Our hotels on this tour (*)
coming soon!
(*) hotels may change
|
|
|
 |
»Heidi’s enchanting journey from Geneva to Montreux-Crans Montana-Zermatt-Ascona-Davos-
Lucerne-Interlaken-Gstaad and back to Geneva«
© Itinerary
by Green Golf, Luzern
Self drive/Group tours/Guided private tours
14 days/ 13
nights/ 8 rounds of golf, from/to Geneva
Geneva - Montreux -
Crans Montana - Zermatt - Ascona - Davos - Lucerne - Interlaken - Gstaad -
Geneva
Day 1
Geneva. Individual arrival in Geneva
You collect your rental car and take your time to explore this cosmopolitan
city where you find the headquarters of the UNO and the IKRK (Red Cross). You
spend the night in the metropolis of Western Switzerland on the shores of lake
Geneva.
Day 2
Geneva - Montreux - Crans Montana (140 kilometers / 85 miles)
You drive along Lake Geneva through wonderful vineyards with great
views of the Savoyan Alps. En route you play a round of golf on the course of
Montreux (18 hole, Par 72). The second oldest parcours in Switzerland was
founded back in 1900 and is especially impressive with its old trees and the
wonderful views of Lake Geneva (18 hole, Par 72, length 6207 m). With lots of
sensitivity and keeping the historical faith it was just recently awoken to new
life. A euphoric feeling lies over the whole setting, but only really overflows
at the last hole with its spectacular water obstacles. A fair terrain that
despite its narrow passages through forest still allows for good hits to avoid
problem zones. Enjoy also the many attractive glimpses of the vineyards of the
Wallis, the medieval castles and the dominating peaks of the mountain Dents du
Midi. Then you drive on another 95 kilometers (65 miles) to Crans Montana where
you will spend the night.
Day 3 Crans Montana
Here at 1500
meters above sea level the golf balls fly a little bit further. The exceptional
golf course of Crans Montana was opened in 1906 and since 1939 every year hosts
the Swiss Open, the highest rated tournament of Switzerland and since 1983 also
the European Masters. Situated just next to it you find the varied 9-hole course
of Jack Nicklaus (par 35, length 2779 m). The golf course of Crans Montana is
located on an enviable high plateau offering an incredible panorama. The course
not only thrills the professionals, also the amateur will take home as an
unforgettable souvenir the memory of the unique stage set in which Monte Rosa,
Mont Blanc and the mountains of the Berner Oberland play the main role. The
redesigning by S. Ballesteros emphasized the challenges of this special course
even more. The perfectly maintained fast greens are also nourished by the many
drops of sweat the players have to spill here on this demanding course. And also
never underestimate the 9-hole course opposite the village, designed in 1988 by
legendary Jack Nicklaus and set in an open forest around a reservoir. The holes
leave you with only a little tolerance for inaccurate hits and therefore are not
for careless leisure golfers who just want to show off. This night you spend in
Crans Montana.
Day 4
Crans Montana - Zermatt (67 kilometers / 40 miles)
You move on in the Wallis where you drive down the valley and further on to
Visp. Through breathtaking gorges and typical villages of the Wallis you reach
the classy Zermatt by the world famous Matterhorn (4478 meters above sea level
high). No cars are allowed in the village, the parking area is in Täsch from
where you take a shuttle train into Zermatt. You play golf on the course
Matterhorn, named after the splendid mountain close by (9 hole, Par 36, length
2931 m). Not even watches or chocolates contribute as much to the fame of
Switzerland as the Matterhorn does. A picture perfect mountain of incredible
beauty, an eyecatcher shaped as a majestic pyramid, surrounded by 29 mountains
also higher than 4000 m! Understandable that the golf club of Zermatt, which is
owned by the council, uses this export hit for promotion, although the course
lies far below in Randa from where the mother of all mountains can’t even be
seen. But the spectacular views of the much higher mountain Breithorn with its
ice shield is a worthwhile substitute. Already with the first hit you have to
cross the river Vispa. Later the course is surprisingly flat and thus lacks a
bit of dynamics, but, it’s still a fine warm up and the glorious surroundings
easily make up for this. The rest of the day you spend as you please. You will
stay two nights in Zermatt.
Day 5
Zermatt
Enjoy a free day, for example with a cogwheel ride up to the summit of the
Little Matterhorn (3850 m above sea level) or to the Gornergrat (3089 m above
sea level). There you find yourself standing in awe admiring the overwhelming
alpine panorama of countless giant peaks higher than 4000 m and wide glaciers.
Day 6
Zermatt - Ascona (145 kilometers / 90 miles)
You drive through unforgettable landscapes from the Alps of the Wallis down
to the Rhone Valley, then further on through the Goms Valley and over the
Nufenen Pass (2478 m above sea level), finally heading south via Airolo down the
Leventina Valley to the Mediterrean-like, Italian spoken Tessin. Later that day
you play on the golf course Gerre Losone (18 hole, Par 71, length 6250 m). It
really is quite astonishing how a golf course only ten minutes away from the
Patriziale parcours could be totally opposite in landscape. This naturally
treeless terrain was the inspiration for Peter Harradine’s creation of the Gerre
Losone course. With its edges and craters, speedy and highly interesting,
undulating greens this is a great achievement in the art of golf course design.
The ladies on the European tour regularly play there in spring to win the money
from the German Bank, which sponsors this event. Towards the North your view
captures the Campanile of Intragna, the highest church tower in the Tessin and
all around you see mountains with dense woods. After playing golf you drive to
your hotel in Ascona, beautifully nestled on the shores of the large lake Lago
Maggiore, where you spend the next two nights.
Day 7
Ascona
Today you play under palm trees on the golf course Ascona (18 hole, Par 72).
The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy.
Day 8
Ascona - Davos (160 kilometers / 100 miles)
Today you make a charming trip from the South up to the marvellous Alps.
Enjoy the drive and take your time to include a worthwhile stopover for a visit
to the old villages in the Verzasca Valley, where you also find the overhanging
280 meter high dam, once used for a breathtaking stunt scene in a James Bond
movie. The next two nights we have a hotel reserved for you in Davos with its
many great shopping opportunities.
Day 9
Davos
In the renowned Mountain Wellness Destination of Davos you will play on the
quite flat and rather short course (18 hole, Par 69). Davos lies 1560 meters
above sea level and is the highest situated township in Europe which offers the
player a parcours without any distinctive changes in profile. But nevertheless,
the fairways older than 80 years have some surprises at hand for the visitor who
will enjoy the many water runs and new designed greens. Davos is an all year
round destination, and so is the golf course.
Day 10
Davos - Lucerne (170 kilometers / 105 miles)
From the mountains of Graubünden you move on to Central Switzerland. The
drive is quite long, but scenically most worthwhile and finally you are rewarded
with the splendid town of Lucerne in the heart of Central Switzerland, located
right on the shores of beautiful lake Vierwaldstättersee. There is enough
leisure time for you to enjoy a stroll through the historic old town with its
world famous wooden Chapel Bridge or for a relaxing cruise on a majestic steam
boat with great views of Mount Pilatus (2132 m above sea level high). You will
spend the night in Lucerne.
Day 11
Lucerne
The golf course Lake Sempach near Lucerne is the only one in Switzerland
that offers two complete 18 hole courses, plus the wonderful view of the Alps
and Lake Sempach (2x18 hole „Championship“, Par 72, length 6161 m). Exactly here
on the shores of the peaceful Lake Sempach, which is surrounded by meadows and
fruit trees, one of the most important battles in the history of Central
Switzerland took place in 1386. And now you find one of the largest golf
settings in Switzerland, located on the „sunny balcony of Switzerland“ with 36
Holes and championship character. The wide fairways are comfortable to play, but
the undulating approach areas and the difficult to read greens make the whole
matter quite tricky. And you can easily be distracted by the pleasant views
either across the plain towards the pretty lake or towards the impressive
mountain ranges on the horizon.
Day 12
Lucerne - Interlaken (70 kilometers / 45 miles)
Enjoy your drive across the Brünig pass into the highlands of the Canton
Berne. You will see many very old traditional farm houses typical of this area
and a truly pretty flora. After arrival in Interlaken you play on the local golf
course designed by Jack Nicklaus (18 hole, Par 72). The course is very rich in
tradition, rather flat but quite long and situated within eyesight of the
dramatic mountains Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, the so called Trinity of the Alps.
On the golf club’s website you are greeted with the words „Welcome to Paradise“,
a term the course really deserves because of its dreamy settings on the shores
of Lake Thun and also for its brand new greens which are amongst the best in the
golf scene. Lots of water and the „Bermuda Triangle“ between holes 13 to 15,
where already many high hopes for a good score have been deeply sunk, are
characteristic of this course. Tonight you stay in Interlaken.
Day 13 Interlaken -
Gstaad (70 kilometers / 45 miles)
Today you drive further
into the highlands of the Canton Berne. Then you play golf on the atmospheric
alpine course in Gstaad with its tricky trouble zones(18 hole, Par 72), situated
in the area of the river Saane with wonderful views of the Berne Alps, which may
distract you from your play. Then relax on one of the many sunny terraces in the
pretty village of Gstaad, one of the top destinations in Switzerland, where you
find famous restaurants with very high ratings in the Gault Millau Gourmet
Guide. Also you can touch Elizabeth Taylor, though only as a bronze statue on
the market square, plus Roger Moore and Yehudi Menuhin are honory citizens. You
spend the night in Gstaad.
Day 14
Gstaad - Geneva Airport (160 kilometers / 100 miles)
Easy drive to Geneva and on to the Airport, where you hand over your rental car
and check in for your flight back home.
Included in the
package price are:
-
Stay in
double room including breakfast
-
Pre booked
tee-times with green fees
-
Daily
departures with a minimum of 2 people
-
Rental car
category D, Volkswagen Passat or similar including insurances
-
Travel
documents with guide book, road maps, stroke saver
Not included in
the package price are:
-
Meals besides breakfast
-
Petrol
-
Parking fees
-
Costs for
transport on railways, cable cars, cogwheels, ships, park entrance
fees etc.
-
Hiring
costs of trolleys and clubs (available everywhere)
-
Carts
normally don?t exist on Swiss golf courses
Rates in
Swiss francs per person on request
From / to Zurich
Services as in
program
Private trip (10
days / 9 nights / 8 green fees) 01.05.-30.06.08 01.07.-31.08.08
01.09.-30.10.08
Stay in First
Class Hotel for 2 persons
CHF 4280-- CHF
4590.-- CHF 4380.--
Stay in Middle
Class Hotel for 2 persons
CHF 4020.-- CHF
4250.-- CHF 4140.--
Charges for driver
& travel guide
Group packages on
demand, available for a maximum of 32 people
|
|
|