lenzerheide resort, climbing through larch forest and open mountainside, a thrilling and demanding walk in the heart of the Grisons.
Golf Club Lugano
A mature parkland on the plain near Lake Lugano in Italian speaking Ticino, the warmest corner of Switzerland, with palm trees, a milder season and a relaxed Mediterranean feel.
Gstaad-Saanenland Golf Club
A scenic mountain course on the pass above the glamorous resort of Gstaad, rolling through alpine meadow with the Saanenland peaks all around, a natural pairing with a luxury Gstaad stay.
Interlaken-Unterseen Golf Club
A flat, walkable parkland on the valley floor between the lakes of Thun and Brienz, with the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau filling the skyline, one of the most photogenic settings in the country.
Designers and host history verified June 2026. Course profiles are added across the site as the directory grows. Always confirm visitor access and fees directly before booking.
When to go
| Season | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| May and June | Mild, green, the lower courses open and the snow clearing from altitude | Lovely on the lakes, the very high courses may open late |
| July and August | Warm and reliable, every alpine course open and at its best | Prime mountain season, busiest and most expensive |
| September and October | Crisp, clear and quieter, autumn colour in the larch forests | A beautiful shoulder window before the high courses close |
The Swiss season is short. High alpine courses such as the Engadine and Lenzerheide open latest and close first, while the lower courses around Geneva, Lugano and Bad Ragaz play a little longer at both ends.
Indicative costs
| Item | Indicative 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Leading course green fee | Around CHF 90 to CHF 180 | Crans-sur-Sierre and marquee resorts at the higher end in peak summer |
| Resort and spa hotel, per night | Around CHF 300 upward | Switzerland is an expensive country to travel in |
| A week, all in | Around CHF 4,000 to CHF 7,000 per person | Mountain golf, 4 to 5 star hotels, transfers, excluding flights |
Indicative third party figures for the 2026 season, shown to set expectations only. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Always confirm directly before booking.
Getting there and around
Switzerland is small, central and superbly connected. Geneva and Zurich are the main international airports, with Geneva closest to the western courses and Crans-Montana, and Zurich the better gateway for Bad Ragaz, the Engadine and the east. The Swiss rail network is the best in the world and reaches almost every resort, though for a golf trip carrying clubs between courses a hire car or a private driver is more practical, and the mountain drives over the high passes are part of the experience. Distances are short, but the alpine roads are slow, so plan two courses in a region rather than long daily transfers.
Where to stay
Base the trip on a resort and play the courses around it. Crans-Montana puts the European Masters course on the doorstep and is a glamorous alpine town in its own right, while Andermatt has grown into a serious luxury resort around its course. For the east, the grand spa hotels of Bad Ragaz and the resorts of St Moritz and Lenzerheide anchor a Graubunden trip, and Gstaad pairs mountain golf with one of the most exclusive addresses in the Alps. On the lakes, a Geneva, Lausanne or Lugano hotel keeps the western and Ticino courses close.
Plan your Switzerland golf trip
Tell us the courses you want and roughly when. One concierge costs the whole trip to the head and replies within one working day, with no obligation.
Switzerland golf questions
When is the best time to play golf in Switzerland?
The Swiss season runs roughly from May to October, with the high alpine courses opening latest once the snow clears and closing first in autumn. July and August are warmest and most reliable for the mountain layouts, while the lower courses around Lake Geneva and Ticino play a little longer at both ends.
Can visitors play Crans-sur-Sierre, the European Masters course?
Yes. The Severiano Ballesteros course at Crans-sur-Sierre welcomes visitors through the summer, with tee times booked ahead and the course busiest in the weeks around the Omega European Masters. It is one of the most scenic championship rounds in Europe, set on a plateau above the Rhone valley.
How much does golf in Switzerland cost in 2026?
Indicative 2026 green fees run from around CHF 90 to CHF 180 at most leading courses, with Crans-sur-Sierre and the marquee resorts at the higher end in peak summer. Hotels and dining drive the cost of a Swiss trip more than the golf. Always confirm directly before booking.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Alpine course opening dates, European Masters week at Crans and the booking windows worth moving on first. Every other week.