The Championship Golf Of Evian and Mont Blanc

SET AGAINST LAKE GENEVA AND MONT BLANC, THE TOWNSHIPS OF ÉVIAN-LES-BAINS AND CHAMONIX ARE TWO OF THE MOST PICTURESQUE LOCALES ONE CAN DREAM OF AND PLAY GOLF AT.

- BENNY TEO

Imagine living in a town where the water you drink is a luxury commodity elsewhere in the world. Then waking up each morning with the magnificent Lake Geneva at your doorstep and Mont Blanc in the distance. No, this is not a postcard, but it is as picture-perfect as one can fathom it to be.

The way in is invariably via Geneva in Switzerland, which is about an hour's drive to Évian-les-Bains, but one can fly into Lyon in France as well and take the inland road that cuts almost equidistant between Evian and Chamonix in HauteSavoie, site of the first Winter Olympics where Mont Blanc resides. Take the road towards the lake and start there, in a town where everything is available and somehow, linked with one another.

Life around the lake is a peaceful one. Making the sojourn along that great expanse of fresh water, little hamlets litter the journey that makes for idyllic rest stops but be sure to speak some French though since something as simple as ordering lunch could prove to be a tedious process. Otherwise, go directly to Evian and all will be well.

The foundations of what Évian-lesBains is today begun in the early 19th century after the French Revolution where it was discovered that its springs were suitable for medicinal purposes, and thus a spa town was born. Today, Evian is owned by Danone Group, a French food and beverage multinational company that distributes the mineral water from Evian to the world.

In addition to the mineral water, Danone uses the Evian name for a line of organic skin care products as well as one of Europe's finest luxury resort set atop the township and overlooking Lake Geneva.