By Will Pearson, europeantour.com
in Crans Montana
With its rolling verdant fairways and dramatic snow-capped Alpine vistas, Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque locations visited on The European Tour. Here, ahead of this week’s Omega European Masters, we pick out eight of the best panoramas at the ever-present host venue.
Perched almost 5,000ft above sea level, Crans Montana is famous in winter for its skiing, with 140km of pistes running through the resort, and its proximity to the Plaine Morte glacier, but in the summer months the small town undergoes a metamorphosis into a golfing paradise.
With picture-perfect postcard chalets, pine-lined valleys and some of the Alps' most towering peaks within view, Crans-sur-Sierre is a photographer's dream.
1.The driving range
There can't be many more stunning places in the world to warm up for a round of golf than the driving range at Crans-sur-Sierre. The practice facility is perhaps even more important than a normal week on The European Tour, with the altitude vastly affecting club distances and yardages. If rumour is to be believed, the ball can fly up to ten to 15 per cent further at this height above sea level. Chocks away, chaps.
2. The sixth hole
The short par four sixth hole offers something a little bit different from most of the views seen at Crans. Tree-lined all the way down - and indeed behind the green - it is the only hole on the course that feels enclosed with the immense swathes of pines looming large and almost exaggerating quite how narrow the 324-yarder actually is. Only when you look back towards the tee do you get a small glimpse at the Alpine peaks.
3. The seventh
4. The 12th hole
At a modest 13,625 ft, the peak ofBishornmight well fall short of the aforementionedWeisshorn in stature yet still dominates a player's sight-line on their approach to the 12th green. Some of the mountain tops are so lofty they remain snow-covered all year round, but with this year's Omega European Masters falling more than a month earlier than in previous visits, there is a little less of the white stuff on the horizon this week.
5. The 13th amphitheatre
The Omega European Masters is unique in that the course is irrevocably entwined with the pretty town of Crans Montana, and each and every year those from in and around the Valais Alps turn out in the force to enjoy some world-class and of course the spectacular scenery too. The amphitheatre built around the green on the par three 13th remains one of the most popular viewing points for those looking to sit back, relax and soak in some top sport.
6. The approach on the 14th
The downhill 14th, this year reverting back to a 559-yard par five, offers yet another mesmerising panorama. Encompassing views over the Mont Blanc massif, spanning no fewer than three countries in France, Italy and of course Switzerland, the field will spot the notoriously treacherous peaks ofAiguille Verte, or Green Needle in English, at 13,524 ft the 14th highest in the Alps.
7. The climax
After 17 glorious holes, players arrive at the concluding par four 18th hole. Playing back towards the horseshoe grandstand and traditional chalet-esque clubhouse, the scene is punctuated by superb views of theTrubelstock peaks and the Bernese Alps, which overlook Sierre and the surrounding landscape. Soak. It. In.
8. The seventh. Again.
Just because.
