License to golf in Europe?

I am located in the USA where anybody can go to a public golf course and play. I have a trip coming up to Switzerland and wanted to golf there. I was told that in Switzerland and most of Europe, one cannot golf without a license. To get a license requires passing a written test and an ability test. There is a high cost, maybe several hundred dollars.

Also, I was told that there are no public courses. One must be a member or guest of a member to play.

Can anyone tell me if this is true? Is there an exception made for foreign visitors?


Ken

Ken,

You can book golfing holiday packages from the UK to Switzerland so a special licence with written test etc is unlikely HOWEVER you will probably need both a valid handicap certificate (possibly from a club rather than an on-line one) and insurance.

I don't think that "Pay to Play" is as readily available on continental Europe as it is in the UK or US - as you say private clubs mainly - but I know that in French clubs at least if you ring the secretary a day or so before and very politely do the "I'm here on business / holiday .... if you are not too busy ... perhaps I could play ... perhaps .. with a member" bit you'll 99.99% get on - doubt if Switzerland is that different.

Good luck.

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I firmly believe that we should try to experience all that life affords, except, perhaps, bestiality and of course Morris Dancing.

BDBL, thanks for the info. I especially liked your tips on calling the secretary.

When you mentioned insurance, though, do you mean "golf insurance," or medical insurance in case of injury to oneself, or liability insurance in case of damage to the golf course or injuring another player? If you mean "golf insurance" please explain what that is since I've never heard of that.

Ken

Ive played in portugal and spain and you can always pay and play if you book a tee time.

To be honest ive never heard of a player ability test or anything like that in europe!

No problem Ken.

By insurance I meant what you call liability insurance - damage to people and property caused by a wayward shot - over here (and I'd guess your side of the water) you can get policies that do the above plus covering stolen clubs, hole in one (i wish) drinks etc- hence "Golf Insurance".

Ringing the secretary works fine (depending on your French) for a casual round when we are in France because its no hassle taking the clubs on the off chance - I hope it works for you.

Any idea of where you want to play? Or where you'll be? If your "guidebooks" aren't helpful I'll have look on some UK websites for some contact details if you want.

ps just read Ricky's post and yes Spain and Portugal is easy, but they - and to a certain extent France - cater for tourist golf more than I believe the Swiss do.

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I firmly believe that we should try to experience all that life affords, except, perhaps, bestiality and of course Morris Dancing.

BDBL:

This gets more and more interesting.

I don't know if I can get insurance against damage to people and property caused by a wayward shot. I have never heard of that. I don't know if I have or can get insurance like that for the US. Or, even if I need that. Sometimes, the insurance policy I have for my house or for my car will cover these infrequent risks. I will have to investigate. Maybe there is a company that will sell me a short term policy, similar to the trip insurance I can buy at the airport to cover my death if while traveling.

Can any US forum member give me a clue about insurance, for in the US or abroad?

Thanks also for your offer to help me find a course. I won't ask you to do that yet because I have a few contacts in Switzerland whom I will ask to do that research for me. I will be staying in Fribourg which is about 20 minutes by train from Bern. I travel there four or five times a year with the next trip set for end of October.

More importantly for me, I don't have an official handicap certificate as I am just a beginner.

On my last trip there, at the end of August, I went to a driving range. It was quite beautiful to be hitting shots with the Alps in the background. I would love to play a course there, but, if I find that I must first establish a handicap here, I will have to wait a while.

Fribourg is reasonably close to France, so I could try there...

I really appreciate your responses and look forward to whatever further information you can provide.

Thanks also to Ricky for the info about Spain and Portugal.

Ken

Sorry Ken, I didn't mean to put you off by making it sound difficult, 9 time out of 10 ofcourse you won't get asked for either.

I'm sure if you Google for golf insurance then you'll get some hits.

Hi Ken,

I live in Germany and the situation is very much similar to that in Switzerland.
The writen and practical test is for people who live here and want to join a course and have not yet played golf.

I played golf for many years in England befor I moved out here to Germany. After being here for quite a while I wanted to play golf again. The problem I faced was the test, I didn't want to hand in a few hundred Euros to someone that will show me how to play golf and teach me the eticate, which I new from England. I got round this problem though speaking with the secratary and explaining the situation. It ended up, I had to play a few holes with the Pro, after which he said "no problem you can play here".

So in your case have a word with the secratary and explain everything. The only thing which could cause a problem is that you will have to be a member of a golf club in the states.

You could think about joining an online club, it works over here. This year I wanted to play a course were I had to prove I was a member of a course. I joined an online club that also do my handycap, the cost is 30 pounds a year, they accepted it without any problems.

Cheers, Ian

hi ian
whats an online course???
thanks bill

Hi Bill,
I ment an online club.
Ian

thanks ian i understand.
bill