Some of my earliest memories of golf trace back to watching The Masters on the BBC, followed by tuning into Screensport and Eurosport. Among all the courses beamed into my living room over the years, one course stood out above the rest: Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland.
There was something different about it. Plenty of tournament venues look good on television, but Crans-sur-Sierre looked improbable. Fairways cut into the mountainside, chalet roofs close enough to feel part of the course and those huge Alpine peaks sitting behind the action like a painted backdrop that someone had overdone. Watching Seve Ballesteros and José María Olazábal shape shots in that setting left a proper mark. The idea of playing golf at roughly 1,500 metres above sea level, where the ball flies that little bit farther and every strike seems to hang in the air a fraction longer, lodged itself firmly on the bucket list.
So when my son and I started piecing together a road trip across Europe, I only had one non-negotiable. However the route changed, however the hotels moved around, we had to play Crans-sur-Sierre.
Arriving in the Swiss Alps
The journey up sets the tone beautifully. You climb through the Valais Valley with a proper sense of ascent, the road twisting through hairpins before the landscape opens into Crans-Montana. It is one of those mountain resorts where golf does not sit on the edge of town hidden away behind gates. It is right there in the middle of things, tucked among hotels, chalets, shops and cafés, which gives the whole experience a slightly surreal feel. One minute you are walking through a resort village, the next you are looking down onto one of the great tournament finishing holes in European golf.
Past the public car park, the clubhouse sits above the 18th green and immediately gives off that old-established tournament-club atmosphere. Inside, the welcome was exactly what you hope for on a trip like this: warm, relaxed and completely unforced. Behind the 1st tee there is a well-stocked pro shop with Omega European Masters gear and club merchandise that can do serious damage to your holiday budget if you are weak around logoed golf kit.
Just as compelling is the board of champions. It is the sort of roll call that makes you slow down: Seve, Olazábal, Sergio García, Craig Stadler, Nick Price, Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, Danny Willett, Matt Fitzpatrick and Thriston Lawrence. When a club can connect your own round to that list, it changes the mood before you have even pegged a ball.
We stayed nearby at Hotel Étrier, a classic chalet-style base that suited a golf trip perfectly. It offered the right mix of comfort and convenience, with mountain views, a pool and spa for loosening up after the round and an easy walk into town and over to the course. In a resort like this, that matters. Being able to leave the car where it is and simply stroll to golf, dinner and a post-round drink makes the whole trip feel effortless.
World-Class Practice Facilities
The evening before our round, we walked down to the practice ground situated in the middle of the course. Framed by ski lifts crossing overhead, a reminder that several holes double as ski slopes in winter, the range feels like the Tour-level facility it is. It features TrackMan setups off mats, a pristine grass area, and a restaurant terrace overlooking the valley.
We also tried out the indoor putting green area, which was paid for by former Masters champion Adam Scott, whose family has ties to the region. Watching our range balls sail into the mountain air, flying an extra 10-20 yards or more due to the altitude, only built the anticipation for the next morning.
Teeing Off on the Severiano Ballesteros Course
On the morning of our round, after warming up on the range, we headed to the first tee of the Severiano Ballesteros Course, home of the Omega European Masters. We were paired with two delightful local lady members, one of whom had been a member for 45 years, who proved to be wonderful hosts for a friendly match.
Standing on the 1st tee, with the past champions’ board behind the putting green, the excitement and nerves were palpable:
Hole 1: 494 metre Par 5
A tricky opening hole framed by trees. After drifting left into the trees and taking six shots to reach the green, I walked off with a double-bogey seven. My son wasted no time reminding me ❝Dad, you waited 35 or 40 years to play here and you started with a double!❞
Hole 3: 175 metre Par 3
A memorable short par 3 requiring a shot over a road, with a grand chalet sitting right behind you on the tee.
Hole 7: 303 metre Par 4
The signature par 4. A dogleg right playing across a large dip, drivable for longer hitters. My son hit a fantastic drive onto the front edge of the green.
Holes 8 & 9: 160 metre Par 3 & 579 metre Par 5
A picturesque par 3 playing back up the hill followed by a par 5 finishing near the European Masters scoreboard and halfway hut, where we enjoyed snacks before the turn.
The back nine continues winding around the mountain terrain and practice grounds.
Walking in the Footsteps of Seve on the 18th
Hole 13: 178 metre Par 3
The famous par 3 surrounded by a natural amphitheater and iconic tournament signage.
Holes 14 & 15: 541 & 518 metre Par 5’s
A pair of par 5’s, one down the hill with water guarding the green, followed by one back up, where the altitude really lets you watch the ball soar down the fairway.
Holes 16 & 17: 181 metre Par 3 & 360 metre Par 4
A short par 3 playing into a backdrop of hotels, followed by a dogleg-left par 4.
Hole 18: 368 metre Par 4
The iconic finishing hole. Before putting out, we took a walk to the right side of the green to inspect the plaque commemorating Seve Ballesteros’ legendary shot from behind the wall over the swimming pool during his victory. Recreating the famous photo with my son, crouching down to inspect the line over the wall, made it clear just how impossible Seve’s miraculous recovery truly was.
Finishing on the 18th green, looking back toward the clubhouse veranda with the mountain peaks in the background, was an unforgettable moment.
A Bucket-List Journey Completed
While I ultimately had to endure losing the match to my son, the experience lived up to every expectation built over four decades of watching it on television. With its scenic alpine views, immaculate course condition, and rich tournament history, Crans-sur-Sierre is a must-visit destination for any golf enthusiast.
