Golfing Region Zurich

When people think of Zurich, they think of finance and banks, soccer connoisseurs associate the headquarters of FIFA with Switzerland's largest city, foodies associate Sprüngli sweets and Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, thriller author Robert Ludlum had his protagonist Jason Bourne rushing through the streets along the River Limmat in search of his identity, and the older ones among us fondly remember the amusing movie blockbuster "The Zurich Engagement". But nobody really associates golf with the Swiss metropolis. Yet twelve of the 89 Swiss golf clubs and golf courses are located in the greater Zurich area.

A city with the highest quality of life

The former Roman Turicum with its location on Lake Zurich is one of the cities with the highest quality of life in the world. Exclusive around the Paradeplatz and the sophisticated Bahnhofstrasse shopping mile, picturesque in its old town and bustling in any case, Zurich is also considered the most expensive city in the world. The famous Grand Hotel Dolder on the slopes of Zurich's green lung, the Adlisberg in the east of the city, is almost symbolic of this. A nine-hole golf course, one of the oldest courses in Switzerland, was laid out behind the 115-year-old hotel in 1907, which was brought up to modern luxury standards in 2008 at a cost of around 360 million euros. Renovated in 2005, the 3,366-meter course with its slopes is open to guests during the week and is almost a must because of its idyllic woodland setting.

Golfing 200 meters above the lake

The private Golf & Country Club Zurich is also reserved for its members at weekends and on public holidays. On weekdays, however, the course in Zurich's neighboring municipality of Zumikon, which is also home to the tireless entertainer Udo Jürgens, is a worthwhile golfing destination. A 15-minute drive from the city and 200 meters above the lake, a challenging course designed by the great Swiss architect Donald Harradine, who died in 1996, awaits with challenging bunkering. 150 Swiss francs (123 euros) is a hefty fee, but due to the lack of pronounced rough, hardly any balls are lost.

Zurich Marriott Hotel offers free green fee at Golf Kyburg

If you drive another five minutes in the direction of Winterthur, however, you will reach the Kyburg resort near the highway in the village of Kemptthal with its 18-hole championship course designed by German designer Kurt Rossknecht. Here, the supply of balls is a little more problematic, as Rossknecht has integrated a number of water hazards into the actually flat but interestingly modeled terrain. The course, which has been awarded the "Leading Golf Course" seal of approval, and its extensive practice facilities offer plenty of variety and are easy to get around. However, the green fees range from 120 to 180 Swiss francs (98 to 148 euros) depending on the day and the "quality" of the card.

• Tip: The green fee is free with an overnight stay at the Zurich Marriott Hotel.

Crisp course in a moraine landscape

The aforementioned Donald Harradine also had a hand in the Golf & County Club Schönenberg on the west side of Lake Zurich. Also a good 20 minutes away from the center of Zurich, this is a really crisp course in the moraine landscape: hilly, water hazards, but everything in top condition. Schönenberg is also only open to guests from Mondays to Fridays and, at 123 euros for a weekday 18 holes, is at the upper end of the green fee scale around Zurich.

If all this is "too much" for you, the Otelfingen Golf Park is the right place for you. Operated by the retail company Migros, the course in the north of Zurich offers an 18-hole course with very attractively shaped fairways, but also plenty of water, as well as two six-hole courses. Architect Kurt Rossknecht guarantees attractive fairways, and as the largest golf provider in Switzerland, Migros stands for first-class maintenance. However, Otelfingen is usually very busy.

Green fee prices above the usual average

The bottom line: even though the flagship destinations of Ticino, Valais and Graubünden are on everyone's lips when it comes to "golf in Switzerland", the Zurich region has nothing to hide in this respect. However, since a briefcase or camera is more likely to be part of the travel equipment when visiting the economic, scientific and social center of Switzerland, all facilities have clubs available for hire. However, as these are mostly private clubs, it is always advisable to enquire in advance about starting times and options. It should also be noted that the green fee prices are significantly higher than the average in this country.