The first Verwaltungsrats-Open (Board of Directors Open) was held at Golf Sempach on September 3, 2026, bringing together Swiss corporate board members in a foursome scramble format. The event coincided with the Omega European Masters in Crans-Montana, where professionals competed for a $3.75 million prize pool.
The tournament originated from a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in board governance at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences. Marius Hofstetter, board president of Kaizer Real Estate+Management in Zurich, and Balz Villiger, board president of Gi Group AG, organized the inaugural edition. Hofstetter said the event was intended to extend the professional network built during the CAS program and grow over subsequent years.
Nine foursome teams from across Switzerland participated, with a notable number of players holding ASGI or Migros GolfCard memberships. The Woodside Course proved demanding for several first-time visitors. Marc Jordan, vice board president at Pfandbriefbank and head of Raiffeisenbank Oberfreiamt for more than 24 years, noted that the scramble format softened the impact of lost balls and poor shots.
Nicole Strausak, founder of Luzern-based legal fintech Moribono AG and a former elite curler, described the event as enjoyable and well-conceived.
The round included light refreshments during play and a networking reception on the clubhouse terrace, where participants sampled cigars from Prima Cigars, a small manufactory in the Dominican Republic. Hofstetter also organized a putting contest using a 100-year-old Hickory Putter, which was decided in a playoff.
Sara Zingg, Roland Süsstrunk, Alexis Hofstetter and Deny Sonderegger won the tournament with 55 Stableford points, edging two runner-up teams that each finished on 54.
A second edition of the VR Open is scheduled for September 8, 2027, after the Omega European Masters field has departed Crans-Montana.
