Golf Course Architecture - Issue 58 October 2019

51 I n the last 25 years, Swiss supermarket chain Migros has built eight different public golf facilities across the country, offering golfing experiences ranging from putting greens to full 18-hole courses. In doing so, they have taken a big step in making golf more accessible, because of the public nature of the facilities and that they are often short courses. It is good thing for the future of golf in Switzerland. Short courses take less time to play and are easier for beginners entering the game. Steiner & Partner designed and built its first pitch-and-putt course at Ruswil in the early 2000s. Since this first project, we have continued to propose simpler short courses in harmony with the environment. The small extension at Migro’s Golfpark Oberkirch is one example where a club is investing in shorter golf alternatives and, in doing so they are contributing to creating a gateway to golf for young, old and new players to learn and play the game under their motto, ‘golf for everyone’. This particular project at Oberkirch involved extending an existing short course from six to nine holes, with two par fours and one par three designed by Steiner & Partner in collaboration with (re)GOLF. These new holes bring something extra to the existing layout, providing different challenges to the higher handicapper while offering fair and playable holes. The new downhill par three is only 110 yards but it’s David Bily highlights two projects in Switzerland that are attracting new golfers with high quality entry-level experiences DAV ID B I LY Excellence at entry level INS IGHT