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Lugano Golf Club, Pazzalo. (1909 - 1914)
On 29 January 1909 Golf Illustrated (UK) reports about a “New golf club for Italy”. This title is of course an error, as Lugano is in Switzerland and also the area referred to is not in Italy
“ARRANGEMENTS in connection with the new golf club at Lugano are making satisfactory progress. The necessary leases have been signed and nothing now remains but to push forward the work. The course has been carefully laid out, and is very conveniently situated. The tramway from Castagnola lands visitors at funicular railway station of San Salvatore. From here a quarter of an hour brings one to the course.
Adjoining is a fine villa in which it is the intention of the committee to fit up a general club-room, dressing-rooms, and a kitchen. This golf club pavilion is sure to become a great social centre.
There is no doubt that when the work is completed Lugano will have a distinctly good golf course. The land lends itself very well to the purpose, and there is every reason to believe the game will be played this spring, as several temporary greens will be laid down, whilst the permanent ones are being made and sown, ready for the autumn season. The club is receiving plenty of support. One important factor is the leader of the club, Mr. Hamilton, the British Vice-Consul, who does a great deal to develop social life in Lugano.”
Three months later, on 30 April 1909 there is the following report in Golf Illustrated (UK)
“Golf at Varenna – to the Editor of Golf Illustrated.
Sir, - Having seen in last Friday's Paris edition of a daily paper, a long account of the Lugano golf links, I think it is advisable in the interest of golfer who, like myself, may be in search of golf abroad, to inform you that these links are at present in an utterly incomplete state. There is a villa marked Lugano Golf Club, and the sites of various greens are marked, and one is in course of construction, but I failed to find any completed. The course is quite in the rough. I am, Sir, etc., A GOLFER.”
On 17 September 1909 the same magazine reports the following on Lugano:
“The task of laying out the links has been a difficult one, but the worst troubles have now been overcome, and Kay, the professional, is expected during the week, and in a few days the golfers will be seen at work. The course promises to be quite good. Five greens have been entirely made and sown, under the superintendence of W.S. Hill, the professional of the Menaggio and Cadenabbia Golf Club. The official opening will take place towards the end of the month. The ground floor of a villa immediately adjoining the course has been transformed into a club-house, with a general club-room overlooking the course, and ladies’ and men’s dressing rooms and other accommodation.”
As the Corriere del Ticino is reporting on 21 October 1909 the golf course covers an area of 12ha. The same newspaper confirms the official opening of the course took place on 19 October 1909.
On 24 March 1911 Golf Illustrated UK tells us about improvements being made at Lugano:
“The golf links is in excellent order, thanks to Mr. W.P.Ward who spends whole days on the links superintending the work which has been entrusted to Ghigo, the professional of the Axenfeld links. Colonel Woodward, the captain of the club, and the hon. Secretary, Mr. G.F. McGarel-Hogg, should be here soon. Mr. McGarel-Hogg is also secretary of the Samaden Club, and it is hoped that some members of that club as well as visitors from the South of France will put in an appearance. At last Lugano may be congratulated on having a really good golf course within twenty minutes easy walk of the town.”
On 10 October 1912 the Silver Shield Replica will be played at Lugano as Golf Illustrated (UK) reports on July 19, 1912 under the header “Swiss and Central Europe Golf Association”.
It is believed that the golf course ceases operation with the beginning of the great war, as the last report about the golf course is included in the Corriere del Ticino on 29 May 1914 indicating that an English lady is giving golf lessons.
The Gazetta Ticinese reports on 19 January 1916 that the Golf Club Lugano had to file bankruptcy and the remaining assets of the golf club were sold in an auction on 11 March 1916.
The current Golf Club Lugano was founded in 1923 with a golf course at Magliaso not far away from Lugano’s airport.
Christoph Meister
October 2023
Google Map below showing the location at Pazzolo where there is today Planet Lugano / Mercedes Automobili.