St. Moritz without.
St. Moritz without any...
.....Chic chic, mink and champagne galore.
By Elsa-Maria Honecker
It's hard to believe, but alongside all the hype surrounding the "150 years of winter tourism" anniversary year with the "Snow Polo World Cup" and the simultaneous gourmet festival, where this time top British chefs let off steam in the five-star restaurants, a comparatively small event has made a name for itself - the
Snow Golf Cup in Silvaplana
. Instead of wearing fancy clothes and without the usual champagne and caviar and the usual hustle and bustle with the rich and famous, the event is quite unspectacular for hardy golfers. For the 36th time, they met as usual on the last weekend in January for the traditional snow golfing event in Surlej near Silvaplana. The quaint little village with its typical Grisons architecture alone promises a cozy vacation atmosphere. At the four-star Hotel Albana, you receive a personal and friendly welcome and are amazed at the uncomplicated service, especially when it comes to the ski shuttle. Also that there is an original Thai show kitchen in the "Thailando" restaurant, which goes well with raclette, cheese fondue and Grisons specialties. And that this hotel has the right concept for golfers in both summer and winter: comfortable rooms with open fireplaces, an award-winning restaurant with first-class international wines and a small, albeit fine, spa.
And so it is not surprising that golfers who brave the winter cold like to come here.
It's just a stone's throw from here to the 9-hole golf tournament on the large village green, which lies gleaming white below the mighty Corvatsch.
You can leave it to one side for an event like this, we think, especially as a super event with great prizes awaits for a 40 Fränkli entry fee. Fortune favors the brave, they say, and so a bright winter's day welcomes the "flights" (groups of four), all wrapped up warmly for the tournament. The motley crew of 120 participants from different continents - yes, there were even Chinese players - play over two days according to the rules of St. Andrews (Stableford). In other words, on marked out fairways in the snow with "whites" instead of greens and a slightly wider hole.
The 9-hole course runs through a valley, where cross-country skiers and walkers alike enjoy the spectacle. None of them will be disappointed, as some of the holes really pack a punch: a par 3 with a 160-metre carry over the frozen river and a dogleg (slight bend) to the left on hole 6. You can't see much in the shiny snowy surface, but you are playing with colorful balls and you can see them if they don't disappear in the deep snow rough. The rakes on the "whites" are also a great help in smoothing out the putting surface. Nevertheless, every approach requires a lot of feeling - just like in real life. Especially here, because you have to struggle with this "corset" when you're wrapped up tight. That's why the soothing break at hole 5 in the halfway tent is welcomed by all players. Here I meet former discus legend Lars Riedel and Adi Hengstberger's group, known as the snow golf doubles world champions, who are on their traditional snow golf tour at this time. In their orange team outfits, they are beaming in the sun and the wine and sparkling wine provide the necessary motivation for the final holes. The reward then follows at the award ceremony in the rustic Bellavista Hotel. Of course, in addition to the fun of playing golf at an unusual time of year, the prizegiving afterwards is the main incentive. After all, you've earned it. Even if the main sponsor didn't offer a Maserati as the first prize, there were still plenty of useful things - from blankets to hotel vouchers.
And as an interlude, show acrobatics to marvel at from former Olympic champion Donghua Li, who won gold for Switzerland as a Chinese golfer in Atlanta in 1996 and now also collects prizes as a golfer. Next year, from January 29-31, they want to meet again here in Surlej near Silvaplana and swing their clubs together. In the meantime, the local mountains beckon for skiing and snowboarding, with 350 kilometers of groomed slopes including Silvaplana's local mountain, Corvatsch, offering unlimited snow fun.
