SwitzerlandSvizzera
From 1 to 3 February 2019 the second edition of the Winter Golf Cup took place in Crans-Montana, the first golf tournament played on the snows of French-speaking Switzerland. After the success of the first edition, this second edition sold out in all 3 days of the event: more than 170 amateur and professional golfers competed in a magical winter setting.
Tuesday 19 February 2019 11 minutes reading time
The first day was dedicated to the Pro-Am challenge, preceded by a dinner prepared by the starred chef Frank Reynaud in his Bistrot des Ours (https://pasdelours.ch/fr/restaurants.html); Saturday 2 competitors competed in a 4-player tournament (4 balls formula, the best 2 are held) and then had to test their skills in a special Skills Team Challenge. Finally, on Sunday 3, the tournament ended with a classic challenge between teams of 2 players (4 balls formula, the best), followed by a raclette-based lunch.
A particular and winning formula, thanks also to the wonderful field, designed by Jack Nicklaus (a former American golfer, also known by the nickname "The 'golden bear", and considered by many to be the greatest golfer of all times). But Crans-Montana is truly a paradise for golfers, since it can count no less than 4 golf courses, including - in addition to the previously mentioned 9-hole Jack Nicklaus - the 18-hole course designed by Severiano Ballestreros (probably the biggest European golfer always), home of the Omega European Masters and counted by specialized magazines as one of the most beautiful in the world, certainly also for the view that you can enjoy from here. From the Rhone valley (altitude 500 m) to the Plaine Morte glacier (3000 m), the region of Crans-Montana is in fact sun-kissed and offers a breathtaking view of the crown of peaks stretching from Breithorn to Mont Blanc , passing through the Weisshorn and the Matterhorn.
(photo golf)
So golf, starred restaurants and boutiques worthy of the Champs-Elysées or our Via Montenapoleone. But Crans-Montana is not just luxury, contrary to what one might think. The offer is wide and includes luxury hotels and chalets, but also 3 and 4-star hotels (we stayed at the Hotel Central, in the central Place du Marché), group accommodations, bed & breakfasts and even a youth hostel.
With lakes, forests, glaciers and vineyards, the region offers everything that nature lovers can wish for. And winter 2018/2019 is full of really interesting news.
Starting from the Rando Parc, 15 new ski-mountaineering itineraries (blue, red and black) on over 40 km of marked and secured trails. Unique in the world, this gigantic trekking park offers a positive difference of over 8,000 meters. Suitable both for beginners and experts, it includes, in particular, three routes for beginners and a route called "La X'trême" (the big challenge), with 3,000 meters of positive difference in height and four climbs. These routes for seal skins have been developed in collaboration with Séverine Pont-Combe, ski mountaineering champion (https://www.crans-montana.ch/Image/Randoparc_Carte18-19_Final_bd.pdf), to give the possibility also beginners to try this discipline in complete safety. The equipment can be conveniently rented on site at the Rando Shop (rue Centrale 8), whose friendly managers will also give you the first rudiments to familiarize yourself with skis, boots, bindings and skins.
Obviously, we can not forget the domaine skiable: 140 km of slopes up to 3000m of altitude, among which the Mont Lachaux stands out, 650 meters in altitude that will host the next 23rd and 24th February 2 free and combined downhill races valid for the Female alpine skiing world. For snowboarders, in Crans-Montana there is one of the most beautiful snow parks in Switzerland, which covers over 100,000 m2 and boasts the only Olympic superpipe in the Valais Alps.
Sports options include snowshoeing and skiing, numerous cross-country circuits, a large ice-skating rink and even a curling course! For lovers of strong feelings instead, the last born is the Chalet Alaïa, a real temple of action sports, which opened its doors this month of February. High quality infrastructures such as trampolines, indoor ramps, foam pit, bowl and a magnificent outdoor skatepark allow you to practice different sports all year round (https://www.alaia.ch/projets/chalet/).
Until 10 March 2019, the town offers a complete program of "sweet" activities bearing the name of Grandeur Nature. All free. Every day of the week is dedicated to a discipline: on Monday you can walk with huskies, Wednesday is the turn of Nordic walking while on Thursday snowshoeing by day and Friday by moonlight; Saturday is yoga and on Sunday you are introduced to ski mountaineering on the Rando Parc.
This year, the resort has obtained the renewal of the "Family Destination" label 2019-2021. In fact, the location easily meets the many conditions required by the Swiss Tourism Federation for the achievement of the "Family Destination" label 2019-2021. Among the strict criteria of the label are, in particular, the infrastructures intended for families, such as playgrounds, picnic and grilling areas, walking paths accessible to strollers or lakes where it is possible to swim. Big news for this year 2018-19: Crans-Montana offers parents a service to welcome children in its nest for tourists. Conceived according to the philosophy of the Bibi universe, the famous mascot marmot of Crans-Montana, this nest offers children, aged between 2 and 8 years, different animations, games and activities that, under the supervision of professionals, take place as much indoors as outdoors.
The last novelty we want to talk about is the Chemin des Lanternes: a magic walk, with free access, on the Jack Nicklaus golf course, which will make you return children. At the end of the path, some farms and a box of desires, ready to receive your innermost dreams, will immerse you in the shepherd's universe. Do not forget to print the fairy tale or pick it up at the tourist office. From time immemorial, a mysterious story has been handed down from generation to generation, through the decades, to make big and small dream. It is said that, one evening in December, at a height in Crans-Montana, a shepherd who had no other company but his animals and stars, went in search of Blanche, his beloved goat. After hours of effort, braving the snow, the glacial wind and the night, he was dazzled by a strong light at the end of which a strange silhouette from heaven awaited him ... Find the complete story of the shepherd and the star Bella Lui at this link: https://issuu.com/cransmontanatourisme/docs/il_pastore_e_la_stella_bellalui
How do you say the station's motto: Crans-Montana? Absolutely!
#CRANSMONTANA #SVIZZERA
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Social media engagement
Più letti in Regioni
Pila, dal 13 giugno riaprono gli impianti. La prima estate della Stella
Nuovi sentieri per il trekking, nuovi percorsi al bike park, apertura estiva della telecabina Pila–Stella, attività, visite guidate, eventi. A Pila è tutto pronto per iniziare l'estate 2026.
70