Reasons to take up golf in Annecy in the autumn: the best time before the Belvédère closes for the winter

Why does the Belvédère Golf Course close in winter?

Like the vast majority of golf courses in the mid-mountains, the Golf du Belvédère in Saint-Martin-Bellevue closes completely—course and driving range included—from December to March. This closure is not simply a commercial precaution: at this altitude, between Annecy and the foothills of the Aravis mountains, frost, snow, and prolonged humidity cause lasting damage to the greens and fairways if play continues. Closing allows the course to recover and reopen in optimal condition in the spring.

For a beginner, this reality completely changes how they approach their introduction to the sport. Waiting until the season restarts means arriving at the same time as everyone else, in overcrowded golf school slots, without any foundation. Starting in the fall, on the other hand, allows you to take advantage of a quieter period to lay the groundwork before the club closes, and then jump right back into the game as soon as it reopens—without having to start from scratch as a complete beginner.

What are the concrete advantages of starting at the Belvedere in the autumn?

Three benefits combine particularly well in September-October-November, before the curtain falls for winter.

A less busy course and practice area

The summer crowds drop off sharply as soon as the new season begins. Practice slots become more available, the golf school instructors have more time to dedicate to each student, and the 9 holes are played in much more relaxed conditions than during peak season. For a beginner, it's an ideal setting: less pressure, fewer people behind you on the driving range, and more freedom to practice a stroke without feeling observed.

Mild climatic conditions, suitable for learning

Autumn in Annecy generally offers moderate temperatures, without the sometimes oppressive heat of July and August or the frost of winter. It's a comfortable time to spend several hours outdoors working on your swing, with the added bonus of the autumnal colors of the area and the view of Mont Blanc and the Aravis mountain range, making learning much more enjoyable than an indoor driving range in the heart of the city.

Time to lay the groundwork before the winter break

This is the most strategic argument: the fundamentals of golf (grip, posture, alignment, first contact with the ball) require repetition. By starting lessons in September or October, a beginner has several weeks to solidify these basics with a certified instructor before the December break. The winter break then becomes a time for maturation rather than a hindrance: the brain and body integrate what has been practiced, and the return to play in the spring builds upon existing skills, not starting from scratch.

What to do during the winter closure once initiated in the autumn?

With the course and practice area closed from December to March, the legitimate question is: how can we avoid losing everything in the meantime? Several options exist, even without access to the site:

• Working on the theory and the rules Understanding golf etiquette, game formats and vocabulary allows you to arrive in the spring with a mental head start, not just a technical one.
• Maintaining mobility and posture Golf movements put strain on the back, hips and shoulders; maintaining regular physical activity (walking, stretching, light strengthening) prevents you from starting out stiff in April.
• Visualize the learned gesture Motor memory can also be worked on mentally. Reviewing the reference points given by the teacher during the autumn helps to recall them more quickly when classes resume.

Is golf a difficult sport to start in the autumn?

No, autumn is actually a more accessible time to start than the peak season. The weather conditions remain playable most of the time, the greens are still in good condition before closing, and the increased availability of tee times makes individual or small group lessons easier to book than in July and August. No particular level of fitness is required: golf is a low-impact sport, accessible to all ages and fitness levels.

Autumn or spring to start: what does the comparison really tell us?

Many aspiring golfers assume that "it's best to wait until spring to get a good start." In reality, the comparison leans more towards autumn for most of the criteria that matter to a beginner.

The only real advantage of spring is avoiding a break between initiation and regular practice. However, this advantage disappears as soon as the off-season is actively used (theory, mobility, visualization), as mentioned above: the break does not negate the benefits of autumn, it consolidates them.

Why learn golf with the Belvédère Golf School rather than elsewhere?

The Belvédère Golf Course in Saint-Martin-Bellevue near Annecy offers a 9-hole course with views of Mont Blanc and the Aravis mountain range, complemented by a Golf School run by state-certified instructors. This proximity between the driving range, the course, and the instruction allows beginners to quickly progress from the initial techniques learned at the school to real-world practice on the course as soon as their skill level permits—a significant advantage for transforming an autumn introduction into solid skills before the spring season.

The club offers various introductory and membership packages, detailed on the page rates and green fees, allowing the commitment (one-off course, discovery course or introductory package over several weeks) to be adapted to the time actually available before the December closure.

Do you need to have your own equipment to get started in the fall?

No, and this is a deterrent that still prevents too many beginners from getting started before the winter closure. For a first introduction, the Belvédère Golf School provides suitable clubs: there's no need to invest in a complete set of equipment before even knowing if you enjoy the sport. In fact, that's one of the advantages of an introduction in the fall: taking the time, over several sessions, to understand which type of equipment will best suit your swing, before buying anything for the spring season.

The only personal equipment generally recommended from the outset concerns clothing: athletic or golf shoes with good grip, and flexible clothing that allows for a full range of motion. The rest—clubs, bag, practice balls—can wait until the basics are in place, which allows the winter break to gather information calmly and arrive in the spring with a well-considered equipment selection rather than a rushed purchase.

What are the most common objections to starting in the fall?

Three objections regularly arise among prospective beginners who hesitate to start before winter:

How to learn to play golf in the autumn at Belvédère?

The process is simple and takes place in three stages:

1. Contact the Golf School to identify an introductory slot before the December closure — the earlier the booking is made in September, the wider the choice of slots.
2. Attend several closely spaced sessions with a state-certified instructor, first on the practice area and then progressively on the 9-hole course,, to lay the groundwork before the winter break.
3. Take advantage of the break from December to March to mentally consolidate the gains, before resuming as soon as the club reopens in the spring, directly on the fundamentals already established.