22 June 2026
In Crans-Montana, golf is part of the landscape. The fairways here seamlessly blend in with the forests, the mountain peaks and the resort’s elegant atmosphere. In just a few minutes, you can go from the course to a sunny terrace, from the Club House to lunch with a view of the Alps.
While the legendary Severiano Ballesteros course at the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, where the Omega European Masters is held every year, is well known, the Jack Nicklaus Course offers another way to play golf in Crans-Montana: shorter, more accessible, yet just as spectacular.
Designed by Jack Nicklaus himself – the very first course conceived by “The Golden Bear” in Europe – this 9-hole course has, over the years, become one of the resort’s most popular golfing experiences.
And with good reason: few courses are capable of offering such diversity in such a compact format.
The layout perfectly follows the Alpine terrain, alternating between technical fairways and strategic greens, always with open views of the Valais Alps. Each hole has its own character, with a design challenging enough to appeal to experienced players whilst remaining accessible to amateurs wishing to try mountain golf.
The course is open to players with a course permit or a maximum handicap of 54, making it an excellent introduction for:
Its short playing time. That is probably what makes the Jack Nicklaus course so appealing today: it offers a genuine golfing experience without taking up most of the day.
A 9-hole round fits easily into a holiday itinerary:
And this is precisely where Crans-Montana really stands out.
Whilst children enjoy Happy Golf s’cool, parents can easily enjoy a full morning on the course. Some even choose to start the day with a short refresher session at the Golf Academy or hit a few balls at the Driving Range before heading straight out to test their skills on the 9-hole course.
The Jack Nicklaus Course lends itself particularly well to this more relaxed approach to golf. It allows you to ease into the sport, get back into it after a long break or work on your game in an exceptional setting. Many visitors appreciate that it is less intimidating than a large championship course, whilst still offering a genuinely high-quality playing experience.
Start the day with a round of golf
Early morning tee times often offer the finest light over the Alps and a wonderfully peaceful atmosphere on the course.
It’s also the perfect time to:
An experience that goes far beyond golf
People don’t come to Crans-Montana only to play golf, but to enjoy everything the destination has to offer: its many activities, its infrastructure and that resort atmosphere that make it a complete holiday destination, suited to every desire. This is also one of the great advantages of the Jack Nicklaus Course: its central location, in the heart of Crans-Montana.
Just a few steps from the resort’s restaurants, boutiques, terraces and many activities, this 9-hole course can easily be combined with the rest of the day. You can play in the morning before meeting up with your loved ones, enjoy a round between two moments in the resort, or extend the experience over a meal.
Here are a few ideas for continuing the day:
All the more so as the My Explorer Card allows guests to enjoy the lifts and many activities in the destination free of charge or at preferential rates. Received from the very first night spent in Crans-Montana, it makes the experience even easier to organise.
Whether travelling as a couple, with friends or as a family in Crans-Montana, there are activities for everyone: some play golf, others stroll through the resort, go window-shopping or head to the beach, before everyone comes together again over a meal, an activity or a moment up in the mountains. It is this wide range of options that creates such freedom and makes the experience particularly valuable: golf becomes one part of the stay, without ever imposing the programme on everyone.
All about golf in Crans-Montana
