Alpine golf around Geneva centres on two famous names: Crans-Montana, 190 km and about 2 h 15 from Geneva Airport on a sunny plateau in the Valais, and Évian, on the French shore of Lake Geneva roughly an hour from the airport by road. Summer courses in Megève (75 km, about 1 h 10), Verbier and Gstaad add more mountain settings. AirportsTransfers.ch drives golfers and their clubs from GVA to all of them.
- Crans-Montana: high plateau, home of the European Masters
- Évian: lakeside course linked to a women's major championship
- Mountain resorts: Megève, Verbier, Gstaad and others in summer
- Season: mountain courses typically late spring to early autumn
- Bonus: altitude gives the ball a little more carry
Crans-Montana: golf on a sunny plateau
Crans-Montana stretches across a broad terrace high above the Rhône valley, facing a panorama of Valais peaks. Golf has been played here for over a century, and the championship course at Crans-sur-Sierre is known worldwide as the venue of the European Masters, a fixture of the European tour held each summer. Spectators come for the setting as much as for the golf, with the mountains framing every hole. The resort also has a shorter course that suits a relaxed round or a family outing. Between rounds, the plateau's lakes, walking paths and village terraces offer plenty to do, and the area is known for sunshine. Book well ahead if you plan to visit around tournament time, when the resort is very busy.
Évian: golf above Lake Geneva
On the French shore of Lake Geneva, Évian-les-Bains is famous for its spring water and its belle époque spa heritage. Above the town, its golf course looks out over the lake to the Swiss shore and is known internationally as the venue of the Evian Championship, one of the majors of women's professional golf. The course rolls over the hillside with views that make it hard to concentrate on putting. Évian also lends itself to a lake crossing: boats link it with Lausanne on the Swiss side. By road from Geneva Airport, the route follows the southern shore of the lake through Thonon, crossing the border into France.
Other mountain courses
Many Alpine resorts turn ski slopes into summer fairways. Megève, a Savoyard village about 1 h 10 from the airport, has courses with views of Mont Blanc; Verbier, about 2 h away, has a course on the sunny slopes above the village; Gstaad, also roughly 2 h from GVA, offers mountain golf in a calm setting. Courses in the Chamonix valley sit at the foot of Mont Blanc's glaciers. These are usually shorter, hillier and more scenic than championship courses, and their seasons follow the snow: typically late spring to early autumn.
Playing at altitude
Golf in the mountains is different. The thinner air lets the ball travel a little further, so many players take one club less than usual. Slopes create uneven lies and hilly walks, so a buggy can be welcome, especially on hot afternoons. Weather can change quickly in the mountains, with afternoon thunderstorms common in high summer, so morning tee times are often the safest. Sun is strong at altitude: sunscreen, a hat and water are essential. And allow time to stop and look around, because the views are part of the reason to be there. Mountain courses also tend to be quieter than city clubs on weekdays, and the atmosphere is often informal, with walkers and cows on neighbouring pastures. If you are not used to altitude, take it easy on the first day: climbing between greens at height is more tiring than it looks, and a buggy makes the round far more enjoyable.
Planning a golf trip from Geneva
A practical approach is to base yourself in one resort for several nights and add day trips by car. Crans-Montana works well for a Valais golf week, combined with wine tasting in the Rhône valley. Évian can be combined with courses around Geneva and the lake. Golf bags travel easily by road, so many groups fly into Geneva and use one vehicle for the whole stay. Check visitor policies and handicap requirements with each club, and book tee times in advance during the peak summer months.
Booking your transfer with AirportsTransfers.ch
When you reserve online, the price for the vehicle is fixed and shown before you pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Tell us how many golf bags you are bringing: the Mercedes V-Class carries up to seven passengers and their bags, and a Sprinter minibus suits a society or corporate group. Your chauffeur meets you at arrivals with a name sign and follows your flight, with waiting included. For days on several courses, book a chauffeur by the hour, minimum two hours. Contact us by phone or WhatsApp on +41 78 346 56 77.
