Chamonix Golf Club was created in the 1930s to cater to the Anglo-Saxon clientele staying in Chamonix during the summer.
Initially opened in 1934 with a 4-hole course, it was expanded to 9 holes in 1935, offering breathtaking views of Mont Blanc.
This course, located in a unique Alpine setting, quickly became a popular golf destination, enriching the resort's tourist offerings.
The extension to 18 holes, difficult to achieve due to land problems in the valley, was decided by the municipality in 1972.
After several years of land acquisition and preliminary studies, work began in 1977 and the 18-hole golf course was inaugurated on September 26, 1982. The new golf course and its facilities were built thanks to the initiative and determination of Mr. Maurice Herzog, then Mayor of Chamonix, who wanted to provide Chamonix with a high-level 18-hole course. He therefore entrusted the design of the course to the famous American architect, Robert Trent Jones Sr.
The architect has designed some 500 golf courses worldwide, including only eight in France. This initiative was subsequently extended by his successors, Messrs. Christian Couttet and Michel Charlet. Most recently, it was Mr. Eric Fournier, Mayor of Chamonix, who renewed the golf course's concession to the Chamonix Golf Sports Association.
Robert Trent Jones's approach to course design focuses on balancing strategy, aesthetics, and difficulty. He sought to create courses that were both tactically challenging and visually appealing. His innovative use of bunkers, water features, and natural terrain resulted in challenging yet rewarding courses.
The Chamonix course is entirely in this vein, with its well-defended and often plateaued greens, the streams running along the 18 holes, and its flat but strategic layout.
