Golf Mountain pops up in Switzerland

The Golf Mountain pop-up course on Adelboden’s Engstligenalp in Switzerland this year celebrates its fifth season, opening on 10 September and closing on 25 October. With 18 holes ranging from par threes to a par fives, Golf Mountain provides even the most skilled of golfers with a challenge. Hazards include streams and rocky outcrops as well as swirling mountain winds and extreme weather conditions – one minute, golfers might be in bright sunshine, the next in dense cloud.

The unpredictable conditions are worth enduring, however, for the stunning setting. Located at 6,440 feet, making it the highest golf course in Europe, Engstligenalp is a nature reserve of other-worldly character with breathtaking views over the village of Adelboden.

As a pop-up, the only part of the course that is properly laid out are the greens, which are created from artificial grass, the rest of the course is ‘au naturel’. In addition to the course, Golf Mountain has its own driving range and a traditional wooden Alpine chalet that is converted into a clubhouse every summer, complete with a pro, a pro shop for renting clubs, changing rooms, a cosy bar and rustic restaurant, serving local specialities such as fondue and raclette.

The green fee at Golf Mountain is 85 Swiss francs, about £60, while a green fee followed by raclette in the Alpine chalet at the end of your round will cost around £75. Golfers can also stay up on Engstligenalp, at the basic but comfortable Berghotel. Those seeking a few more luxuries may prefer to stay in one of the many hotels in the village of Adelboden (www.adelboden.ch), and use the cable car to access and exit Engstligenalp during the day.

Those seeking a more ‘serious’ game of golf while visiting Adelboden are catered for by the nearby courses at Thun and Interlaken, which are about a 50-minute drive away. More at: www.adelboden.ch/en/s/golf