Unfamiliar with golf in Switzerland? Well, you’re not alone. Besides the Omega Masters, the Swiss golf scene is rarely in the media.

Nevertheless, Switzerland does have nearly 100 golf clubs and about 88,000 golfers, which corresponds to about 1.1 per cent of the population, and the numbers are growing. Not bad for a country 60 per cent covered with mountains. But what is not growing fast is the number of new golf courses.

Building a new course in this densely populated, mountainous country is not an easy task. Sure, there was a golf boom here too in the 80s and early 90s, but since 2000 the numbers have slowly declined to the point where a new golf course is almost deemed a miracle. The development process is not for the faint-hearted, where ultimately the subject turns to land use and environment.

As we know, the game demands a certain length and width to provide the necessary playing ground but also to respect safety guidelines. In Switzerland finding the land to build 18 holes, even nine holes can be a challenge. Land for development is scarce in Switzerland and when you discount mountains, lakes, towns and motorways you are left with either natural areas or agricultural fields. And as natural areas are pretty coveted morsels, that normally leaves agriculture.

Rezoning from agriculture to sport and recreation can be difficult because of the interest in maintaining available agriculture land, and there must be an assurance that this land could be re-converted to agriculture if necessary. Cut and fill is limited and often restricted to greens and tees. It is therefore essential that the golf holes be subtly integrated into the existing topography. Furthermore, any available land that could be re-zoned is generally a mix of many different land owners, with strange shaped parcels and limited routing possibilities. One project composed of over 500 individual land parcels has been on the board for over 25 years and still hasn’t received the final construction permit.

In the past, many 18 hole courses were built on pieces of land of less than 40 hectares (100 acres). Government pressures have increased since recommending a 3/3 rule, a guideline from the Federal Office for the Environment which ‘strongly encourages’ new golf courses to have a maximum of one third of the property dedicated to the playing area, roadways, parking and buildings, another third at a minimum of environmental area, and approximately the final third devoted to extensive agricultural land. Now, twice as much land is required and it dramatically widens the responsibility of the golf club maintaining more complex landscapes and biotopes.

But even if a project complies with government legislation, there is (almost) always public opposition from the anti-golf movement and local citizens will have the opportunity to vote for or (more likely) against the rezoning. A risky adventure for investors knowing that even if everything goes like clockwork the project could be buried by a simple municipal vote.

The reasons for this opposition are the same universal issues that plague golf everywhere. Concern for disappearing agricultural land and conserving traditional lifestyles, pollution, water consumption, automobile traffic and the belief that golf is too exclusive. Unfortunately they’re not always wrong, but whether or not there is any substance to these complaints, if they continue to haunt the image of golf they are real issues.

To address the last concern, it’s true that while golf remains accessible for the average citizen in some countries, in Switzerland golf has until recently only been a game for the privileged. However since 1995, Migros (a Swiss shopping centre) has been responsible for building six public courses and two training centres in the country, opening up the game to young people and new golfers, making golf more accessible and affordable. Some of these facilities also incorporate other outdoor activities and walking paths which further opens the area to the community. Multi-functional golf courses are a concept that could and should be encouraged in Switzerland, but with the land scarcity it is limited from a safety standpoint. This could however be very helpful in carrying development projects through the permit process.

So, what is the future for golf development in Switzerland? Perhaps the best strategy is simply to continue to build a positive image around golf. We need to consider multi-functional land-use models, encourage more affordable and accessible golf facilities and be better at communicating what golf can do for the community, the economy and the local environment…and then cross our fingers. 

Anyone for a round of golf and a fondue? 

David Bily is a Swiss-based golf course architect with Steiner and Partner.