I would be greatful for any information on location, price and quality. Is this a popular activity in Switzerland or does everyone switch to winter sports when the golf courses are closed?
Cheers
S-Man
Hi I'm new to Zug and mad keen on my golf. With winter on its way, I was wondering if there are any indoor golf centres within a 30 min drive from central Zug?
There is indoor golf at the sports centre near Zugerland in Steinhausern (see link below). Ive played there 2 or 3 times. Its not cheap, but its not that cheap in the US either. I HATE the putting on these things putting into a grid, can't get the feel or the pace end up 3 and 4 putting all the time. Otherwise its a bit of fun, not as good as the real thing but keeps you swinging.
There is also indoor stuff at the course in Holzhausern. Ive never tried it so not sure whether its, just some indoor hitting bays, trackman type analysis (which they have at the outdoor range), or a full on simulated game. I know they sell memberships for the winter but I've never enquired about what they have and how it works. I dont see anything on the website so I would call or call in and ask them.
Does one need the Platz Reife to play indoors in Switzerland like the real courses?
I dont think so! Just like you dont need one for the range...
A bit far from Zug, but there's http://www.golfnow.ch/ in Rapperswil.
The new Migros range in Richterswil has heated covered bays and a Trackman.
Thanks BrianJW for the info I will take a look. Much appreciated.
Try hotel Sedartis in Thalwil.
Being a hotel, they will serve you beer while you are playing.
You can get beer while playing at the place near Zugerland. They also have a pretty decent selection of pool/ snooker tables and you can play and have a beer at night time as well.
Holzhausern you can a beer in the Migros restaurant and a fairly cheap meal, chicken schnitzel and pommel frites, bratwurst and pommel frites, and when its hot a banana split, mmmm. I had one after my round the other day. If only the golf was as good
You're welcome.
No. Pay by the hour, I don`t know how busy it gets as we have gone in work time. I would suggest booking ahead.
At first you will be slower. One person of reasonable standard may take 2 hours, 4 people takes as long as a real round (4 hours). Once you get the hang of it you can play much faster. Hour, hour and a half for a single playing 18 holes.
That may depend on beer intake
Thanks - I know how to play a bit already. I just don't have the platzreife because I find the idea of having to pass a test to be able to play a game where you hit a little ball with a stick vexatious.
Swiss courses are so heavily used, tightly laid out and there is so little "golf culture", it does actually make sense.
It's actually more about preventing you injuring or ruining the other players' "spoilt walk" and/or the course.
Admitted it's annoying, but the standard required is pretty much a decent knowledge of the rules and triple bogey golf. So if you can play even a little it shouldn't be hard.
Even in the US, which is a golfing nation, playing at a public course is generally a six hour hacker massacre nightmare. Perhaps I've just been in CH too long.
Maybe they should do a better job on having them yell "fore" when they are hitting their ball in others direction. In that regard they have definitely failed. No call, no remorse when they hit up on you (I accept being hit, just expect the call its coming). They may know the rules they aren't great with etiquette. Even though I know 100% its taught by the pros.
I thought it was double bogey golf? Thats just what Ive heard.
You can get a handicap certificate online from the US or UK for about 30 bucks which will allow you to play. If you can break 100 (shot 18 holes in 99 or less) than you certainly have the ability to pass the test and I would suggest the cheaper alternative.
But start with a 6 hole or 9 hole course. You can build up from there.
golfnow.ch is very good albeit a little expensive!
Agreed, the courses here are overflowing it helps to have some kind of 'regulation' in place.
On the downside however, I feel it hinders junior development and one reason why CH hasn't produced a worldbeater.
Say hi if you see me at golfcampus waedenswil :-) :-)
We're not all bad you know ;-) As for the online h'cap certificate, you might get caught out further down the line when it comes to asgi or asg membership.
Stew
No, of course not every one is bad. But in the last 3 weeks I can think of 3 episodes of a ball coming close, not once was Fore or anything called. 2 were from other fairways, one was the people behind figuring it was ok to hit the minute the flag went in the hole. Nearly hit the feet of one of us exiting the green. When we yelled at the guy he just waved us away as if to say bugger off. I know the pros at the course are absolutely teaching the right etiquette.
As far as the ASG Im not playing tournaments. Im playing a lot of social golf and an occasional society day. Im tracking my online handicap just to see how Im doing.
Yeah sadly the pros habit of waving a languid arm left or right at the gallery seems to be turning "fore" into a bit of thing of the past. But I've noticed this in other countries too.
As for etiquette. Here it can get in the way of fast and ready-golf. Especially on the greens where you'd have thought every putt was to seal the Ryder Cup. Dont get me started on practise swings...
I guess yelling isn't exactly part of Swiss nature is it?
I actually have the opposite problem. Playing midweek we are getting whistled at to hurry up in the middle of a round we completed in 3hours 40 minutes.
I swear some of the retired generation aren't scoring they are just timing.
Nothing worse than 5 hour golf though.
For students and ETH/Uni alumni members, the ASWZ sport facility in Fluntern in Zürich offers really nice indoor golf place.