Golf, Pink Sunday and a little Evian magic
Sort on time? Here’s the quick version. Every July Evian becomes home to one of the biggest events in women’s golf. The atmosphere is surprisingly relaxed, the setting above Lake Geneva is spectacular and with a bit of planning it’s far more accessible than you might think.
‘Silence!’ bellows a formidable woman from the edge of the course. A ripple of anticipation runs through the crowd, peering over each other’s shoulders to get a better look.
A young woman steps on to the tee carrying a golf club almost as tall as herself. She settles herself with absolute precision in front of the ball. There’s an audible inhale from the spectators.
She raises the club. It glints like a rapier in the sunlight. You don’t see it strike the ball, but you certainly hear it… cracking like a pistol shot.
The ball soars into the sky seeming to touch the clouds, and lands… ten feet from the hole.
There’s a gasp of astonishment from the crowd, who then shuffle on in unison to the next vantage point.
A major Championship on Lake Geneva
But these young women aren’t just playing for adulation. They’re playing for a massive $9.1 million prize pot.
This is the Amundi Evian Championship, home to the famous Pink Sunday celebration. It’s one of the five major championships on the LPGA Tour, and one of the most prestigious events in women’s golf.
Held each July in Evian-les-Bains, the tournament attracts the world’s best female golfers to one of the most beautiful championship settings in Europe.
And it’s right here… in Evian, set between Lake Geneva and the mountains.
This isn’t Scottish links golf
Golf has come a long way since it was invented, arguably, in Scotland.
The only thing that’s high velocity on a Scottish links course is the wind, and the occasional sheep. But there is something charming about courses where you can still find honesty boxes for your green fee.
Where you spend most of the day waist high in gorse bushes looking for your ball. And where the horizontal rain fades to a memory in the warmth of an old clubhouse… where you replay and embellish every shot over a soup and sandwich.
It’s a world away from the glamour and sophistication of the women’s LPGA competition on the manicured fairways of Evian Resort Golf Club.
This 4-day event takes place every July and it’s more than just about the golf. It’s a four-day festival
Inside the Championship village
Evian is all about the style. From the moment you arrive, you realise this isn’t just an elite golf competition; it’s a massive summer garden party.
As a prize winning ‘ville fleurie’, Evian’s famous for its floral displays. At the golf course the Evian groundsmen fill the flower beds with an abundance of blooms, enveloping the club house in a riot of colour. Mostly pink of course. Why pink? You’ll find out later.
Sponsors and shopping
Before you even reach the fairways, you navigate a galaxy of luxury sponsor’s tents.
You can buy an official Amundi Evian sunhat (essential for most days) and expensive sunglasses.
And what about that heavy-duty golf umbrella designed to resist the wind when you finally return home to Scotland, or wherever.
You can slip past the Rolex pavilion or perhaps find yourself tempted in by a tanned sales assistant with teeth as dazzlingly white as the canvas of the marquees.
Getting around the course
Small golf buggies whizz along the pathways that wind around the fairways. Some are ferrying spectators towards the grandstand bordering the 18th hole.
Others are heading for the champagne tents, and some are simply just soaking up the spectacular views of the mountains and Lake Geneva.
Next to the clubhouse the towering leader boards display the competitor’s names, a wonderfully international mix of young athletes. All vying to be the absolute best in the world.
Nearby, the gleaming trophies stand proudly on their plinths, waiting for that iconic podium moment on the final day.
Pink Sunday
And what a final day it is. There’s really nothing else like it.
Imagine a massive bubble of chewing gum exploding over the course, covering the crowd, the players, the technical staff, and the press. Pink is everywhere.
Because this is Pink Sunday.
It has long been a tradition for everyone to wear pink on the final day of the competition.
Pink and white are the globally recognised colours of the Evian water company (and by extension, the Evian Resort which owns the golf club and hosts the tournament).
Not only is this an incredibly clever piece of corporate marketing, but it also injects a fun, festival feel into the entire day.
The pink theme even follows the eventual winner onto the podium. As she raises the trophy triumphantly overhead she’s showered in pink eco-friendly confetti.
And for some reason, a giant bottle of Evian water always manages to be part of the scene.
When Zinedine Zidane came to Evian
But he’s a footballer, isn’t he? Yes, but there’s also a more community-focused side to Pink Sunday.
The tournament partners with the European Leucodystrophy Association (ELA), a charity dedicated to supporting families fighting leukodystrophy.
Each year, during the tournament, there’s a charity football match between ‘Evian staff and guests’ and a ‘Players and Caddies’ team.
The LPGA players and their caddies trade their golf shoes for football boots in this legendary charity football match.
They line up against a team of Evian resort staff and celebrity guests — which over the years has included French football royalty like Zinedine Zidane.
Zidane just happens to be a high-profile honorary member of ELA.
When golf gives back
The corporate stakes are high: the tournament sponsors donate €500 to the charity for every goal scored, which one year resulted in around 36 goals.
Now, given that Evian’s parent company is a multi-billion-euro empire… and the tournament boasts a staggering $ 9.1 million prize pot… a few hundred euros per goal is hardly going to break the corporate bank.
But corporate public relations aside, the match itself injects some genuine, light-hearted fun into an otherwise high-stress week.
So, when you see that sea of pink flooding the greens on Sunday, you’re looking at an event that at the very least — knows how to throw an excellent party, with a nod to a worthy cause.
Can ordinary golfers play in Evian?
If, like me, you’ re not quite up to competition standard yet, ahem, or your purse won’t stretch to the eye-watering green fees of the Evian Golf Club, then don’t despair.
There’s always the wonderful Evian Golf Academy. One of my favourite corners of Evian.
Whether you just want to practise your chipping, work on your swing or play the short course, the Academy offers you the chance to do all of that, in beautiful surroundings — and I’ll be sharing a short guide very soon.
Planning your visit to the Amundi Evian Championship
- Quick Practical Tips
If you’re planning to head down to the fairways to catch the action live, here’s everything you need to know to survive and enjoy tournament week.
- Tickets & Entry: Tickets must be bought in advance via the official Amundi Evian Championship website. You can buy single-day passes or full four-day tournament badges. Children under 18 usually get in free when accompanied by an adult, making it a great family day out.
- The Pink Sunday Dress Code: Consider yourself officially warned! If you’re attending the final round on Sunday, pack something pink. Whether it’s a bright linen shirt, a pastel cap, a pair of loud trousers, or pink accessories, you’ll want to fit into the sea of pink.
- Getting to Evian les Bains: if you’re coming from across the lake, the easiest route is the N1 passenger ferry from Lausanne to Evian, which takes about 35 minutes. If traveling by train, Evian’s station has direct links from Geneva and Annemasse.
- Getting to the Course: Parking can be tricky if you drive directly to the golf club during tournament week. Instead use the free tournament shuttle buses that run constantly from the Evian train station and designated public park-and-ride (parking relais) lots around town.
- For more specific information and updates check out the Amundi Evian Championship Official Practical Info page
Whether you go for the world-class sporting drama, the friendly village atmosphere, or just to marvel at a sea of pink against the blue backdrop of Lac Léman, it’s an unforgettable summer day out in the Haute-Savoie.
