The Skål International Clubs of the Alpine Region, Tyrol, Südtirol Alto Adige, Garmisch Partenkirchen, Engadin, use to have common meetings and exchange activities during the year ever since.

Last year this group of Alpine Clubs, started with the idea to organise a yearly Alpine Skål Golf Challenge, so we met for the first event in September in St.Moritz (Engadin) hosted by skålleague Dominik Zurbrügg at the Hotel Monopol.

2nd Alpine Skål Golf Challenge

In the days from 6 to 8 September 2020 the skålleagues from Garmisch (AT) and Engadin (CH) met with President Francesco Morini at Hotel Sassongher in Corvara/Alta Badia (IT).

The weather was on the golfers’ and non-golfer’s side and the programme could be carried out as planned. Following a brief welcome address and reception, President Morini showed us around the rooms and suites, which are all named after mountains and summits. He took us to the indoor pool with relaxation, beauty and wellness area, to the gym, sky whirlpool, panoramic sauna, and thermal cabin with view of the grazing roe deer on the mountainside meadow. He also showed us the state-of-the-art movie room, the modern meeting room, and – last but not least – the Trophy Gallery of Richard Pescosta, an impressive collection of hunting memorabilia from all over the world. During a wonderful aperitif in Corvara’s flagship hotel we met Saro, awarded as Best Barman.

We enjoyed and excellent dinner with our skålleagues from Garmisch and Engadin in the traditional parlour and crowned the experience with a  visit to the bar. Then it was time for the ten golfers to head to the Golf Club Alta Badia and hit some balls. Francesco took the non-golfers to St. Kassian, from where the cable car took them to the summit of Piz Sorega. Despite the foggy weather, the view of the mountains was impressive and the fresh mountain air was invigorating. The lunch with Ladin specialities at the Buech hut with Markus was a welcome treat and a great way to fortify oneself before the descent.

Back at the hotel, some of us went to the wellness area to take advantage of the panoramic sauna or the sky whirlpool. While waiting for the aperitif, President Morini presented the award ceremony in the hotel bar. None other than the historic Italian brand Ferrari Trento sponsored the evening with a jeroboam and three magnums of their award-winning sparkling wine. Then the winners were announced: Hanspeter Herren from Engadin won 1st place in the Alpine Skål Golf Challenge 2020,  ahead of Heini Brunnthaler from Garmisch and Dominik Zurbrügg from Engadin who shared the second place. Elisabeth Herren from Engadin finished first in the women’s competition.  

The chef exceeded all expectations with his gala menu, as did the choice of fine wines from the Sassongher cellar. The convivial and cosy evening in good company was a great success, which lasted late into the evening and was rounded off with a visit to Saro. The participants said goodbye to each other after breakfast and promised to meet again in Garmisch in September 2021 for the 3rd Alpine Skål Golf Challenge.