Switzerland, April 2012: The world-famous Kulm Hotel St Moritz in Switzerland (www.kulmhotel-stmoritz.ch) may have only just closed its doors on the winter ski season, but it has already lined up a variety of interesting golf packages to tempt visitors back to the Engadine in the summer months ahead.
Among them is a unique week-long bridge and golf combination, with bridge lessons provided by the German 47-time bridge champion, Helmut Häusler, and golf coaching on offer from the Kulm Hotel Golf Academy’s very own professional, David Hurtado from Spain. It’s not important whether you are a beginner or expert in either field, as the purpose of the package is either to learn a new game or improve an existing skill.
Throughout their stay, guests will be looked after by experienced bridge hostess Angelika Vogel, who is also a passionate golfer and will be able to provide practical and theoretical advice on both games! Aside from lessons, guests will be able to take part in daily bridge tournaments with a guaranteed partner and practise their golf on the Academy’s driving range and putting green, as well as play the Kulm Golf St Moritz’s 9-hole course.
The week-long “Bridge & Golf” package is being offered on two consecutive weeks, between 29 July and 12 August, and costs from CHF1,740 (approx £1,190) per person, including seven nights’ bed & breakfast accommodation, plus daily dinner on the Gourmet Dine Around (which allows access to all the restaurants in the Kulm Hotel St Moritz and its sister hotel, Grand Hotel Kronenhof in Pontresina), a welcome and farewell aperitif, bridge instruction and tournaments, and access to the Golf Academy and the Kulm golf course.
For golf purists, the Kulm Hotel St Moritz has 2- and 3-night “Golf Breaks” this summer that allow access to golf on three courses in the Engadine Valley (the 9-hole Kulm Golf, and 18-hole Zuoz and Samedan courses), half-board Gourmet Dine Around, a nightcap and a relaxing sea salt bath of choice with which to wind down at the end of the day. Prices start from CHF625 (approx £425) for the 2-night break and from CHF835 (approx £570) for the 3-night break. A slightly longer 5-night “Golf Safari” package costs from CHF1,455 (approx £995). All of these packages can be extended to include 6 or 7 nights’ accommodation, according to individuals’ needs.
Finally, for those golfers who have their hearts set on improving their game significantly, Kulm Hotel St Moritz is once again offering “Golf at the Highest Level with Robert Baker”, the founder of Logical Golf, between 24 August and 2 September. Baker has been named one of America’s Top 100 Teachers by Golf Magazine and has taught some of the biggest names in golf, including Ernie Els, Greg Norman, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Price, and Nick Faldo. He has also taught Hollywood celebrities Sylvester Stallone, Samuel L. Jackson, and Michael Douglas, and sports stars Michael Jordan and Ian Botham.
The beauty of golf in St Moritz and the Engadine region is the dramatic Alpine vistas against which it is played, the fresh mountain air and the deep blue summer skies, for St Moritz enjoys sunshine for an average of 322 days of the year. However, the season is fairly short, with the Kulm Hotel St Moritz only open from 20 June until 2 September 2012, so early booking is essential to avoid disappointment.
For further information on all of the Kulm Hotel St Moritz’s golf packages, please visit:
www.kulmhotel-stmoritz.ch/en/golf/kulm-golf-st-moritz.html.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Bridge & Golf
Winter bridge weeks will take place from 27 January to 8 February 2013.
Kulm Golf St Moritz
The nine-hole Kulm Golf St Moritz course, first laid out in 1891 (making it the oldest course in Switzerland), meanders harmoniously through the town, past the St Moritz bobsleigh run and the former Olympic Stadium (two winter Olympics have been held on the course, in 1928 and 1948), while enjoying spectacular views over Lake St Moritz.
Lying at a height of 1,860 metres, this demanding par 27 course is among the highest in Europe and was re-laid in 2001 to bring it up to date for the needs of today’s golfers.
In addition to the course, the Club has a practice putting green and a driving range, as well as its own Club restaurant “Chesa al Parc”.
Kulm Hotel St Moritz
The first hotel to be built in St Moritz, the Kulm opened its doors in 1856 and immediately became popular for summer spa and painting holidays, particularly among the British who comprised around 75% of the hotel guests. The owner of the Kulm Hotel, Johannes Badrutt, initiated winter holidays to St Moritz from 1864, when he laid a bet with his last departing summer guests that the local weather was so good they could sun themselves on the hotel’s terrace even in deep December; if not, he would cover the cost of their vacation himself. He won the bet and within two years, the hotel was fully booked with guests staying for the entire winter season. The Kulm Hotel St Moritz can, therefore, take credit for starting the trend for winter sports holidays.
Since the 19th century, the Kulm Hotel has changed considerably through expansion and renovation, but the fabulous location at the heart of St Moritz with views over the Lake remains the same. A member of The Leading Hotels of the World, the Kulm Hotel has 173 rooms, five restaurants (formal dining, French fine dining awarded 15 points by GaultMillau, Italian, local Engadine specialities and Japanese), the extensive Panorama Spa & Health Club (with 20m indoor pool, various saunas and steam room, a Jacuzzi, a fully-equipped gym and treatment rooms, all with stunning views over Lake St Moritz) and six conference rooms, with capacities ranging from 50 to 500 people.
Entertainment and sports facilities include the 9-hole Kulm Golf Course St Moritz, three tennis courts, a natural ice rink, a curling field and the “Marmotta Club” for children. The Kulm Hotel is inextricably linked to the Cresta Run through the Sunny Bar, where tobogganing pilots have congregated for decades; the walls are lined with trophies and images of famous people who have hurled themselves down the infamous ice track.
