How to play the Severiano Ballesteros - advice from Stéphane Barras

Stéphane Barras is a local. He knows the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club courses like the back of his hand, having played them since he was a child with his father Roger Barras, who was Swiss champion.

Today, this passionate golfer dedicates his time to coaching, and has founded CaddiePlayer, where he has developed a variety of training techniques to optimise players' movements and improve their scores. Internationally renowned players have used his services, with great success. In 2020, he was even named one of the "Best International Teachers" by Golf Digest magazine.

This frequent traveller shares with us here some of his secrets for optimising performance on his favourite course: the Severiano Ballesteros in Crans-Montana.

Hello Stéphane, and thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to visit us. You’ve just returned from England haven’t you?

Hello, it’s an absolute pleasure. That’s right, I was coaching the Swiss number 1 André Bossert over there, as he’s competing on the Legends' Tour. And now I'm spending a few days at home, back where it all started.

Ah yes this is where you caddied for the first time, when you were 9 years old. That’s young to start?

Yes, but for me it was quite normal. My father, Roger Barras, was a caddy for many years after a distinguished career that culminated with the title of Swiss Champion. He was even caddy for the winner of the Omega European Masters in 1952. So I was immersed in this environment from a very young age, and I very quickly became interested in the scientific aspect of coaching.

Coaching to optimise performance has become your mantra. How does this work in practice?

Ever since I caddied for Jean Garaialde at the Swiss Open in 1977, this notion has gripped me: how can you improve your golf score? So many factors come into play it's hard to know where to start, but my methods are based on science, and on the interactive statistics from each course. They really do allow anyone to optimise their scores, through a better understanding of strokes, clubs, courses etc, all depending on level too, naturally.

In Crans-Montana, for example, the famous Severiano Ballesteros course challenges the best players in Europe every year. It must be very interesting for you to follow it.

It's amazing. It’s an incredible opportunity for any golf fan to be able to attend. The Omega European Masters is one of the only tournaments to be played on the same course every year. The Severiano Ballesteros is therefore hosting the best players, with the best analysis technology, for the 75th time this year. The amount of data collected is therefore unique, and it’s possible to observe, compare, analyse and evaluate all the shots played over several years. All this in order to learn how to play better.

Precisely. What are the particularities that should be taken into account when playing Crans-Montana’s famous 18-hole course?

The particularity of the Crans golf course is that it’s a mountain golf course. So you have to take into account different elements when you play there. In particular the altitude, because at 1,500m the ball will fly further than at sea level, so you have to adapt your length. And being too long on this course can be very penalising. The experts know that you shouldn't attack the greens, because the terrain goes downhill after each hole. So you have to avoid going for the flag, and be very precise about length.

Another particularity is that the climate is relatively dry in central Valais, and the course is generally not very wet. So balls will not pitch on the green, but they will tend to bounce and roll. So there are often long putts to be played on the Ballesteros, and so once again, technically, it requires a lot of precision and a bit of luck.

Tactically, there are a few things you need to know. The first six holes are in the forest, and then it opens up. Psychologically, it's important to know that and to adapt your expectations to the strengths and weaknesses of your game. In addition, there are two Par 5s at the end of the course with the long 14 and 15 holes. So that's where it can all be down to the wire and the scoring can change very quickly, either positively or negatively.

Of course, you also have to study the course carefully and be aware of the various obstacles, especially the water and the bunkers. But on the Ballesteros, they’re not necessarily decisive, except perhaps certain fairway bunkers and the water on holes 12 and 14, where it’s particularly difficult to avoid.

And I imagine that some holes are more decisive than others.

No. 7 hole is certainly key. It's a very short Par 4, where you can get to the green in one shot, but there's an important factor to take into account: the wind. At the start, you’re protected by the larch trees, and you don't necessarily realise that as soon as you leave the forest everything is open and there is often a side wind. It's also a determining hole on a psychological level, because after having held the shot on the first 6 holes in the forest, players often slack off. But if they stay focused and play well on hole 7, they get into an interesting dynamic for the rest of the course.

Another underestimated hole that can be important is hole no.12. Often players take a wedge, a club that brings a lot of spin and backspin to the ball. But the tricky thing is that the green on no.12 slopes slightly down to the water just before it, and players get hung up. So this is perhaps the only green where you have to be rather long.

In terms of score, ideally a professional player should come out of the forest with -1, be 1 or 2 under on no.7, as that gives you confidence, then you have to hold on to no.14-15 and score a birdie or eagle on each of those holes. That's about -5 on the course, and if they can do that four days in a row, then they win the Omega European Masters.

These tips are very helpful. What if you need assistance on the course?

In practice, it’s difficult to have a real experienced caddy with you. However in general, everyone has a smartphone. That's why I've teamed up with hello-birdie.com, a smart app that offers the services of a virtual caddy. If you don't know which club to use, the app will analyse the distance, elevation, wind strength and direction, and of course your level of play, to give you recommendations at each hole. Science can be miraculous, and my goal is to make it accessible to improve the golfing experience for everyone.

If you want to explore Crans-Montana’s golf courses, either the 18 hole Severiano Ballesteros or the 9 hole Jack Nicklaus, don’t hesitate to book your tee-times directly with the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club. Professionals are also available for lessons at the Golf Academy all year round.

And if you too want to see the best players in Europe play, don't miss the Omega European Masters, one of the most prestigious tournaments on the DP World Tour, which will take place in Crans-Montana from 25 to 28 August 2022.