Mark Twain has been attributed with the saying: “Golf is a good walk spoiled”. This may be true for some, but there is a great campaign to say otherwise. It’s called the Omega European Masters, Crans Montana. Crans and Montana were originally two Alpine ski resorts united by their luxury ski offering and awesome views of the Rhone Valley cutting through the Swiss canton of Valais. Summer waves its magic wand and just like that the après crowds leave and the powder-white landscape retreats to make way for a different world.

Crans Montana has a ghost-town quality to it, yet the surrounding areas are abundant with wildflowers, fruitful vineyards and lush forests. The Crans-sur-Sierre golf club located next to the town centre reveals lush emerald fairways and moss-soft greens with the backdrop of the variegated Alpine mountains- the key ingredient that makes this course indisputably the most beautiful on the European Tour, that’s according to the players. In late Summer every year crowds follow the biggest names in golf to Crans Montana to witness a spectator’s sport in a spectacular setting.

From its inception as the Swiss Open in 1923, the Omega European Masters has flourished into one of the most prestigious events on the European Tour Calendar. Crans-sur-Sierre golf club has been its host course since 1939. In the 1900s before skiing became ubiquitous in the Alpine winter, Crans Montana was originally a haven for golfers and health retreats. The positioning of the many chalets and apartments which line the course is a testament to a place which has golf at its heart. The club has two courses: the more recent Jack Nicklaus course for a 9-hole taster; and the host of the main event, the challenging 18-hole course designed by and named after the European Golf royalty Seve Ballesteros, a three-time winner of this tournament.

Walking the 18 holes at Crans, no two views are the same. With the next tee-box, green or dog-leg fairway, the eyes are rewarded with a different aspect of the mountainous panorama. The course sits at 1500m elevation upon a south-facing plateau which stares down the gauntlet of the Rhone Valley, catching views of the Matterhorn and Mount Blanc in the distance. At this sunny height, the balls travel a lot further, making the gratifying ‘ping’ sound of the players teeing off all the more relevant. The only other sound which tempers the quietude of the mountains are the encouraging yet restrained applauses from spectators, concentrated around the par 3 grandstands and of course on the climatic 18^th. Sitting in one of these areas has a meditative quality, where the audience responds to the game in unison, supporting each player who attempts to get under par.

The strong smells of the pine trees are invigorating and the vast sense of distance from any city is so great, you can’t help but feel that just the simple act of breathing improves your health. Despite the influx of people here, there is bountiful space. Crans Montana has a visible remoteness unlike any other golf course and with that, a feeling of exclusivity as you are able to follow the best players in the world in such close proximity that you can see the whites of their eyes. There is an informality here between the players, locals and fans, unified by more than just their love of the game: an appreciation for the gifts and challenges mother nature brings.

Throughout the tournament the hospitality is, like the Swiss, utterly reliable. Offerings are bestrewn all over the course at regular intervals, but without encroaching on the mise-en-scène. Battery recharging sustenance includes the best Wines of the World, Champagne & Oyster bars and an abundant selection of gourmet offerings for the most sophisticated of palettes. For the best seat in the house on Sunday afternoon, the Dent Blanche Lounge which looks directly over the 18^th green, has the full VIP experience with a plentiful of gastronomic fare, from breakfast through to the sinking of the winner’s putt.

Away from the course, haute cuisine and luxury hotels are everywhere in Crans. The adult-only Aida Hotel is highly recommended but don’t be put off by its humble exterior; inside is home to a large indoor pool and luxury spa – an ideal choice for quiet and contemplation in the cosy chalet-style rooms. Le Hotel Royal, a short walk from the golf course and is renowned for the impeccable service and south-facing heated indoor pool, Finnish sauna and even a private sauna available to hire. The spa treatments have a strong focus on using local Swiss cosmetics containing indigenous minerals and organic medicinal alpine plants. Of course, there is the opportunity to stay on-site, at the Grand Hotel du Golf, who can organise your round if you would like to take on the course yourself. Bag a table at Le Mont Blanc for Michelin-starred food with a table in the clouds or the nearby L’Ours for exquisite dining, also with a Michelin star. To supplement the golf, there are infinite hiking trails, e-biking, wine-tasting and even surfing at the local Alaïa Bay, to name just a few activities.

It is the understated glamour of Crans that is responsible for celebrities like Roger Moore and major winners Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia choosing to have homes here. Crans is a place to reclaim your health, feast your eyes and nurture your soul. Whether it be the mountains or the golf that leads you here, those who have attended the Omega European Masters will concede that golf makes a walk in Crans Montana better.