Two generations, one passion
Intro
Caroline and Eugenio – two ardent golf enthusiasts who could not be more different from each other. Caroline Rominger, the 35-year-old giant of the Swiss golf scene and Eugenio Rüegger, the 80-year-old golf pioneer and family friend of Rominger. The two are united by both a passion for the links and an overwhelming love for Graubünden.
Samedan, Engadin
The village in the heart of the Upper Engadin is home to Switzerland’s oldest golf club. Samedan is the hub of the Rhaetian Railway, making it an ideal base for excursions to popular Engadin destinations such as St. Moritz and the Swiss National Park.
Still full of life at 80
Formative years
Nowadays, you’ll only find caddies in professional men’s golf, but in the 1950s, the swift-footed boys and girls were a common sight on the recreational scene too. As a boy, Eugenio used to work as a caddie at Samedan golf course to earn pocket money during the summer holidays from 1948 to 1954.
Eugenio worked as a caddie for celebrities including hotelier Andrea Badrutt and author John Knittel, the former known for being stingy with tips but generous with farewell gifts (five golf clubs!), and the latter notorious for spitting. First as a caddie and later as a player, he came to know and love the many golf courses around Graubünden.
At the pinnacle of her career
Sister doing it for herself
Despite her ranking as Switzerland’s number one female golf player, Caroline has no professional caddie by her side: “Thanks to the support from my sponsors and the modest prize money from the tour, I just about manage to get by.” There’s no hint of glitz or glamour – the gulf between women’s and men’s golf could not be wider.
Returning home for a rest
Every now and then, Caroline’s mother takes on the role of caddie to give her daughter some encouragement. Her family and home are a great source of support for Caroline. Having grown up in Pontresina, Caroline feels an enormous affinity with the Engadin and Graubünden. “This is where I come to recharge my batteries for my day-to-day life,” she explains. Eugenio shares these sentiments. Although he has been based in Engelberg for many years now, he still regards the Engadin as his true home. And he finds the lure of his home region hard to resist.
Immerse yourself in nature
Where deer and foxes wish each other good morning
Whenever the two bump into each other in Samedan on a visit back home, they have so much to tell each other – whether in the cosy clubhouse or during a friendly round on Switzerland’s oldest golf course. As well as stunning panoramic views, the course is known for the impressive flight range of the balls. The thin air means that balls here fly around 20% further than they would do on a golf course at a lower altitude. Early risers may even bump into a deer or fox on the course. Just one of the many reasons to play golf in the mountains.
- 13 Number of golf courses in Graubünden – Switzerland’s premier golf region.
- 1893 The year the Samedan golf course was built: the oldest course in Switzerland.
- 1,900 metres above sea level Hole 5 at Arosa golf course boasts the highest tee in the Alps.