Reseña de m.w.helfrich de Golfclub Gstaad

Hit an eight iron 200m today! I’m not a long-hitter, but on a golf course 1400m up and a fairway that runs aggressively down, I hit a 200m eight iron of the 10th tee. That does sum up a lot about this amazing Alpine golf course. Fairways are sketched into the mountainside with them running either left, right or down (not up luckily). Greens are dotted between the little valleys and small forested areas. And teeboxes are put up high, so you can’t escape the gorgeous views of both the Gstaad and Zweisimmen valleys. Golfclub Gstaad offered me an amazing first experience at Alpine golf. I requested a tee time well in advance and asked to be put with other players. A very fast responds told me they would take care of it, which they most certainly did. The welcome was very nice, with a complementary stroke saver and driving range balls. The (grass)range is about 250m, but with it being high up and sloping downwards, it almost feels short but also like a lot of fun. Lovely little chipping green and putting area told me that this course takes the maintenance very seriously, although the grass today was a bit long. The greens rolled very true, but weren’t that fast. And then the party really begins, out on course. At 4800m from yellow, it is a short course. But don’t let that fool you as every hole has its tricks. Either there is a well placed creek, or there is a dogleg that you can’t shortcut, or long shots are punished by a fairway that slopes towards out-of-bounds. Result is that I’ve never hit this many irons of the tee. That does make the course very enjoyable. Every hole is a challenge, and you have to sort the game plan out. Drivers are hardly ever included in that game plan. 8 irons are the way to go. And every now and then, you’re treated to an amazing view of the surrounding valleys. While you’ll be able to enjoy the surrounding mountaintops on basically every hole. That does make playing here very very special! So, if you’re in the neighborhood (basically anywhere in Switzerland) do make the drive up here to come and play. If the weather holds, you won’t be disappointed. You’ll find yourself on the nice terrace, where the nice staff hands you a well deserved beer, having enjoyed Alpine golf at its best.