Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Review

Golfshake ambassdor Mat Holbrook recently had the opportunity to play and experience the icon Golf Club Crans-Sur-Sierre in Switzerland. An iconic venue and location and host of the Omega European Masters. Find out what he thought in his review.

Dating back to 1906 and sitting some 1500 metres above sea level, Golf Club Crans-Sur-Sierre is arguably one of the most scenic golf courses in the. The main attraction is the Severiano Ballesteros 18 hole championships course, aptly named after its famous designer, but also features the equally as stunning 9 hole Jack Nicklaus course.

A traditional members course, which also operates as a skiing venue during the winter months, given its location, Crans-Sur-Sierre is most popular for being the host venue for the DP World Tour's Omega European Masters event - one on the longest running events on tour having featured every year since 1972.

Set in the vibrant town of Crans-Montana the iconic golf course boasts spectacular views of the Rhone Valley in one direction, and the 4,000 metre peaks of the alps in the other.

Pre-Round Thoughts

As soon as you arrive there is an immediate buzz and unseen level of excitement, the town is vibrant and feeling you get around the pro-shop and clubhouse bar, for both members and visitors, is something I've never experienced before. The picturesque pro shop has a mixture of the usual golf equipment you will find in any pro shop, as well as a range of crested items available for people to take away and keep as memories of their visit.

Each member of staff I met was helpful, charming and ready to do whatever was needed to ensure your visit is as pleasurable as possible.

The driving range is at the other end of the course, with top tracer technology and some grass bays available.  It’s worth driving down there to hit a small bucket, even if it is to get your first glimpse of some of the holes and stunning scenery.

The timber Swiss themed cabins that sit by the 1st and 10th tees also fall in line with some of the properties and hotels that line parts of the course.

There is also a nice putting green by the 1st tee which will give you a good chance to get used to the pace on the day before you head out of the course.

Front 9 Overview

Who doesn't like a par 5 to start? Especially when playing at an altitude where you can gain some distance on your usual yardages.

Stood on the first tee, a slight turn from right to left down the fairway, you are naturally drawn to the initial views overlooking the distance landscape, you'd also be forgiven for thinking about what lay ahead as you walk down the first.

Playing 520 yards, it may be reachable in 2 for some with the help, a generous entry to the green that is well protected by bunkers either side of the green.

The 3rd is a tremendous par 3, from and elevated tee box to a long but narrow 'egg timer' shaped green with a false front meaning anything short will run back down quite a way. The tall pines, that feature throughout, also give that little extra sense of tightness to the tee shot.

The hardest hole on the course soon follows at 4. A whopping 487-yard par 4 that moves sharply from left to right and drops down again towards the green. The large fairway bunker on the left-hand side is definitely one to avoid, as well over cutting your tee shot as some OOB runs down the right. A total of 5 bunkers surround the green, meaning a tough approach, probably from distance, which may leave you battling for a par.

As you walk from the 6th green to the 7th tee down a small walkway, the reveal in front of you as you reach the small steps down to the 7th tee is something you will struggle to experience anywhere else in the world. A dream is the best way to describe it - dazzling, breathtaking, panoramic views out across the mountains and valleys below is something that will stay with me forever.

The hole itself is one you may know as the drivable risk reward par 4. Even at 300+ yards, the professionals reach this hole with a 3 wood when playing in the European Masters from the back tees, so it’s well worth having a go at the plateaued green - after all, you may only get one chance at this.

Whilst the green is surrounded by bunkers, the direct line to the green means the hole plays slightly shorter than the yardage suggests. But when all is said and done, score doesn't matter. Playing this hole does.

Back 9 Overview

The back 9 gets off to a great start with a strategic par 4 that will play close to 400 yards. But with a large fairway bunker on the left-hand side, shortly following by a lovely looking water feature, playing an iron or fairway wood short of the trouble may be the best play, but also leaves a slightly longer shot past the water into the green, again, with the stunning views in the distance.

A great 3-hole stretch soon begins on the 12th hole.

A semi blind tee shot as the hole dog legs from left to right and falls sharply away to the green. The 2 large fairway bunkers on the left-hand side are a great target line - but making sure you club short of those is a must. The approach shot also needs to be precise, as the green sits way below the level of the fairway. Mix this with the false front and the pond that sits short and right of the green, any approach shot coming up short will roll back down and find a watery grave. A super fun hole.

13th is a great par 3, again over a pond with the green surrounded by old stone seating area that will be filled with spectators during the European Master week - which gives outstand views of a couple of other holes as well as the previously mentioned scenery.

To finish this stretch, another hole you may recognise from the TV coverage is the downhill par 5 14th. The fairway, running alongside the back of the driving range, is a fairly gentle tee shot and on the right line will get a good bit of distance as the fairway falls away all the way from the tee to the green. Your second shot can go one of 2 ways.

Either lay up short of the bunkers and sizeable pond that runs from the front of the green all the way around and up the right-hand side. Or you can be brave, have a crack and go for glory. Again, another fun hole to play whatever you decide to do.

The 18th - whilst not the most scenic this course has to offer, arguably maybe the most famous hole. Not the longest at just under 400 yards, the tee shot ideally should be up the left-hand side due to the left to right fairway slope. Anything too straight or right may well kick into one of the 2 fairway bunkers on the right-hand side, or even worse suffer the fate that the late great Seve Ballesteros did back in. The approach - from where you finish off the tee - will be over the gorgeous 2-tiered pond onto the green and a fitting finish to one of the best golfing experiences you can find.

When playing the 18th, make sure you take a minute to head down to the plaque in front of the concrete walls marking where Seve Ballesteros hit his tee shot to during the European Master in 1993. Maybe one of the most famous moments was when Seve miraculously saved par from that spot during the event in 1993 after an exchange with caddy Billy Foster – described as a Shot of a Lifetime.

Post-Round Thoughts

Crans-Sur-Sierre is simply a stunning golf course, with stunning scenery and set within a stunning landscape (yes, that stunning 3 times).

Each hole is different, different views, different test, different opportunity.

I was lucky enough to play this the week before the European Masters event meaning the course was in exceptional condition. The locals I played  with were quick to tell me how well the green keepers do to get the course back in shape following the winter season where people literally ski on the golf course. When you take that into consideration it is remarkable the golf course is in the condition it is.

There are several tees to play from, meaning you can make the course as hard or as fun as you like, depending on what you are looking for. Having played off the whites myself I don't feel like it was too much of a stretch, in fact, given the altitude difference and the ball travelling further it was very enjoyable. To give you an idea, on the par 3 13th hole the pin was 175 yards away (usually a well hit 7 or 6 for me) I hit an 8 iron that ended up carrying close to 180 yards and through the back of the green.

Given it is a DP World Tour venue, some of the green complexes are very undulating and the runoff areas can be fairly penal too, so missing greens in the wrong places can damage your score.  That said, I don't think when playing a course that offers so much, scoring really matters. This was all about the experience, and some experience it was too.

9 Hole Jack Nicklaus Course

If you have time for some extra golf, lack of time to play 18 holes or are visiting with less experienced golfers, then it is will worth checking out the 9 Hole Jack Nicklaus course which compliments the championship course extremely well. 

The 2,984 yard Jack Nicklaus designed layout offers an undulating test with some rolling fairways and tricky greens that are maintained to the same condition as the main 18 hole course. The 4th epitomises this, with a stunning view from the tee box of the lake sitting behind the hole, and the mountainous views further away. As the fairway drops down from the tee to a tight green sat just the other side of a small pond. 

An extremely tighter feeling hole at the 7th with the tall Swiss pine trees engulfing the hole all the way from the tee to the petit green. 

It's a great addition to golf at Crans-Montana, and well worth playing.

Verdict/Roundup

To sum up. The championship course will give you everything you think it would and then so much more on top. A Tour venue, in excellent condition, outstanding service and scenery to die for. An experience I'll never forget.

Overall Rating 10

Course Condition 10

Course Green Conditions 10

Course Layout 10

Course Difficulty 9

Clubhouse/Club Facilities 9

Practice Facilities 9

Friendliness/Hospitality 10

Pace of Play 9

Value For Money 10