Where are you able to tee up in Latin America when you get into the Southern Hemisphere? I’ll admit that I’ve seldom had an opportunity to swing a membership between Colombia and the tip of the Southern Cone, so I pulled in an skilled, Jordan Fuller, to inform us about the perfect South America golf programs to place in your listing for future holidays.
Latin America is a spectacular vacation spot recognized for its wonderful delicacies, its dance tradition, and naturally, its stunning pure surroundings. One of the perfect issues about it’s that you simply’ll get a unique expertise from one nation to the subsequent, so there’s plenty of selection within the meals, the drinks, the landscapes, the standard clothes, and the climate.
Good information for golfers although—whereas no one appears to learn about them, there are plenty of hidden golf gems in South America the place you seldom have to fret about getting a tee time. There’s nothing unsuitable with taking part in a number of the most well-known, fashionable programs when you’re there, however these programs are a little bit extra off the overwhelmed path.
That means they’re much less touristy, extra personal, and presumably additionally a little bit extra reasonably priced. And, after all, every one in every of them has spectacular surroundings that makes for a shocking day trip. Here are a number of the hidden South America golf gems we advocate taking part in at.
Chapelco Golf Club, Argentina
Chapelco was the primary golf course in South America to be designed by {golfing} legend Jack Nicklaus, so you recognize it’s going to be an exemplary taking part in expertise. It’s positioned inside a residential complicated, so though it’s just a few miles from the town, it’s not usually a course thought-about by guests, making it a little bit of a hidden-in-plain-sight gem.
The course was delicately constructed across the pure panorama, so it suits proper in. While the undulations are pretty light, there’s all the time an opportunity of a valley wind to mess along with your recreation, so maintain your wits about your self!
This course is thought to host a number of the finest par-3s in Argentina, so apply your quick recreation earlier than hitting the course. The signature gap is the twelfth, a par-4 of 427 yards, that includes a panoramic view off the tee field. Don’t get distracted—give attention to touchdown that drive!
La Paz Golf Club, Bolivia
At 10,650 ft above sea stage, La Paz is thought to be the very best golf course on the earth. That alone makes it a hidden gem, and it’s a singular play that’s completely price your time if you happen to’re in Bolivia. You’ll even get a certificates to say you’ve performed on the highest course on the earth!
The gameplay is difficult. This isn’t one for freshmen, though the altitude means you’ll be able to hit as much as 30% additional on every shot. Those who aren’t used to doing something at such excessive altitudes could wrestle to get sufficient oxygen in to maintain up their power all through the spherical, so be warned.
As for the format, the course is spectacularly laid out to harmonize with the pure terrain, which implies you’ll encounter uncommon landforms, rocky outcrops, and valleys. Some have likened it to taking part in on Mars… A should when within the nation!
Club De Golf Patagonia Virgin Frutillar, Chile
This South America golf course falls in one other residential growth within the coronary heart of Patagonia, recognized to be an outside lover’s paradise. The cause we identify this one a hidden gem is that it’s only a 9-hole course—which many golfers could go over when in search of someplace to play a tremendous spherical.
Surprisingly although, this can be a 9-hole course designed by Jack Nicklaus. You’ll have a tough time discovering one other a kind of anyplace.
With views over Llanquihue Lake, the rainforest, and volcanoes within the surrounding areas, you’ll be able to anticipate to be awed by the surroundings in addition to the golf. It’s a singular format, that includes some holes with wide-open fairways and others carefully surrounded by historical bushes.
The links-style course design options light undulations that make it a fantastic selection for much less skilled golfers and juniors, however extra superior gamers may also benefit from the uniqueness of the format.
Terravista Golf Course, Brazil
Located within the municipality of Trancoso, this stunning course seems out over the Discovery Coast in Brazil. Pictured on the prime of this put up and exhibiting off its seaside location, it’s really designed to suit seamlessly right into a fairly fancy complicated, which options its personal personal airfield, condominiums, and a Club Med resort.
Despite being in such an upscale space, the course is open to guests day-after-day, though golfers do require a handicap to play. You’ll be handled to spectacular views over the ocean, particularly the signature 14th gap, which requires precision pictures to the inexperienced, otherwise you’ll shoot your golf ball proper over a 50-foot cliff into the ocean.
Amazon Golf Course, Peru
This course is such a hidden gem that it doesn’t even have its personal web site! It’s exhausting to seek out a lot about it on-line as a result of so few individuals have made the trek out 45 minutes from Iquito to play the tough fairways and inform the story.
But it’s positively a bucket-list course for thrill-seeking golfers as a result of you have got loads of alternatives to lose your golf ball to piranhas or caiman alongside the best way. Don’t fear, although—your very cheap $25 inexperienced price consists of golf equipment, 12 balls, and a machete.
It’s simply 9 holes, however there’s sufficient pleasure to make it really feel like a full-length course. Unlike most 9-hole programs, it even contains a par-5 gap. Although it’s not probably the most troublesome of programs, it’s an pleasurable outing if you happen to’re sunblocked up and ready for the creatures you might encounter alongside the best way!
La Cima Golf Club, Colombia
You’ll want instructions from somebody within the know simply to get to this course. Situated simply exterior of La Calera, you’ll flip off the principle highway onto a twisting, turning, 2-mile pathway simply to get to the doorway of the membership.
Once you’re there, you’ll discover that the highway was the straightforward half. The course itself is positioned at greater than 9,000 ft above sea stage, so oxygen is brief, which is nice for additional size in your drives however not so nice for getting in sufficient air if you’re strolling the course.
With a variety of difficult options, you must positively keep alert on this one. You may not get an excellent rating in your first spherical, so be ready to come back again for extra!
Arrayanes Country Club, Ecuador
This membership exterior of Quito in Ecuador consists of plenty of completely different actions, so golfers may not select it first for an excellent spherical. But the par-71, 18-hole course is tougher than you might anticipate. Featuring quite a few water hazards, bunker-guarded greens, and a wide range of bushes scattered throughout the course, you’ll want to remain targeted to be sure you don’t veer off track.
It’s price staying over for a number of days so you’ll be able to reap the benefits of the numerous services, together with tennis courts, swimming swimming pools, an equestrian space, and quite a few eating places serving delectable native delicacies from Ecuador.
Notes on Golf in South America
Latin America is a tremendous {golfing} vacation spot if you happen to solely know the place to look. If you’re going to be touring by the realm, skip the favored, close-by programs that the town individuals pack out. Hidden gems could be simply as thrilling (possibly extra so) than the extra well-known choices, and also you gained’t remorse spending your time on any of the above programs.
Just be suggested that many of the web sites are in Spanish solely and the course upkeep will not be on the Pebble Beach stage. Pack your sense of journey and luxuriate in a day that might be a break from the same old.
Have you performed any of those South America golf programs? What did you assume?
About the Author
Jordan Fuller is a retired golfer and businessman. When he’s not on the course engaged on his personal recreation or mentoring younger golfers, he writes in-depth articles for his web site, Golf Influence. See his earlier put up on Panama golf.