Course of the Month - Locarno, Switzerland

The public school of golf in Locarno (Ticino) is immersed in the green countryside of the town of Locarno, only a few metres away from the Lake Maggiore. The city and its well known neighbouring village Ascona are situated on the Lake Maggiore, which boasts its world famous Brissago isles wrapped in beautiful natural scenery.

Ticino is a Latin land: the Romans brought the vine to Ticino, and left important constructions (towns, bridges, and Alpine passes) behind them. After the Romans, many peoples tried to conquer Ticino because of its strategic location, and a number of battles were fought, until it became a Swiss canton in 1803. The culture and traditions of Ticino are the result of a combination of influences which make this canton unique.

In the heart of the Alps and Europe, Ticino gives a foretaste not only of the lands to the South, but also of the typical mountain landscapes. A land of natural contrasts, it allows you to experience, at first hand, a pairing that is hard to find anywhere else in winter: snow and palm trees.

What could be better backdrop for a Pitch & Putt course than Canton Ticino? The green of the valleys mixes with the green of course. The blue of the lakes and the sky mingle with the water obstacles creating a jubilant array of colours that makes this relaxing sport a pleasure for the senses.

In 1996, hotel resort Terreni alla Maggia built a Driving Range that was rented to qualified PGA professional Luciano Bernardini. During the years, Bernardini invested time and money and built 6 holes around the Driving Range. In 2005 he requested to be affiliated to SPPA and for this purpose, he built new Tee boxes for the Pitch and Putt course and added three new holes.



At present, the course provides complete facilities: 6-hole Golf course (1007m), 9-hole P&P course (596m), driving range (floodlit), 2 putting greens, a chipping green and a golf shop. It makes no difference whether you are a great champion or a beginner: the services and the experience offered will satisfy all your sporting needs.

In 2002 nephew Marco Bernardini was given responsibilities to manage the club. Marco participated in the 2007 European Team Championship in Sardinia and at the 2008 World Team Championship in Papendal. Holland. In 2007 and 2008 the Swiss Pitch and Putt Championship was organised on the Locarno course.

The course features many stand-out holes. The short third and the longer fourth call for tee shots to greens between high trees and large bushes while the fifth demandss a perfect pitch to a little green protected by a small but deep bunker. On the eighth the pitch is confronted by a large gaping bunker in front of the green and behind of it, is Out of Bounds!

E-Mail: info@golflocarno.ch
Web: www.golflocarno.ch