The place 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 one of the best South America golf programs to place in your listing for future holidays.
Latin America is a spectacular vacation spot recognized for its superb delicacies, its dance tradition, and naturally, its lovely pure surroundings. Among the finest issues about it’s that you simply’ll get a unique expertise from one nation to the subsequent, so there’s lots of selection within the meals, the drinks, the landscapes, the normal clothes, and the climate.
Excellent news for golfers although—whereas no one appears to find out about them, there are lots of hidden golf gems in South America the place you seldom have to fret about getting a tee time. There’s nothing improper with taking part in among the most well-known, in style programs whilst you’re there, however these programs are a bit of extra off the crushed path.
Meaning they’re much less touristy, extra personal, and presumably additionally a bit of extra reasonably priced. And, after all, every one in every of them has spectacular surroundings that makes for a surprising time out. Listed here are among the hidden South America golf gems we advocate taking part in at.
Chapelco Golf Membership, Argentina
Chapelco was the primary golf course in South America to be designed by {golfing} legend Jack Nicklaus, so 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 typically 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 matches proper in. Whereas the undulations are pretty mild, there’s at all times an opportunity of a valley wind to mess along with your recreation, so preserve your wits about your self!
This course is understood to host among the greatest 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—deal with touchdown that drive!
La Paz Golf Membership, Bolivia
At 10,650 toes above sea degree, La Paz is understood to be the best golf course on this planet. That alone makes it a hidden gem, and it’s a novel play that’s completely price your time when you’re in Bolivia. You’ll even get a certificates to say you’ve performed on the highest course on this planet!
The gameplay is difficult. This isn’t one for newbies, though the altitude means you may hit as much as 30% additional on every shot. Those that aren’t used to doing something at such excessive altitudes might battle to get sufficient oxygen in to maintain up their vitality all through the spherical, so be warned.
As for the format, the course is spectacularly laid out to harmonize with the pure terrain, which suggests 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!
Membership 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 explanation we title this one a hidden gem is that it’s only a 9-hole course—which many golfers might move over when searching for someplace to play an incredible spherical.
Surprisingly although, it is a 9-hole course designed by Jack Nicklaus. You’ll have a tough time discovering one other a kind of wherever.
With views over Llanquihue Lake, the rainforest, and volcanoes within the surrounding areas, you may anticipate to be awed by the surroundings in addition to the golf. It’s a novel format, that includes some holes with wide-open fairways and others intently surrounded by historic timber.
The links-style course design options mild undulations that make it a fantastic selection for much less skilled golfers and juniors, however extra superior gamers can even benefit from the uniqueness of the format.
Terravista Golf Course, Brazil
Positioned within the municipality of Trancoso, this lovely course seems out over the Discovery Coast in Brazil. Pictured on the high of this put up and displaying off its seaside location, it’s really designed to suit seamlessly right into a quite fancy complicated, which options its personal personal airfield, condominiums, and a Membership Med resort.
Regardless of being in such an upscale space, the course is open to guests on daily basis, 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 onerous 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.
Nevertheless it’s undoubtedly a bucket-list course for thrill-seeking golfers as a result of you might have loads of alternatives to lose your golf ball to piranhas or caiman alongside the best way. Don’t fear, although—your very affordable $25 inexperienced charge 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. Not like most 9-hole programs, it even includes a par-5 gap. Though it’s not probably the most tough of programs, it’s an gratifying outing when you’re sunblocked up and ready for the creatures it’s possible you’ll encounter alongside the best way!
La Cima Golf Membership, Colombia
You’ll want instructions from somebody within the know simply to get to this course. Located simply outdoors of La Calera, you’ll flip off the principle street onto a twisting, turning, 2-mile pathway simply to get to the doorway of the membership.
When you’re there, you’ll discover that the street was the simple half. The course itself is positioned at greater than 9,000 toes above sea degree, so oxygen is brief, which is nice for further size in your drives however not so nice for getting in sufficient air while you’re strolling the course.
With a variety of difficult options, it’s best to undoubtedly keep alert on this one. You won’t get rating in your first spherical, so be ready to return again for extra!
Arrayanes Nation Membership, Ecuador
This membership outdoors of Quito in Ecuador consists of lots of completely different actions, so golfers won’t select it first for spherical. However the par-71, 18-hole course is tougher than it’s possible you’ll anticipate. That includes quite a few water hazards, bunker-guarded greens, and quite a lot of timber scattered throughout the course, you’ll want to remain centered to be sure to don’t veer off track.
It’s price staying over for a couple of days so you may benefit from 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 an incredible {golfing} vacation spot when you solely know the place to look. When you’re going to be touring by the world, skip the favored, close-by programs that the town individuals pack out. Hidden gems could be simply as thrilling (perhaps extra so) than the extra well-known choices, and also you received’t remorse spending your time on any of the above programs.
Simply be suggested that many of the web sites are in Spanish solely and the course upkeep might not be on the Pebble Seaside degree. Pack your sense of journey and luxuriate in a day that can be a break from the same old.
Have you ever performed any of those South America golf programs? What did you suppose?
In regards to the Creator
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 Affect. See his earlier put up on Panama golf.
