Best Swiss Golf Resorts

The flat banks of Lake Maggiore are a cracking place to play golf, whether you fancy a proper game or just a few holes to fill a couple of hours. Golf Club Patriziale Ascona was named ‘Best Golf Course in Switzerland’ in 1999 and is still considered one of the country’s top spots. It’s a par 71, only open to those with a handicap of 30 or less, which tries to blend traditional-style holes with more innovative challenges. The setting is gorgeous, with the lake on one side and artfully placed trees; enjoy it from the restaurant, which overlooks the 18th hole. Just outside the town, the Golf Gerre Losone course features quite a few water hazards. It only accepts golfers with handicaps of 36 or less and, like the Patriziale, offers a caddy service, shop and driving range. There’s a Pitch & Putt course nearby where anyone can play – it’s a lot more relaxed; so it’s good for a quick bit of fun. The Scuola di Golf Locarno, which overlooks Lake Maggiore, has 6 and 9 hole courses if you want a

Golf Club Grindelwald’s Pay & Play scheme makes it easy for beginner golfers to turn up and sink a few birdies. There are nine holes and they’ve got a pretty good amount of variety; the hazards are mostly trees and sand bunkers, but a river runs through the course. Get on the driving range, next to the first two holes, for some practice before you get started – or get a lesson from one of the club’s instructors. They offer tuition to all ages and abilities so it’s a good place for getting the kids into the sport. There’s a bar on-site so you can grab a drink, cool down and enjoy the views up to the Wetterhorn and the Eiger after a round. If you fancy a putt but heading out onto the fairway isn’t your thing; you can always potter around the mini-golf course on Grindelwald’s main street. It’s an 18-hole affair and, if the weather’s good and your luck’s in, you might be treated to a barbecue on the veranda.

With Mount Pilatus looming from the south west and verdant Mount Rigi to the east the views are the “19th hole” at the Lucerne Golf Club. The traditional course which happens to be the 3rd oldest club in Switzerland has been revamped since its 1903 inception to meet the modern game and now includes plenty of bunkers and water features. It’s pretty tough - the sloped terrain makes course management a priority for ensuring a clear shot into the green. The fairways are relatively tight and tree lined throughout the 18 hole (par 73) course, so an accurate, rather than smash and grab approach, is required. There’s a driving range to warm up on and an approach and putting green where you can fine tune your game.

Situated just at the southern edge of town, the Golf Club Klosters is a great little spot for a quiet game of golf. A short total of 3636m in length, this scenic 9 hole golf course (par 62) is perfect for a refreshing game on a sunny morning or afternoon. There’s pitching and putting greens to warm up on and a golf academy if you fancy getting a few pointers from the helpful coaches. It’s well worth heading to the driving range before you tee off to get your swing going; as we know all too well, the ravine to the side of the 2nd is a long way down…

Golf Club Montreux (half an hour’s bus ride or 20 minutes by car from town) opened in 1900 and was redesigned in 2005 by Ronald Fream. The course has 18 holes (par 72); it requires skill and strategy but you’ll struggle to keep your head down with the sights of the Dents du Midi... Also a 20 minute drive away, Golf de Lavaux has two courses up in the hills above Lake Geneva: an 18 hole parkland course designed by Peter Harradine (the 12th and 13th hole are particular favourites) and a 6 hole practice course. Golf Club Villars is within an hour’s drive, an 18 hole (par 70) course on a sunny plateau at 1660m, with awesome views of the Alps and Mt Blanc. Worth the 75 minute drive, the 18 hole course at Golf Club Crans-sur-Sienne regularly tops the list of best courses in the country, if not the world (the 7th hole is famously scenic). It’s known for hosting the Omega European Masters and was designed by Severiano 'Seve' Ballesteros. To top it off, the club’s Jack Nicklaus signature course

Just inland from the lake, the Golf Club Lugano has a technically demanding 18 hole (par 70) course. Designed by architect Donald Harradine, with later additions by Cabell B. Robinson, this course comes with pedigree. The regular water hazards and narrow fairways, hemmed in by rich vegetation and the Magliasina River, demand that you play this course with restrain. Ex-European Tour professional Paolo Quirici is one of the resident pros here: he’s usually on hand for some tips on how to play the holes. About a 45 minute drive from Lugano is the 18 hole (par 71) Golf Gerre Losone. With long and narrow fairways which lead to fast greens, it’s known on the international circuit for holding the Swiss leg of the Ladies European Tour. Planned by Peter Harradine, the 6250 metres course is designed to be playable by pros and amateurs alike. The playability is enhanced by the greenkeepers, who sow this course with Agrostis L93 / Penn A4 grass, regarded as the best in Switzerland. A Pitch-and-Pu

Zermatt’s awesome scenery will only distract you from your golf for so long – so it’s good to know that there’s a brilliant 9-hole course just a few kilometres away. With lovely views of the Klein Matterhorn and the Breithorn, Golf Club Matterhorn is spread across the Upper Matter valley between Randa and Tasch and they welcome players of all handicaps. They usually have an Early Bird golfing program, so you can get nine holes under your belt in the morning before you head off to hike the Matterhorn or chill out around town. One weekend every summer, Zermatt hosts the Matterhorn Eagle Cup, a high-altitude tournament that takes place on the actual slopes of the Matterhorn and surrounding mountains! It’s not at all kept so the rough mountains provide their own challenges.

Kurt Rosskneckt and Donald Harradine are the mastermind behinds Golf Club Davos’ design, and with the course set in a vast, flat plain between towering stone pines and alpine architecture, we reckon he’s done a stellar job. It’s a full 18-holer, though with a par of 68 it shouldn’t take you all day to get around! After the final putt, head to the club’s cosy clubhouse for an extra round – drinks on its gorgeous sun terrace. The driving range at Klosters meanwhile is great for anyone who needs to polish up their swing. You’ll find a pro shop here too as well as a 9-hole course with panoramic views of the Prattigau valley.

The lush green pastures between Lakes Zug and Lucerne are where you’ll find Golf Küssnacht, a Peter Harradine-designed course of 18 holes. Buzzards and red squirrels are pretty regular sites here, and the WWF’s even commended the club for being one of the planet’s most environmentally-friendly sports complexes. Far from just a pretty face, the woodland-bordered fairways of Küssnacht (just 15 minutes’ drive from nearby Weggis) pack quite the punch. The 68 par is testing to say the least when you’re faced with the challenging rough section and tricky bunker of hole 18. We’ve a love-hate relationship with 15 too, which has a gorgeous (if infuriatingly awkward) water obstacle curving through the fairway. If you do feel like your technique needs a polish, the excellent driving range, putting green and practice bunker should get you back on course for a game that’s sub-par in all the right ways…