Golf Clubs in Geneva (Switzerland)

[Ridge]

Anyone on here living in the Geneva area? I am thinking of transferring there and want to get an idea of where the best golfers play. It would be great to hear some opinions. Thanks.

[mr.haha]

you luck B$@#@. i grew up in geneva (6 years) but didnt play golf there. my father played golf pretty often and ill ask him where he played.

you really shouldn't have to "think" about transferring there. just do it!

[Ridge]

i seem to hear more and more positives about Geneva.... still interested to know where all the "players" play.

[justin gay]

Just be prepared to spend money!!!!!!!!
GC Geneva (Cologny) is great!!!!!!!!!!

[EasyDDI]

GC Geneva in Cologny has the reputation of being a good golf course but it is so exclusive and expensive that most people never play there. As a visiting player you are not even allowed to enter the Club house. If you want to become a member it is quite difficult, it requires money and connection. To be honest, I would not even bother with these guys, they are just arrogant, snobby *****s. There are plenty of other clubs in the area where you can play either in France or in Switzerland.
You have
Esery: [url="http://www.golf-club-esery.com/index.php"]http://www.golf-club-esery.com/index.php[/url] I have not played that one, it is on the French side of Geneva
Bonmont: [url="http://www.bonmont.com/"]http://www.bonmont.com/[/url] further away from Geneva above Nyon, built on the site of an old abbey, quite exclusive. I was invited there several times, the course is nice but I find it a tad boring: some holes are so similar that you do not remember which is which.
Domaine Impérial: [url="http://www.golfdomaineimperial.ch/golf/golf/index.php"]http://www.golfdomaineimperial.ch/golf/golf/index.php[/url] superb golf course on the side of the lake in Gland (25 km from Geneva center), this is the best golf course in Switzerland, I played it once, invited by a member, I will be going there again next Thursday (cool!!). It is very exclusive as well. To become a member you need to buy a share (today north of 50'000 USD) and then pay your annual fees (hefty!)
Divonne: [url="http://www.domainedivonne.com/en/ParcoursGolf.html"]http://www.domainedivonne.com/en/ParcoursGolf.html[/url] on the French side. It has a fairly good reputation. I cannot tell, I have not played it yet.
Golf Course Signal de Bougy: [url="http://www.golfsignaldebougy.ch/index.php"]http://www.golfsignaldebougy.ch/index.php[/url] this is a public golf course owned by a Swiss super market chain (MIgros), this is where I am a member. It is very affordable and it has by far the best view of all the golf courses in the region. There are breathtaking views on the Mont Blanc, the Léman lake (you can see all the way to Geneva). Nice little golf course (quite vicious, plenty of OB).
Now if you are going further east, you have also the Golf club of Lausanne (very, very nice, but very exclusive as well), Montreux, Lavaux and if ready to drive more than an hour you have Vuissens (disputing the best golf course title to Domaine Impérial! a gem.), Gruyère (six par 3 , but amazing views on the Guyère and on the Molèson mountain) and Payerne.

The best players should be in Lausanne and Domaine Impérial, I believe. In my club the best players are around index 3 to 4 (no not pluses )

If you need more help, PM me. I have been living in the region for more than 10 years.

[Ridge]

Great post and I will send you a PM to discuss further. On a few of the points above, I did contact the Golf Club de Geneve and you can "rent" membership shares for CHF6000 per year. I was asked to create a golfing-resume and submit to the membership committee. The same is true of Domain Imperial but I do not know the process or availability. For me, I just want to find good games. Either low handicap players or great guys...ideally a combination of the two! I am a bit of a golf-course-snob and love playing challenging courses in great condition.

It seems like everything about Geneva is "left side, right side." School, housing, club....makes the idea of moving there so binary.

[Ridge]

On the cost side, CHF6000 is in line with annual dues at most high-end American clubs as well as the ones in expat-hubs like Dubai and Singapore. The UK clubs are about half that and were the best "value-trade" I found while living there.

[EasyDDI]

I am very happy to help. If I had that kind of money to spend on a membership rental, I would definitely go to Impérial, it is worth driving another fifteen minutes, it is for me the best course in the area, I love this course, it is long, challenging and very well maintained. But I do not know the Golf Club de Genève, so it is difficult to tell, but based on reputation, this is how it looks. Now from a networking perspective Genève is probably the best of the two (even though Impérial is not far behind). I would try both courses before deciding.

Yes, Geneva is built on both sides of the Rhône river and crossing to go from one side to the next is at best a nightmare at peak hours, so you'd better have house, school, work etc. on the same side of the river.

Good luck in your search.

[chipcaisse]

I do not live in Geneva but around the opposite side of the lake (close to Vevey). I do not play in Geneva either but my club, Lausanne, is pretty awesome. You'll find lot of expats down here and if you want more info, feel free to bump.