Golf: the sunny, outdoor sport that takes place on long stretches of freshly-cut grass, often associated with luxury holidays in warm locations. It is not usual that you see a game of golf being played on snow in the middle of winter, especially not in the middle of the French Alps. However, in Megève, green fairways are replaced with a blanket of white snow and white golf balls are replaced with vibrant orange ones. In Megève, golf can be enjoyed in the coldest months of winter, on the flat grounds in the French Alps. Each January, the BMW Megève Winter Golf Cup turns a predominantly summer sport into an all-year-round activity.
The BMW Megève Winter Golf Cup is an exclusive event, only shared via word of mouth to its elite guests. The competition draws both professionals and celebrities alike to the Golf du Mont-d’Arbois, the world’s oldest mountain golf resort, created in 1923. This is one of Megève’s finest golf resorts originally designed by Sir Henry Cotton, winner of the Open Championship in 1934, 1937 and 1948. It was developed in the 1920s by the Rothschild family, luring in aristocracy, royalty, film stars and writers in the fifties and sixties. Now, under Edmund De Rothschild heritage, the course stretches out over 50 hectares of woodland with gentle slopes that make for a most enjoyable day of golf, even in the cold of winter.
Snow golf was invented by esteemed British author Rudyard Kipling, who used to paint balls red and strike them into tin cans that he buried in the snow in front of his house in Vermont.
Renowned for its charisma, authenticity and grace, Megève has become one of the most popular ski resorts in the Alps. It is deemed the ultimate luxury ski resort and its calendar also includes other modern events like snow polo, an international jazz festival and horse racing in the summer months. It is a place where people can come together to meet and ski and of course watch snow golf at BMW Megève Winter Golf Cup.
According to the U.S. Golf Association, snow golf was invented by esteemed British author Rudyard Kipling, who used to paint balls red and strike them into tin cans that he buried in the snow in front of his house in Vermont. Kipling was taught by legendary Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who visited him in November 1894, and wrote of the encounter, ‘I had brought up my golf-clubs and gave him lessons in a field while the New England rustics watched us from afar, wondering what on earth we were at, for golf was unknown in America at that time.’ Snow golf is centuries old, however, the first professional snow golf tournament in Megève was invented only two decades ago. What started off as jovial entertainment has now become one of the Alps’ most exclusive sporting competitions.
Preparation for the event takes a fortnight: the snow is compressed with a form of cement and is then shaped into fairways, tee boxes and, not so green, greens. All the while, cable cars ascend the summit of Mont d’Arbois, crammed with curious skiers craning their necks to get a glimpse at the intrepid golfers below. Entry is open to all golfers with a maximum 35 handicap, and the tournament has two rounds over Friday and Saturday with teams of two playing in four-ball groups. Men play with black balls, while the women play with pink balls, and any golfers not eligible for the Winter Golf Cup can play the snow course on the Sunday: this way everyone can experience the thrill of winter golf, and simply substitute the colour of the balls for something brighter, turn in golf shoes for snow boots, and wear an extra layer or two. For this competition, they play nine holes with a shotgun start, meaning that nine groups of players tee off simultaneously from different holes. This utilises only half of the 18 holes on the Golf du Mont-d’Arbois course. In this contest the longest hole length is about 400 metres. Of course, for winter golf, golf buggies are not the way forward, but fear not, as instead, the mode of transport on the golf course is by husky sleigh. Taking an exhilarating ride between the holes on a dog sled at the Megeve Winter Golf club, is a surreal, thrilling cherry on top to the fun that is winter golf.
Set against the backdrop of the mountains including the majestic Mont Blanc, the BMW Megève Winter Golf Cup is an event that evokes an exclusive atmosphere that is refined yet laid back, making it a fabulous opportunity for a social gathering with a glamourous crowd. Delicious French food is also to be expected as lunch, dinner, cocktails, and more is all catered by professional chefs, as no one ever eats poorly when in the French Alps. With free-flowing champagne and canapés of oysters, caviar, and foie gras, the area’s five-star hotels, such as the Four Seasons retreat Chalets du Mont d’Abois Megève, and restaurants, such as the three-Michelin star Fermes des Marie and Flocons de Sel restaurants, ensure no guest goes hungry, serving them with only the most luxurious of flavours.
The BMW Megève Winter Golf Cup is an intimate, unique event for pro golfers and exclusive guests: it is a glittering occasion that only the finest resorts in the French Alps can host. It has turned the originally quirky game of winter golf into a classy, prestigious event, that attracts people from across the globe looking for the peak of snowy holiday luxury.
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