Golf d'Avoriaz

Golf d'Avoriaz sits at approximately 1,800 meters elevation in the French Alps, making it one of Europe's highest-altitude courses. Designed by Hugues Lambert, the course occupies terrain in the Portes du Soleil region near the resort town of Morzine. The layout takes advantage of the dramatic alpine topography, with fairways routed through mountain meadows and stands of pine and fir. The elevation creates a short playing season, typically from late June through early September, when the high-altitude snow has cleared. The course measures around 5,800 meters from the back tees and plays as a par 71 or 72. The routing navigates significant elevation changes and natural rock outcroppings characteristic of alpine golf. Players contend with thinner air at this altitude, which affects both ball flight and stamina during the round. The setting offers views across the surrounding peaks and valleys of the Haute-Savoie region. Golf d'Avoriaz serves primarily as a resort course for visitors to the area's ski stations during summer months. The club operates in a mountain environment where weather can change rapidly, and the brief season concentrates play into a few months each year. The course represents alpine golf architecture adapted to extreme terrain and climate, where design must account for snowmelt drainage, limited growing conditions, and the physical demands of mountain golf.