SPORTS AND FITNESS

WELLBEING :  SPORTS AND WELLNESS

SPORTS

Virtually every sport is available in Geneva, whether indoors or outdoors, in town or in the countryside, in or on the water, in the snow or in the air.

The lake is ideal for sailing, rowing, water-skiing and, of course, swimming, which is a “pure“ pleasure. The city’s waters are pollution-free.

The Rhône and Arve rivers, which flow through Geneva, offer additional pleasures, such as canoeing and rafting. Enchanting streams and brooks in the vicinity invite the fisherman.

Horseback-riding is a popular sport in the surrounding countryside; the vineyards and jura mountains are ideal for hiking and biking; mountain climbers find their happiness in the nearby Alpine mountains.

Tennis facilities are available in town and the surrounding areas. The Geneva region also offers one of Europe’s most beautiful golfing sites. Many splendid golf courses in a well-preserved, natural environment, await players of all levels.

Winter sports enthusiasts should note that Geneva is situated near the best skiing areas of the Alps. In one or two hours famous Swiss mountain resorts, such as Gstaad, Crans-Montana, Zermatt (the village of the Matterhorn) or the French towns of Chamonix and Val d’Isère can easily be reached via road or rail. Anyone in a particular hurry can hire a private plain or helicopter.

From April to October explore the Arve, a majestic river originating in the Mont-Blanc mountain area. You’ll find yourself in another world during one-and-a-half hour of rafting through gentle rapids and surrounded by unspoilt nature, from the French border to Geneva’s city centre. Then finish your day with a barbecue or from September to October with a cheese fondue in a nearby country inn.

Under the watchful eye of a qualified instructor, you will discover the exhilarating experience of white water rafting in beautiful natural surroundings along a fifteen km strech of river.

This can be turned into a whole-day adventure excursion by combining rafting with other activities, such as mountain biking, pargliding (in a dual control paraglider on Mont-Salève).

RIVER RAFTING IN GENEVA AND ALPS

GOLF IN THE LAKE GENEVA REGION

BIKING

How can one discover the sights and lovely scenery of Geneva’s surrounding countryside in a leisurley, ecological, healthy manner? On a bicycle, of course! Urban and suburban Geneva boasts a large network of cycling lanes and sign-posted itineraries. You can be in the country amidst the vine-yards, forests, fields and brooks in no time. Be sure to stop and relax in one of he charming villages that dot the landscape.

The southern half of lac Léman has many golf courses. Their main altitude is around 500-550 m, but the settings vary widely, from lush rolling hills to steep mountain slopes. The following courses are open to non-members with a handicap of 28 during specific times of the day.

GOLF CLUB DE GENÈVE (5 km)

Open to non-members: Tuesday-Friday from 8 am to noon.

Golf Club de Genève

Route de la Capite 70

CH-1223 Cologny / GE

Tel.: +41 22 707 48 00

Fax: +41 22 707 48 20

A wealthy residential community surrounds this Golf Club, which dates from 1973, and it has an air of dignified tradition. The hillside course and clubhouse overlook Geneva and the lake.

CLUB DE BONMONT (30 km)

Open to non-members: Monday-Friday

Château de Bonmont

CH-1275 Chéserex/VD

Tel.: +41 22 369 99 00

Fax: +41 22 369 99 09

www.bonmont.com

The course is comfortably established in Chéserex, near the Abbaye de Bonmont, and the view of the Alps is superb. You’ll get a moderate work-out-playing the hills here, but the scnery, above Nyon and Gland, at the base of Jura, is worth it. This is a private club - visitors can only play the course three times in a year. The circuit opened in 1982.

DOMAINE DE DIVONNE (20 km)

Open to non-members on reservation only

F - 01220 Divonne-les-Bains / France

Tel.: +33 450 40 34 34

Fax: +33 450 40 34 25

www.domaine-de-divonne.com

Divonne’s public course was created in 1931, and settled comfortably into the landscape among the foothills of the French Jura.

The green fee doubles on weekends, but the course is never crowded, its lush fairways are manicured and age-old trees provide lots of shade. Most of holes are reachable for the average player but require a level of accuracy. The splendid view of Mont-Blanc and the stream that runs through the course help make this a favourite among locals.

DOMAINE DE MAISON BLANCHE (20 km)

Open to non-members: Monday -Friday

F - 01170 Echenevex / France

Tel.: +33 450 42 44 42

Fax: +33 450 42 44 43

This refined, private golf club, in Echenevex, France, is relatively new (1991). The course is tucked at the foot of the Jura, in France, and there is also a nine-hole course (31 par). It is well designed and well maintained, caters to players of all levels and offers an agreeable afternoon, whether you are laerning or already a seasoned pro. Non-members can play here only three times à year.

GOLF CLUB DU DOMAINE IMPÉRIAL (30 km)

Open to non-members: Tuesday-Friday, morning only

CH-1196 Gland / VD

Tel.: +41 22 999 06 00

Fax: +41 22 999 06 06

www.golfdomaineimperial.com

The magnificent, nineteenth-century club house leads down to the lake and the course is narrow and flat. Visitors can play in the morning only - the club is exclusive and very private. The course dates from 1987, and is the only European circuit designed by American architect Pete Dye. Its bias favours the player with average skills.

GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB DE BOSSEY (10 km)

Open to non-members: Monday-Friday, morning only

Château de Crevin

F - 74160 Bossey / France

Tel.: +33 450 43 95 50

Fax: +33 450 95 32 57

www.golfbossey.com

It helps to be a mountain goat if you play Bossey - there are long walks up steep inclines between holes and the course itself, at the base of the Salève, is technically demanding. But the view of Geneva and the Jet d’eau is magnificent and the clubhouse restaurant has a relaxing terrace where you can catch your breath. This is a private club. It opened in 1985, and quickly developed a reputation as the best course, technically, in Geneva area.

GOLF CLUB D’ESERY (20 km)

Open to non-members: Monday-Sunday

F - 74930 Reignier / France

Tel.: +33 450 36 58 70

Fax: +33 450 36 57 62

www.golf-club-esery.com

Take the Autoroute Blanche toward Chamonix, get off almost immediately and head toward the “back“ of the Salève. The view of the Alps is remarkable, but you may have your hands full playing this very challenging private course full of traps, lakes, rivers and other obstacles. The fairways and greens are well maintained and the separate nine-hole circuit is a good place for beginners. Beware the occasional “cardiac hill“ as you work your way around the original 18 holes, which were built in 1989.

GOLF PARC AND CLUB SIGNAL DE BOUGY (40 km)

Public Golf Course

CH - 1172 BOugy-Villars / VD

Tel.: +41 21 821 59 50

Fax: +41 21 821 59 65

www.golfsignaldebougy.ch

golfbougy@gmvd.migros.ch

The Golf Parc Signal de Bougy offers both - a public golf course and a Golf Club. It is situated halfway between Geneva and Lausanne (above Rolle) and the panoramic view over the Lake Geneva, the Alps with Mont-Blanc and the rolling hills of the Jura is simply spectacular. The exellent 18-hole course (par 71) and the training installations - most golfers consider them the best equipped in the region - invite accomplished golfers and beginners alike to come, enjoy and relax in this unique site.

GOLF CLUB DE GONVILLE (15 km)

Open to non-members: On reservation only

Route des Chênes

F - 01630 Saint-Jean-de-Gonville / France

Tel.: +33 450 56 40 92

Fax: +33 450 56 40 92

Small and charming golf course, particularly suitable for beginners.

Rue Fendt 2

P.O. Box 2364

CH - 1211 Geneva 2

Tél.: +41 22 730 47 31

Fax: +41 22 733 19 58

www.fert.ch

dmc@fert.ch

Tourists and business men in the area often find it difficult to pursue their favourite sport because of transportation problems, lack of equipment and perhaps language barriers. Fert Tours, a Geneva agency, offers a full package for golf fans.

SKIING PLACES IN SWITZERLAND AND FRANCE

IN SWITZERLAND

VAUD

CHÂTEAU-D’OEX (1,000 m)

Tourism Office Tél.: +41 (0)26 924 25 25

About 2 h. 10 from Geneva’s main train station Cornavin

LES DIABLERETS (1,200 m)  -  Alpes vaudoises

Tourism Office Tél.: +41 (0)24 492 33 58

About 2 h. 15 from Geneva’s main train station Cornavin

VILLARS (1,300 m)  -  Alpes Vaudoises

Tourism Office Tél.: +41 (0)24495 32 32

About 2 h. 10 from Geneva’s main train station Cornavin

VALAIS

CRANS-MONTANA (1,500 m)

Tourism Office Tél.: +41 (0)27 485 04 04

About 2 h. 40 from Geneva’s main train station Cornavin

NENDAZ (1,300 m)

Tourism Office Tél.: +41 (0)27 289 55 89

About 2 h. 30 from Geneva’s main train station Cornavin

SAAS-FEE (1,800 m)

Tourism Office Tél.: +41 (0)27 958 18 568

About 3 h. 15 from Geneva’s main train station Cornavin

VERBIER (1,500 m)

LES 4 VALLÉES (Verbier, Veysonnaz, Thyon-les-Collons, Nendaz)

Tourism Office Tél.: +41 (0)27 775 38 88

About 2 h. 30 from Geneva’s main train station Cornavin

ZERMATT (1,620 m)

Tourism Office Tél.: +41 (0)27 966 81 00

About 3 h. from Geneva’s main train station Cornavin

LES PORTES DU SOLEIL (Switzerland)

CHAMPÉRY (1,055 m)

Tourism Office Tél.: +41 (0)24 479 20 20

About 2 h. 30 from Geneva’s main train station Cornavin

LES CROZETS (1,670 m)

Tourism Office Tél.: +41 (0)24 479 14 00

About 3 h. 15 from Geneva’s main train station Cornavin

OBERLAND BERNOIS (Switzerland)

GSTAAD (1,050 m)

Tourism Office Tél.: +41 (0)33 748 81 81

About 2 h. 30 from Geneva’s main train station Cornavin

JUNGFRAU WINTER (1,034 m)

Tourism Office Tél.: +41 (0)33 828 72 33

About 3 h. from Geneva’s main train station Cornavin

IN FRANCE

LES PORTES DU SOLEIL

AVORIAZ (1,800 m)

Tourism Office Tél.: +33 (0)450 74 02 11

About 1 h. 45 from Geneva by bus from the Coach Station of Geneva

LES GETS (1,172 m)

Tourism Office Tél.: +33 (0)450 75 80 80

About 1 h. from Geneva by bus from the Coach Station of Geneva

MORZINE (1,000 m)

Tourism Office Tél.: +33 (0)450 74 72 72

About 1 h. 30 from the Coach Station of Geneva

MONT-BLANC REGION

CHAMONIX (1,035 m)

Tourism Office Tél.: +33 (0)450 53 00 24

About 1 h. 35 from the Coach Station of Geneva

MEGÈVE (1,113 m)

Tourism Office Tél.: +33 (0)450 21 27 28

About 1 h. 30 from the Coach Station of Geneva

VAL D’ISÈRE (1,850 m)

Tourism Office Tél.: +33 (0)479 06 06 60

About 4 h. from the Coach Station of Geneva

4 Mountaineering

4 Parachuting

4 Paragliding

4 Pétanque

4 Pilates

4 Rafting

4 Rink Hockey

4 Rugby

4 Saunas

4 Shooting (incl.

    clay pigeon shooting)

4 Skateboard

4 Skiing

4 Soccer

4 Speleology

4 Squash

4 Softball Tennis

4 Street-basket

4 Street-hockey

4 Street-foot

4 Street-park

4 Swimming

4 Table tennis (ping-pong)

4 Taiji Quan (Taichi)

4 Tchoukkball

4 Teakwondo

4 Tennis

4 Ten pin bowling

4 Trampoline

4 Unihockey

4Vita jogging

   (a combination of jogg-

   ing and short exercise

   breaks)

4 Volleyball

4 VTT

4 VTT trial

4 Walking-Jogging

4 Water sports (conoeing,

    diving, rowing, sailing,

    water-skiing, water polo,

    pedal-boating,

    windsurfing,  rafting)

4 Yoga

4 Aikido, Karaté, Judo

4 Angling

4 Aquagym

4 Archery

4 Athletics

4 Aviation (gliding, hot air

    ballon flights, helicopters

    and single/twin-engined/

    bimotor planes to hire)

4 Badminton

4 Baseball

4 Beachbasket

4 Beachtchoukball

4 Beach-Volley

4 Bicross

4 Basketball

4 Billiards

4 Body building

4 Bowling

4 Boxing

4 Bungee-jumping

4 Climbing Walls

4 Cricket

4 Curling

4 Cycling

4 Dance

4 Delta

4 Fencing

4 Fishing

4 Fitness centres

4 Football

4 Foot-tennis

4 Frisbee

4 Golf, mini-golf

4 Gymnastics

4 Handball

4 Hang-gliding

4 Hockey (ice and field)

4 Horseback-riding

4 Ice-Hockey

4 Ice-skating-Motorcycle

    racing

4 Jogging

4 Motocross

4 Motoring (inc. Go-Karts)

4 Musculation