Each year in early September the DP World Tour climbs to 1,500 metres. The Omega European Masters is played at the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, a course of rare drama where the back nine drops toward the Rhone valley and the Alpine skyline stands behind every green. In 2026 the tournament runs from 3 to 6 September, four days of championship golf set against the peaks of the Valais.
Crans-Montana sits on a sunlit terrace high above Sierre, reached by a single mountain road that switchbacks up from the valley floor. It is a place that rewards arriving unhurried. This guide covers how to reach the resort from Geneva or Sion, what the climb is like, how a day hire works around the golf, and how a discreet chauffeur fits a longer ski-and-golf stay in the mountains. It complements our dedicated event page for the Omega European Masters.
The 2026 tournament at a glance
The Omega European Masters is one of the oldest and most loved stops on the European circuit, played at Crans-sur-Sierre since 1939. The Severiano Ballesteros redesign gave the course its modern character: short by tour standards but defended by altitude, by greens that fall away toward the valley, and by views that test the concentration of even the best players in the world.
For 2026 the championship is scheduled across four days, with the field building through the week and the leaders settling it on Sunday afternoon. Spectator numbers swell over the weekend, and the road up to the resort carries the traffic to prove it, which is exactly why a planned arrival matters.
- Event: Omega European Masters, DP World Tour.
- Venue: Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, Crans-Montana, Valais.
- Dates: 3 to 6 September 2026 (Thursday to Sunday).
- Course: par 70 layout, Severiano Ballesteros redesign, roughly 1,500 m altitude.
- Setting: a south-facing Alpine terrace above the Rhone valley, peaks on every horizon.
Getting there: Geneva or Sion
Most international guests fly into Geneva, the nearest large airport and a straightforward motorway run up the Rhone valley before the final mountain climb. Sion, far closer, serves private and seasonal traffic and cuts the road time to barely half an hour. Zurich is a longer transfer but workable for guests routing through eastern Switzerland.
The figures below are estimates from our tariff grid, given as a guide to confirm rather than a firm quote. The mountain section above the valley floor is slow by design, so allow generous time on tournament days when the road is busy.
| From | Approx distance | Drive time | Estimate (S-Class) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geneva Airport | 180 km | 2h15 - 2h45 | CHF 990 |
| Sion Airport | 30 km | 35 - 50 min | CHF 250 |
| Zurich Airport | 300 km | 3h30 - 4h00 | CHF 1500 |
The mountain road into Crans-Montana
From the valley the resort is reached by a climbing road that gains nearly a thousand metres in a short distance, winding through Sierre and the vineyards of the Valais before opening onto the plateau. It is a beautiful drive and a demanding one, with tight bends, changing light and, in the shoulder season, the chance of weather that the valley below never sees.
On tournament days the same road carries spectators, players and resort traffic together. A chauffeur who knows the climb sets off with margin, reads the conditions, and delivers you to your hotel or to the course entrance without the stress of finding parking on a crowded plateau. The car waits; you walk straight in.
Day hire for the golf
The natural way to attend is an as-directed day hire. Your chauffeur and vehicle are reserved for the day: drop at the course in the morning, on call through play, and ready the moment you wish to leave, whether that is after the morning groups or once the final putt has dropped. No taxi queue on a packed Sunday, no walk back to a distant car park.
A day base also suits guests combining the golf with the resort itself, Crans-Montana being as much a place to dine and walk as to watch. Hourly rates below are estimates to confirm and exclude any long valley transfers, which are quoted separately.
- Reserved car and chauffeur for the day, on call between drop-offs.
- Course drop-off and pick-up clear of the spectator car parks.
- Easy to share across a group attending together.
- Climate-controlled comfort waiting after a long day on the course.
- Hourly estimates: E-Class CHF 100, S-Class CHF 140, V-Class CHF 130, Sprinter CHF 180 per hour.
Choosing the vehicle
A couple or a single guest is well served by an E-Class or, for the flagship arrival, an S-Class. Families and small groups travel best in the V-Class, with room for clubs and luggage alongside passengers. Larger parties, corporate guests or a hospitality group are matched by the Sprinter.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Best for | Local rate (<=25 km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes E-Class | Up to 3 | Couples, solo guests | CHF 140 |
| Mercedes S-Class | Up to 3 | Flagship arrivals | CHF 180 |
| Mercedes V-Class | Up to 7 | Families, golf bags | CHF 160 |
| Mercedes Sprinter | Up to 16 | Groups, hospitality | CHF 350 |
Where to stay
Crans-Montana offers a small set of fine addresses on the plateau, all within easy reach of the course. The suggested hotels below are well placed for the tournament; we have no commercial tie to any of them and quote transfers to wherever you choose to stay.
- Guarda Golf Hotel and Residences, steps from the course.
- LeCrans Hotel and Spa, above the resort with valley views.
- Chetzeron, a former cable-car station at altitude.
- Hotel Crans Ambassador, central on the plateau.
- Six Senses Crans-Montana, for a spa-led stay.
Beyond the tournament: a ski-and-golf stay
Crans-Montana is one of the few places where golf and skiing share the same terrace, the September championship giving way to the slopes of the Plaine Morte glacier in winter. Many guests build a longer stay around the event, pairing the golf with a day in the mountains, a tasting in the Valais vineyards, or a transfer onward to Zermatt, Verbier or Gstaad.
A standing chauffeur turns that itinerary into a single seamless arrangement, the same car and the same driver across several days, so the only thing you plan is where to be next.
Frequently asked questions
The tournament is scheduled from 3 to 6 September 2026 (Thursday to Sunday) at the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Crans-Montana, Valais, on the DP World Tour.
Geneva to Crans-Montana is roughly 180 km, around 2h15 to 2h45 by road including the mountain climb. On tournament days we recommend allowing extra time, as the road up to the resort carries heavy spectator traffic.
Yes. Sion is about 30 km from Crans-Montana, a 35 to 50 minute transfer including the climb, and suits guests arriving by private or seasonal flights. Geneva remains the main airport for scheduled international arrivals.
Yes. An as-directed day hire keeps your car and chauffeur reserved through play, with drop-off and pick-up clear of the spectator car parks. Hourly estimates range from CHF 100 for an E-Class to CHF 180 for a Sprinter, to confirm on request.
All figures are estimates from our tariff grid, given as a guide to confirm rather than a firm quote. A Geneva to Crans-Montana S-Class transfer is around CHF 990; local runs and day hire are quoted by vehicle and time. Send your dates and we confirm a price.
Yes. Crans-Montana pairs golf in September with skiing in winter, and we can hold the same car and chauffeur across several days, including onward transfers to Zermatt, Verbier or Gstaad and visits to the Valais vineyards.