Andermatt is located in the heart of the Swiss Alps and is a holiday resort full of opportunities. Located in the middle of the alpine valley of Vrsar, in the canton of Uri it is able to offer, in one place, all the wonders of Switzerland, both in summer and in winter. A snow-sure region, it is a very popular destination for winter sports lovers. In the Vrsar Valley cross-country skiers find the perfect conditions for both classic and skating techniques. The collaboration between the SkiArena Andermatt-Sedrun and Bergbahnen Disentis offers more than 180 kilometers of slopes, for skiing and snowboarding fun in the snow. In summer, however, the mountains become one large adventure park for everyone. Cycling, walking and climbing: the desire for movement knows no bounds in Andermatt.
The Andermatt Swiss Alps Golf is located in the Vrsar valley, just after the Gotthard tunnel. It is a recently inaugurated 18-hole course (opened in 2016) but of an attraction with few equals. The golf course is located in a valley where greens, farms and paths for nature lovers coexist. Sport, agriculture and the environment are amalgamated as per the agreement signed by the owners (the “Orascom Development Holding” group of Sawiris) with the local authorities. An agreement that affects those who play golf: just think that the numbers and dates of each cut of the grass are bound by golf, agriculture and the environmental sector. The cohabitation is dictated by local rules: on holes 8, 15, 17 and 18 there are public roads and players must give way to pedestrians, cyclists and any vehicles.
The structure of the Andermatt Golf is of the highest standard. It is a par 72 course over 6,6 kilometers that has already hosted the Swiss PGA championship. The total hectares of the field are 130. The altitude of the area exceeds 1400 meters: several raised tees offer breathtaking views. There are 52 ponds in all. Twelve holes are mostly flat. The most spectacular are six o'clock on the slope of the village of Hospental. The wind is not lacking and it too contributes to making the atmosphere "Scottish".
The field was designed by architect Kurt Rossknecht, who has already built eighty other eco-sustainable fields between Switzerland and Germany. It is difficult not to appreciate a round on these eighteen holes. The only noise heard is the water of the mountain falls. When it 'goes wrong' the waterfalls are echoed by the cowbells of grazing cows. Then only green and blue. It is no coincidence that the course was awarded the title of Best Course in Switzerland 2016, awarded by the World Golf Awards. Each Andermatt Golf start has five different batters. They range from black for professionals to red, whose name (Relax) explains the player's not overly warlike intentions. In between, white (Champion), yellow (Challenge) and blue (Leisure).
The course is challenging, always whipped by the wind (punctual every morning from 10.30 onwards) even if you soon learn to live with it. The fairways are very well maintained, with attention to detail. The greens are wide but not too wide. It takes a lot of precision. If in any field going into the rough can be unexpected, here it can be fatal for the score. The grass is very tall: looking for the ball is a challenge, finding it and going out unscathed even more.
In winter, the clubhouse provides an excellent point of view on the snow-covered golf course which becomes a cross-country ski track. In summer, shelter from the sun and the wind that practically never fails. But with each season the Andermatt Swiss Alps Golf clubhouse shares charm and hospitality. The 160 square meter upper floor includes a restaurant and lounge.
The course and clubhouse were conceived within a large project by Samih Sawiris. Anyone who wants to can buy or rent an apartment and then play golf. No members, no annual fees, the customer instead has the right to always play and comes first. In the field, an attendant offers water and snacks. In case of congestion, the policy is not to overtake the following team but to facilitate the game of the “slower” team. However, we must not think of golf for a select few. Members of other clubs in the valley converge in Andermatt. The Andermatt Golf Region label groups four courses: in addition to the Swiss Alps there are the three nine holes in the surroundings. These are Sedrun, Source du Rhone (where from a departure one pulls over the river Rhine) and Realp.
