The Alps, glaciers and birdsong was wealthy with everything they need. For The following morning we were off to
simply breathtaking. It may have been me though it was the Lake that the Engadine Golf Club. Switzerland's
a quick morning stroll but it grabbed my attention. In winter, it is oldest golf club is celebrating it's 125th
had certainly reinvigorated me as a day easy to imagine it being used as a anniversary this year and we had been
of golf awaited. skating rink, albeit, a large one. invited to play both of the club's
We were playing in the Kulm & There wasn’t much time though. We Kronenhof cup at the Kulm Golf course were invited to the prize giving in St Moritz. The nine-hole Kulm Golf St. ceremony at the Kulm Country Club. The Zuoz-Madulain was constructed in
Moritz course, first laid out in 1891, tees Restored by British Architect, Norman 2003. It has clearly been constructed
off close to the centre of the resort, Foster, the space is a winter Olympian’s with careful attention to the
before meandering harmoniously out paradise full of bobsledding environment. A mixture of undulating
into the countryside, past the Olympia memorabilia from Olympics past. It fairways, multiple elevation changes,
Bob Run and the former Olympic certainly has an alpine feel to it. With tricky doglegs and punishing rough
Stadium (two winter Olympics have the prizes awarded, part of the club made up of meadow flowers and
been held in St. Moritz, in 1928 and was now becoming an outdoor cinema. grasses made it a challenging course.
1948), while enjoying spectacular views Before we knew it our day in St. Moritz Its carefully thought-out landscaping
over Lake St. Moritz. Lying at a height was over as we headed back to and location alongside an Alpine forest
of 1,860 metres, this demanding par 27 Pontresina. and a fast-flowing river surrounded by
courses. Our first port of call was the
course is among the highest in Europe
snow-capped mountains made for a
and was re-laid in 2001 to bring it up to
date for the needs of today’s golfers.
A par 3 course, what could possibly go
clubs youngest course.
magical, natural setting.
wrong? Not only is the course beautiful
but it is also a tough one. One moment
you are playing uphill. Out of bounds is
just behind some greens, then you are
downhill. Club selection is everything
here. Thankfully my playing partners Urs
and Mario had some tips for me along
the way. It was only playing the course
again for our back nine that I had
managed to iron out the creases of my
game. Either way, I was never here to
try to win. I was here to see how things
done in Switzerland.
Things are done differently here. 54
players took part in the Kulm &
Kronenhof Cup, 20 of those players
were female. For me, a journalist, it
was a pleasure to see. Equality it
appears, is alive and kicking within golf
in Switzerland. On one opening tee,
the men played before the women.
“Whatever happened to ladies first?” I
asked them
“Welcome to Switzerland, where
everyone is equal.” Came his reply.
Following the golf we took a stroll
around St Moritz. It might be a
playground for the rich and famous but
a little window shopping was in order.
The finest boutiques supply the
Above: St. Moritz in Summer