While a handful of courses stake claim to being Europe’s highest golf course, Golf Club Riederalp is happy to settle on being merely one of the highest golf courses, situated at 2,000 m above sea level. Rumour has it that the 18-hole popup Engstligenalp Golf Mountain near Adelboden in the Bernese Highlands just nudges Riederalp off its own lofty perch by being slightly higher. The news hasn’t ruffled the feathers of Riederalp regulars, however, as they consider the new upstart is only open for some five weeks a year (September to October), so it really isn’t a threat to Riederalp’s well-established recordholding position.
Golf Club at an altitude of 2,035 m in northern Italy is considered Europe’s highest course, and Yak Golf Course in India’s East Sikkim region is the world’s highest golf course at 3,970 m above sea level.
The nine-hole Riederalp course, in the canton of the Valais, is scenically perched on an alpine plateau high above the Rhône River. From the verandah of the clubhouse, golfers can enjoy views of the snow-capped Swiss Alps towards the Matterhorn’s majestic peak at 4,478 m.
Accessible via a cablecar from the valley floor, Riederalp provides excellent accessibility to a UNESCO World Heritage Site that protects the glacial surrounds. This is probably the most famous glacier in the Swiss Alps, and the surrounding area provides a variety of summer and winter adventures. Walking along well-signposted trails is the main summer activity, while in winter, it’s skiing, including across the Riederalp Golf Course, which is covered in snow apart from the golf season (June to October).
A NIFTY NINE
Riederalp is a compact, par-30, nine-hole golf course of 3,114 m in length located on a flat expanse immediately at the edge of the steep valley through which the Rhône River flows on its long journey to the Mediterranean Sea.
The cooler weather ensures a stress-free round, and visitors will enjoy their game and the mesmerising views. Golfers will get to drive off the tee that includes a wide first hole, a seven-iron (second hole), and an eight-iron on the signature fourth hole.
Located behind the delightful Golfhotel Riederhof, the 167 m, par four, fourth hole features an island green. Golfers have to negotiate a small expanse of water and then a dogleg right onto the green, which is not as easy as it sounds.
There is a small but comfortable clubhouse with a terrace restaurant proudly serving popular dishes and beverages from the Valais plus international comfort food. Golfers and accompanying nongolfers can enjoy the fruits of the vines after their game, as the Valais is Switzerland’s largest wine-producing canton. Chasselas (or Fondant) is the most widely produced white wine, while Humagne Rouge, a red variety, is well worth sampling.
Two iconic dishes from the Valais are served in the restaurant and are worth seeking out after playing golf. My German is a bit rusty, so the menu was a little challenging to negotiate but certainly not impossible. I must admit I was a little concerned with the prospect of getting cholera from dining in the restaurant, but I was assured by the wait staff that cholera mit salat was in fact a popular local dish. It turned out to be similar to a pie of pastry filled with potatoes, vegetables, and cheese. Raclette mit kartoffeln und essig-gemüse is the classic dish of heated Raclette cheese with potatoes and gherkins.
YEAR-ROUND DESTINATION
Apart from a few service vehicles, Riederalp is car-free, and as golfers tee off, hang gliders prepare to launch from the plateau while walkers set off from the cablecar station. Despite all the sporting activity, the village never appears to be crowded, and golfers have a sense of having the parkland course all to themselves. Golf can be a quick game and is perfect for travellers who want to spend time admiring the alpine views.
The course is located in the Aletsch Arena, which is part of the UNESCO Jungfrau-AletschBietschhorn World Heritage Site. Covering an area of 82,400 hectares, the natural heritage site provides an outstanding example of the formation of the High Alps, including the most glaciated part of the mountain range known as the Aletsch Glacier, the largest glacier in Eurasia. The site features a variety of ecosystems, including those of various glacial features, unhappily including the retreat of the glacier resulting from climate change.
Aletsch Arena has outstanding global value for its scenic beauty, ecological significance, and range of winter and summer recreational opportunities. The dramatic mountainous landscape has also played an important role in European literature, art, mountaineering, skiing, walking, photography and alpine tourism.
In addition to golf, a range of summer and winter sports are offered in and around Riederalp.
However, it’s not just a sporting destination, as the Alps are also very popular with tourists. A cablecar operates to Bettmerhorn Mountain Station, and from here it’s a gentle walk along a raised boardwalk to admire the big curve of the Aletsch Glacier and Bettmerhorn, which towers 2,647 m above sea level. A pleasant summer walk is to trek downhill from the glacier viewpoint to the Moosfluh viewpoint and all the way back down the hill to Riederalp.
While walking around the golf course, I noticed an old wooden chalet just above it and was told that it was the Alpsmuseum. Upon visiting, I discovered it offered a window into the alpine farming of the past. I was astonished to discover that the wooden hut dated to 1606 and that it had successfully weathered the harsh weather for several centuries. My host was Roberta Brigger, who lives in the village and has set out to keep village traditions at the forefront of tourism in Riederalp. Visitors can participate in cheese and butter-making activities while admiring the historic interior, furniture and household appliances of yesteryear.
Riederalp is a small village, but a welcome refuge from the betterknown tourist attractions in the Swiss Alps. Enjoying a relaxed round of golf on the nine-hole course here in summer and taking a walk to admire the Aletsch Glacier are essential activities for golfers visiting Switzerland.
TRAVEL FILE
Getting There
Depart Kuala Lumpur in the early evening to connect with Swiss International Airline’s (swiss.com) late-evening flight that departs from Singapore. Arrive in Zurich as the sun is rising, and then travel to Brig from the railway station located below the airport terminal. Alight at Mõrel Railway Station on the regional railway line from Brig to Fiesch, and walk a few metres to the cablecar for Riederalp Mitte Station. The golf club is located immediately at the cablecar terminus, while the Golfhotel Riederhof is just a short walk away. The most cost-effective way to explore Switzerland is to purchase a Swiss Travel Pass (swisstravelsystem.ch) for unlimited travel on almost all Swiss public transport, including trains, buses, and boats, over a set number of days.
Where to Stay The
Golfhotel Riederhof (golfhotelriederhof.ch) is located close to the cablecar terminus. While rooms at the front of the hotel overlook the Alps, others have golf course views with some holes, just metres from the property. The hotel offers an Intensive Golf Package that includes seven nights’ accommodation (half-board of breakfast and dinner), free use of the wellness oasis (whirlpool, sauna, and steam room), packed lunches, access to the golf course, and an eight-day Aletsch Discovery Pass for discovering the glacial arena. The hotel restaurant has an excellent local wine list and serves dishes such as Chateaubriand, schnitzel, fondue, and rösti.
Contact
Riederalp Golf Club (golfclubriederalp.ch), and for more information on travel in Switzerland, log on to MySwitzerland.com and Valais/ Wallis Promotion (Valais.ch).
